Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-30

The Meeting Last Night OF the Sa-
Vannah League.

vannah League.
An enthusiastic meeting OF the Land
Leaguers and their friends was held last
evening at Mozart Hall, attracted thither
by the interesting programme Of exercises
announced in the call of the meeting.
At the appointed hour Capt. NJ. ]. Doyle
called the meeting to order. He said that
upon him devolYed the duty Of opening
the proceedings by announcing the
programme The subjects embraced therein
were all gems In their way, and he had no
doubt would be made highly interesting to
the audience. The speakers, 1t is true,
were all amateurs, and should not De TOO
sharply criticised. He had the honor OF
introducing as first on the list Mr.. ID. Z.
O'Neill.
Mr.. O'Nein took the stand amid loud
applause, and recited in fine elocutionarY
style 1.-THE Green and the Gold" by Una.
Mr.. Timothy O'Neill was nextintroduced,
He chose as his subject "Irisn Landlord
ism, - which he handled IN forcible style,
and was frequently complimented with ap-
plause. The following is a synopsis OF his
address
Mr.. President, FtllOlo Land LeG9uerS, La
dies and Gentlemen In addressing you this
evening will make no attempt to charm
your ears by any lofty flights of spread
eagle oratory, laundering defamation, or
exuberant verbosity. The days of elocu-
tiOnarY bombast, like the days OF knight
eTrantry, chivalry and romance, are gone
common sense, argument, reason and logic
is the order Of the day.
We have arrived at a very critical and
momentous period 10 Irish history. A
crisis is approaching. The destiny OF Ire
land. as it were, is trembling in the balance.
The indomitable and irrepressible people OF
that country have once more risen pb9niX-
like In their might and manhood, with an
elasticity and vitality peculiar to them
selves, resolved with grim determination
to abolish forever the sin-cOnceived and
hell-born monster landlOrdism, under
whose baneful influences Ireland presents
the Anomalous picture of a garden and
grave-a garden for the lord, a grave for
the toiler. The small spot of earth in
which his weary limbs repose in everlast-
ing slumber is all he is allowed to possess.
They 1.-THE landlords) have scattered the
Irish people broadcast over the world,
making them the drawers of water
and hewers of wood of every
land. They have strewn the bottom Of the
ocean with their bones, and in the famine
of 1916 sent a million of the people Of Ire
land to cotfinless graves. A similar fate
threatened them in 1879, but was warded off
by the noble eXertions of the Land League
Land, air, light and water, are Gods free
gifts to man. They are essential to his ex-
istence. Whoever robs him Of these rObs
him Of the means of life, and is murderer
The landlords find 1t practicable to steal or
mOnOpOliZe the land. Ii 1t were possible to
steal the light, air and water, they would
not hesitate to do so.
The Ieople OF Ireland must learn the real
necessity and value of land. He who owns
the land owns the people thereon. Land
and labor are the real sources from which
all wealth spring, the bed rock of all pros
perity.
II makes little difference what may be the
form of government of State if the people
own the soil they till. Then instead of title
deed to slOth, there.willIbe an incentive to
| exertion, prosperity will be the result, and
let statesmen and politicians say what they
| will, prosperity is real freedom, whilst pow
erty is the worst kind OF slavery. Political
without industrial freedom is like putting
green spectacles on q mule and feeding him
on shavings instead of grass.
Sirs, the land question is the bottom strata
Of the socia! and industrial problem. II is
not confined to Ireland alone; it is of uni
versal interest. 1t is great movement,
destined to tumble crowns, thrones and
cOronets, and / feel some tinklings of
national pride when | see Ireland, the land
OF my birth, speck in the ocean, leading
in the van of such a mighty movement,
holding her ground against such oVerwhelm-
ing odds.
But, my dear friends, the Irish people at
home and abroad have plenty Of work to do.
They must make an innovation, or as the
politicians have it, take a new departure;
they must become less theoretical aud more
practical, quit singing their old melancholy
old fo-cflc from no
bowels of antiquity; cease look
iOg backwards into the gloomy
! caVerns of the past, and priding
| themselves on the faded lsurels and glOries
| of Con. of the hundred bittles; NalschY,
who wore the collar of gold he W from
the proud invader; Brien B0ru, ID van
quished the Danes; all these I'll uld be
slowed away as useless lumber; they are
out of date. Sllken Thomas, the geraldine,
with Hugh O'Neill and Owen Roe, should
be disposed of in a similar manner. Sarsfield,
Lord Glare and Darlington should he
thrown out in the back yard. Lord Ed
ward,ss Robert Emmett and Wolf Tone
should be put up in the garnet; Daniel
| O'Conneli and Smith O'Brien showed down
in the cellar. Ireland wants live heroes.
| She will have them II you, the Irish people,
| do your duty. Parnell, Davitt, Dillon,
Brennan and the rest are as noble a band Of
! leaders as any country can produce. Stand
by them with your moral and financial sup
port, aud with your physical, If necessary.
Ii you fail in this you are no Irishmen. II
you do your duty the battle is the same as
won.
At the conclusion Of the address Mr..
Francis D. Grady was announced and sung
Sunshine After Rain" in splendid style,
and, being encored, sung "The Men of Tip
| peraryn with much feeling, and retired amid
| the plaudits of the audience.
At this point Capt. Doyle introduced Mr.
| George A. Gemuuden, OF Jacksonville, son
of Mr.. Gemunden, of Savannah, and repre-
sentative of the Land League of Jackson
vile, who declined speaking, but in behalf
Of his father donated the handsome amount
of S25 to the funds of the League. This
action was received with enthusiastic ap-
| plause.
Mr.. I. H. O'Donovan was called upon for
a song. He responded by singing "The West
Awake, by Thos. Davis, which was well re-
| ceived."
Mr. Peter Donelan was the last speaker
announced, and on arising was greeted with
| cheers. His subject was "Ihe Union OF the
| Orange and the Green" He spoke extern
| pore in a strain replete with logic and pa
| triOtic fervOr, making many excellent points.
| He said as Constantine the Great saw
the cross in the Heavens, inscribed on which
was, "In this sign thou shalt conquer" so
had Nj Parnell united rhe orange and
green with the bappiest results. He was
destined to write Emmet's epitaph, and be
the first President of the Irish Republic.
| There was one thing the speaker regretted
| the Irish military of Savannah were not in
! attendance at the meeting. ''Where are
they? ?" the speaker vehemently inquired.
echo answered, where ?" He spoke at
length, and upon retiring was loudly APP
plauded. The meeting then adjourned.