, 1881-04-03
HARRISON and The irish.
msv He Refused to Preside ct the
I.and-Reform Meeting.
uo Was Afraid to Offend tho Queen and
the FcudAl Landlords.
rhe .Bast Mayors" Pettifogging
and Cowardly Excuses.

rbe ssBest Mayors" Pettifogging
and Cowardly Excuses.
r1-hc following document has just been issued
,ho irish Committee 1t Is very Interesting
realing:]
u.Yo1: HARRISON AND THE IRISH.
The friends OF Mayor Carter u. Hnrrisou
t,hst nj, sy1Y,pai hcs arc with tue Irish pe0
ca'u ~ 1heir struggle for the right to subsst on
r n me fruits Of their ora labor and upon tht
n1siucc OF their own soil. They also content
the1 when he refused to preside over the grca
nnat.orn';cE Hall ,actiuG he did not knox whit
1ha nnrnose of tho meeting was. To show etthel
the, hn Aid know, us every other clfizen anu II!
the public press we FLY" ha he Tf M ,n1 oru Ee
~ has not sufficient intelligence to preside oyei
the affairs Of great city; w. VIC quote the fol-
le%ing iron a1d in now Is Friendly to Mr Harrison
nE9r"@Fro1u the Chicago Times nf Nov. -
1s-a wc give Mr.. John F. Finertys report or M
intcryicw With Mayor Harrison. which viii vii es-
nta;n itself. Messrs. ". H. sullivan, William
r,aa ,,rran. and John Forsytne, Of the Committee
so',ch for tho absolute accuracy of the report.
iI may be said with accuracy that tho Irish
iandrefcrm boom ~ making sapu, nta"ay ~
some extraordinary Developments Ihe Execu-
re Committee appointed BY the preliminary
moctinr held at Eurkc's Hotel. last SUNDAY
%-0i5
,"e,cr71nv morning With tho ubjcct or inviting
him 10 preside at The mass. meeting OF Amer'cn1a
r;tizcns TO be held in Mccormick Hall, tho
ownrr Of which tlonated It tor tno oo]cet OF tne
lieut., Col. ". +. Ken1. Of the Second !tegi-
ment. Chairman Of the Committee. stated the
n1,icr, OF the meeting ~ Mayor Harrison. and
sskcl him to preside as representing the city
Nr. Harrison happened to be in one or bis
nervous moods. aud, instead Of frankly accept
snr the invitation, commenced to ph'losophtze.
Wjth solemn shake Of the head, he said to the
1T Is question whether !, as Mayor of the
,ftr ought to preside at such Il meeting, tnvoly-
ins question ot law as between Great nrltnin
and ireland. am not read up on Irish affairs,
snd do not feel like actiug as an oftciai or Ill
an Official capacity.
az i member Of 1ne Committee sugEestcd it was
about time the Mayor beeanto reau tne paptis
and keep posted-
Mr Harrison said: "Ah, yes: really I havc
given no attcu1ion to the question ut ALL How
would A1lc:icans like to have the mayor ol
Manchester preside over meeting itfa''cal 10
American interests? Well, don't sec how cao
preside crer gathering which calls in question
English law
want ron 10 act If you have any English scru-
pies. Remember, however, that we do not ask
you to preside over a meeting Of 1rishmcn. but
over meeting Of American citizens, OF every
creed and voice, who will express sympathy with
The oppressed tenant farmers of Ireland in their
constitutional effort to break up the feudal sys-
TEN H11 Gs{ADtfS1 tuEtu 1FctuouNlS VII tAC1L "" II
soil. We do not press sou 10 net. however
Mr. Harrison" All. that Is nii very well. quo
the principle is still under discussion. and 1t is
question Of law rs to whether England mas the
right. ..
4 Committeeman" In order to end your en-
barrassneut, Mr.. Harrison, perhaps you had
better consult the Corporation Counsel"
said: id "Ah, indscd. Wei, eannot net as Mayor
Of Chicago "-at this point the Committee unan--
imousy turned their backs on Mr.. Harrison and
marched out.
