Morning journal and courier., 1881-08-15
THE WEST.
Ohio.

The Irish SEirlais:iers-Who Holds the | Fund-The Nationalist Convention From am Inside View.
 CLEVELAND, August 14.-Mr. P. K. Walsh,
 who has been absent in Chicago for some time, attending the conclave of Irish nation I alists held in that city, has returned home.
 An interview had with MT. Walsh by your
 correspondent puts to flight much that has appeared. In one report P. W. Grove is al- legged to have made charges against Mr. ! Walsh with other prominent Irishmen re- garding the disposition of what is known as
 '.the skirmishing fund" and it was for the purpose of gaining information on this par ticular point chiefly that conversation was sought. The gentleman was met at his home, but was very reticent in his replies. uttering his answers in the most guarded manner. The reporter asked, What was the character of the convention of Irishmen just held in Chicago ?v That of justice and right pure ly. This is determined by it's object, which was and is to aid the inhabitants of Ireland in their laudable struggle to recover their plum dered rights.''
 ''Was there any split among the members, as reported ?" ssThere is not the least grain of truth in that report. There was no dis position to split or disagree beyond the usual exchange and clash of opinions, which is necessarily an element in all conventions of deliberative men.''
 s'What truth, if any, is there in the charge of P. W. Grove that you and others had con- trol of the 'skirmishing fund and used it to your own personal advantages ?" s'None;
 
 there is no truth whatever in that charge. have reason to know that no controller or trustee of what is called the skirmishing fund ever used penny of it for his own per sonal advantage. I never had any control, directly or indirectly, and, except as to what I contributed, never handled a cent of it..
 'tIs P. W. Grove or O'Donovan Rossa con- nected with the body in any way?" They have no connection whatever, except, per- haps, when the relations of islander might be considered connection. The principle of such persons, if it be principle, is to strike at everything and every one, friend or foe alike.''
 '.Is there any sympathy among the Irish nationalists of the convention calibre with these dynamite schemes ?" "The day may come round-and likely will-when any form of destructiveness that may cripple an enemy will be fair and legitimate in this case; but that time has not come. It must be admitted by every candid mind posted on the matter and who knows British usages, that the unsparing devastations, wholesale murders and p1llaging by the English in Ire land justify any means of resistance to their usurpation when the armed issue comes. But the time for extreme measures had not come, so there is no sympathy with dynam- ite among Irish reformers, just yet''
 "Did the Chicago papers report anything of the truth of the proceedings whatever?" Mot even glimpse. These Chicago papers are viciously interruptions. but in this par hcular case they outdid themselves. Failing to get anything from within the convention, they retaliated in their own way by covering their papers with grotesque twaddle. These efforts, however, produced nothing beyond smiles of contempt,i
 twill the result of the proceedings be beneficial to the Irish cause ?'' sYes, think it will. Events must not only be prepared for, but guided and directed. If men are in earnest, intelligent discussion makes them unity of purpose, and in this regard the late meeting was far teaching"
 ''Did you meet Grove in Chicago?' "I did indeed 1aughing) and could not help smiling at the idea of the insignificant ap- bearing little omadhaun making such 8 fuss over his alleged internal machines. Why, the man never had intelligence enough to construct anything of the kind, and if the truth comes out am sure that it will be found that he never had anything whatever to do with them. His fondness for notoriety has carried him completely away, and he is, so to speak, hugely enjoying his newly found importance. He is subject of contemptu- Ous ridicule amono Irishmen"