The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-07-06
CONTINUED from yesterdays issue.
THE FOURTH AT MAVERICKS CROW.
Speeches Of Hon. j. H. McLeary, Col. H b.
Andrews, Alderman Copeland
and JAS. r. NewCOnb.
SPEECH OF HON. J. H. M'LEARY.

SPEECH OF HON. J. II. M'LEARY.
The Hon. J. H. McLeary, attorney-gen-
eral, who was called with cheers, said: 81
thank you for the invitation to take part in the
celebration of this glorious day, and am glad
to be called to San Antonio, my own town,
as proposed by you. If had been called to
ether points l should have gone as matter OF
duty, but l come here because my heart is
with you I owe you an apology for not ar
irving Yesterday and when l came certainly
expected that the speech-making would be
over, but Immediately on arrival l came to
headquarters for orders. l shall present to
you few brief remarks, but the Grafton must
not be expected. did not know that was
styled the orator of the day until saw it in
the papers. consented to be one of six put
forward upon your platform, and knew that
should have to say something, but l protest
against being placed so prominently. If had
prepared speech it would have been for the
forenoon, and you all know that you can not
deliver a forenoon speech in the afternoon,
especially after dining with Major Dryer.
Laughter l want to say that to be an
American citizen is an honor, to be an Irish
man is distinction to be coveted. but to
claim both is more than l can
bear. am pleased to meet you, and
as an American l am glad to celebrate
this day. am glad to be member of the
old Irish American association. many OF whose
members see before me and to be invited to
celebrate the day under trees pointing to the
heavens, to spread the principle OF the indie
pendence. These are the principles OF the
Land League, and are hand in hand with the
same love of freedom and hatred of tyranny
which founded the independence of America.
This land league has been accused Ct com,
munism, and right ably has it been answered
by Michael Davltt in Boston, and it needs no
defence at my hands. l understand that the
league IS intended to aid the righteous efforts of
Parnell and his faithful adherents in the British
parliament in the peaceful revolution carried
on in obedience to the law, bloodless revo-
luton and still revolution. Who can object
to men obeying the laws or refusing to leave
the land of their fathers, and if they and their
women and families are cast out OF the homes.
some one must help them or they must starve.
That is your object. You feed and sustain
them in order that they may overcome in this
great contest. The land league is then be-
nevolent society, and any society which wipes
away the widows tears, or sooths the orphans
cry, has my support and that of every good
man, and l am glad to CO. ,perate with you.
Yes, your cause demands the sympathy of
every man who has heart on his bosom, es-
pecially in the heart of an Irishman.
hope you may see the prophesy of Ire
land and that she is now at the dawn Of
liberty. For seven hundred years the Moors
held dominion over Spain; for seven hundred
wears she lay under the heel of the conqueror,
but the day came when she was free. That
day NAV come too for Ireland when her sons
have the right to her soil. She may then be
truly called,
''Sweet gem of the sea-"
Great, glorious and free"
When we think of her it makes our hearts
sad. Alone on The sea, the island stands
said to be fallen star from heaven, which has
blossomed into the fairest of lands. Not
tenth part of the size of Texas, there breathes
over FIVE million Of her chidren-three times
the population of our state. What is her con
dition? Is she governed as she should be?
No! She is governed by Dublin Castle and
5000 police to do its bidding; soldier bay
onetted for every one hundred people. Here
in America, the hope of nations, we have
one soldier to every 1000. One soldier
to the hundred That tells the tale. Would
that be necessary if freedom habited the soil
Thousands Of her children are languishing in
jail. Are they arraigned or convicted OF
crime? No, my countrymen, they are merely
trial they are thrown into Jail to be forgotten
and to die. This is not only the case with
poor and obscure mccullough the outrage is
lust as great-bu, it is the case with Charles
Stewart Parnell, the leader of this glorious
movement who was cast in Jail, kept there
for months, and released without trial. An
other of these leaders, now electrifying America,
Michael Davitt, has passed one-fourth of his
young life in prison. What has the heaven
born orator done? His crime was that he
loved his country. If love of country be
crime, are yos not all criminals, and do you
not deserve to be thrown into dungeons?
But there is hope for Ireland. As has been
ftly said by one of her own bards, Father
Ryan, who seems to have caught the spirit of
poetry, which in the days of yore dwelt in
Tara's Hall:
Give me the land, where the ruins are spread.
And the living tread light DER the hearts of
the dead,
Yes, give me the land that hath story and song
To tell of the strife Of the right with the wrong
Yes, give me the land of the wreck and the
tomb,
For there's glory in graves, there is grandeur
in gloom,
For out of the gloom future brightness is born,
As after the night comes the sun-burst ofmorn.
Yes, Ireland, there is hope for thee;
the darkest hour is just before the dawn
of day. If the people succeed in
ginning the land of which they have been des-
boiled by the conquerer brighter days will
come. and better things are in store for you.
I believe Parnell is doing right in persuading
Jrishman to remain and yet-the American,