The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-20
by EH.EG(1RAP.H..
IRISH LAND LEAGUE.
The Grand Excursion to Lake
Maranocook.
LARGE NUMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
Stirring Speeches by Leading Irish.
men.
(special Dispatch to tho press.)

WINTHROP, July 19.-About 1000 persons
from different parts of the state attended the
grand union excursion of the Irish Land
League of Maine at Lake Maranocook today.
Owing to the threatening weather in the morn
ing the attendance was not as large as was ex-
pected. The day was all that could asbe de-
sired, cool. clear and pleasant. The party un-
til p. m. passed the time in sailing on the
lake, dancing, and participating in the various
sports
The mass meeting commenced at p. m.
On the platform were Gov. Plaisted, VIM. K.
Redmond of Ireland, Miss Ford of New York,
Hon. G. W. Ladd, Rev. Father John O'Brion
of Oldtown, Rev. Father Duddy OF Winthrop,
Miss Shields of Roekland, Miss Sheehan of
Portland, Hon. 7. r. Smonton of
Camden, Rev. W. G. Haskell of
Lewiston, j. Benson, Jr., of Newport,
d. j. McGillicuddy of Lewiston and 7. J. NC
Intyre Eof Bangor. The meeting was called
to order by President Carrigan of the Lewiston
Land League who introduced as chairman of
the meeting Mr.. W. Fl. Looney of Portland
MIR. Looney said that as American citizens
without distinction of party, race or
religion, we have met on this glorious day in
July, to extend our sympathy to the down.
trodden and oppressed people of Ireland, and
TO assure them that the Irish Land League has
our sympathy and will receive our moral and
material support in its determined effort to
drive andlordism, root and branch, out of Ire
land We are here to assure them that we en-
dorse each and every position taken by the
Irish Land League, from the time that Michael
Davitt unfurled the banner of no landlordism
down to and including the time when the i'm
prisoned leaders flung in the face OF Gladstone
the manifesto advising the tenants not to pay
any more rent. We are here to utter our in
dignant protest against the infamy of the So
called liboral government of Great Britain,
which, in defiance of magma charta, and
trampling under foot the great PRINCIPLES OF
English constitutional liberty, passes coercion
and repression acts, and hurls into English
bastiles the best and noblest sons OF Ireland.
In this struggle, between the organized selfish
ness of Great Britain and the Irish people. In
this death grapple between caste and the Dec
Iaration of Independence, our sympathy is not
with despotic England, but with nberty-loving
Ireland. We believe that this is perfectly con-
sistent with our duties as American citizens
William x. Redmond of Ireland was in
troduced and was received with great applause.
Mr.. lRedmond is q pleasing and eloquent
speaker He graphically described the events
which eliminated in the formation OF the
Land League by Michael Davitt, eulogized
Parnell, denounced the land bill as farce, OK
planned and justified the no rent manifesto.
He said that the Land League leaders would
never give up this fight until the object of the
Land League-the abolition of landlordism-
was accomplished. England could throw the
Iris h people and leaders into prison but the
invincible spirit of Ireland she could
not destroy. The chapter of Eng
lish legislation towards Ireland is red
with blood. Russian despotism pales before
it, Mr.. Redmond asserted that the Irish Land
League was the greatest organization OF mod
ern times, had infused new life and vigor into
the Irish people, taught them their rights, aud
has now broaght landlordism to its knees. He
appealed to his audience to uphold the banner
of the Land League, and believed that the
cause SO dear to their hearts would eventually
triumph.
Gov. Plaisted was the next speaker. He
said while other nations have been Oppressed
for few years Ireland has been crushed un-
der the iron heel of British despotism for CEN
tures. The repressiye legislation of England
towards tho Emerald isle is the darkest and
most infamous chapter in modern history.
Gov. Plaisted said If Ireland could resort to
arms more than one hundred thousand citizens
in this country would fight for her. He quot
ed statistics to show the horrible iniquity of
absentee landlordism, ,aDd warmly espoused the
principles of the League.
Brief remarks were then made by Miss
Ford, D. j. McGillicuddy, Judge Hall, 7. J..
Mcintyre, Rev. w. G.. Haskell. j. Benson, Jr,
Hon. Geo. W. Ladd and Hon. j. r. Simonton.
Mr.. Haskell, Judge Hall and Mr.. Simonton
eulogized the yalor and courage of the Irish
soldiers in every war in which we have been
engaged, and asserted that the American ma
tion owes debt Of gratitude to ireland which
it can never repay. Each compared the strug
gle for Irish liberty with that of '76, and be-
lieYed that Ireland had the sympathy of every
true American.
Branches were present frorl Bangor, Portland,
Lewiston, Biddeford, Rock'and, Bath, Skow-
hogan, Watervile and Augusta. Johnson's
orchestra of Lewiston, furnished music. The
threatening weather in the early part of the
day curtailed the attendance greatly.