Carter shouted after them, !" I'll act as an in-
dlviduat."
The Committee did not take Mr. Harrison rs
q an individual into consideration. and paid no
accomplished a feat Of crowning inconsistency
Subsequently the Committee united on the
Hon. Thomas Hoyne.-their original choice,
spcct @ : the city W through Mr. Harrison.-and that
gentleman. With great cordfality, expressed bis
willingness to serve Us Chairman. saying the
about it, vas deserving the sympathy Of civil.
lied mankind, and should have his heartfcst;
support. ..
waited upon by the Committee ut tho Grand Pa
cihc Hotel The Governor received the deputa-
t1on cordially. The Chairman invited him to
speak at the mass-meettng. the object Of which
be explained
Gov Cuilom said he saw no possible objec-
ton to. speaking at demonstration OF that
nature. The Irish people, SO far as he could OBJ
struggle to obtain their just rights. Ii be could
possibly get away frum Springfield be would be
most happy to address the meeting; and. If he
salid b be , 20 unfortunate g not 10 be able to
the occasion. In conclns'on, Gov. Cullom said:
- In any sensible, practical movement for the
betferlng OF the condition Of the Irish people,
thnk every true american is with you.''
Ileut--Gov. 6human was next waited upon,
and expressed his willingness to speak at the
'T ~. 1'i1e..nx' Ho.. t,.*4 ,,o -,
willingness, He thoueht the object a very
worthy one. and deserving the support Of all
who loved tusttee and humanity.
Among tba prominent citizens who hare con-
sented to act he Vice-Presidents are Postmaster
+. " Palmer, Judge Otis. Col. Pierce. 4. 3. Pull
man. John B. Drake, Col. George r Davis, Gen.
Aartn Beem, and many others:
vlted who made the slightest objection to acting.
and 4is conduct is severely commented upon
exen By his very best friends throughout the
tng called for tbs purpose OF making war or
Great britain, they say. his hesitation could be
understood, hut to refuse to act as Chairman Of
ses 20 S fs
Sstez,nd--We give the following from the local
eoq@ns CO.. IN, ot the Times of Nor. r. lsl also writ
:, "Au creeds and classes appear to combine on
tne l'st Irish issue that has appealed to the
american public without some divided opinion.
people Of ireland who till the soil, and whose
latners hare titled 1t for ages before them, de-
sefye proper consfderad don at the hands of the |
nnalord class, and that the British Government, |
eMetfu rs it is, cannot defy the public opinion
u Europe and America.
one Of the best features OF the Chica TO move |
aent Is that religion has been entirely sunk by |
uose who are most interested. and that Protest. I
u ants ana catholics alike unite IN the endeavor |
J., ~ ala me cause Of humanity aud Justice. Tn !
1T 1T sach circumstances mere politics is cast into
ae - snaoe. and tho desire OF everybody appears
success. ~
=. tublic ie: sentiment condemns Mayor Harrison
~ o!s ia-adyisei course fiji refusing to act lis
a.l ~utmau or the Mccormick Hall demonstration,
ste;elay IN view of the fact that the highest
iassas a1 N the Suite have given it their unqali
x "a 7 addition to the speakers already announced
;,,,tns ;,nos. neyer1dgc. Judge Moore, Melville W.
hasr husier, and Gen. Martin Been have sisnitled
y hei1 ln1enton to address the meeting. 1u fuct
q" ~, ssappott Of the movement is hearty through
1ihtfd--The following extracts from an edttoriul
hoeo ene Sunday Times Of Nov. J0 1873, show that
s5e iHhta vas no difficulty on tho part Of any en-
T iaseheo American citizen il uscertaining just
orn,t ~. tae d Irish situation was, and why the Nc
~ NJ u'iek n hah meeting was called. 1t is also a
on adhsslon ,ha. bg paper friendly to Mr. Harr-