Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-20
PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
Dayitt Denies I'm Toto The Various
Charges Made gainst HIm-He
Says He is Not
Mr. ParnelIs RIVAL, and that TIE Writerz
who Charge Him with Commun-
Ism lie In their Threats.

New York. June I19.-The crowd in the
Academy of Music tonight at the reception
of Michael Dlvitt, though not as large as the
one which met Parnell, was equally as en-
thusiastic. The unexpectedly small attend
ance in the early evening was attributed to
the Dissatisfaction of the members of the
Irish National Land League, who had re-
fused the invitation Of the citizens commit
tee to participate as a body in the reception,
on the ground that to them belonged the
right to receive their champion, and because
they would not be responsible for a meeting
in which they played but second part. By
1880 o'clock the vacant chairs presented q
dreary appearance from the platform, but
the orchestra, few minutes later, COM
menced playing Irish national airs, and the
crowd filed in slowly. DIR. William Wallace,
president of the Irish n ational Land League,
was on the stage, also the president of
the Fenian Brotherhood, and others who
have been id atifed with Irish movements
Mr.. Davitt made his entry at s o'clock, and
after the great cheering which greeted him
had subsidized he was presented to the people
by Judge VanHoesen, who made short
speech. As Mr.. Davitt stepped forward the
cheering was again renewed, When quiet
was restored DIR. Davitt began his speech,
and in the course of it said that he appeared
to night TO answer certain charges made
against him h7 certain Irishmen and persons
whom he Thought at one time were his friends.
These charges are-ftst, splitting up the
Land League; second, setting up as Parnells
rival; third, FORMULATING a new departure;
fourth, abandoning the Land League pro-
gramme; fifth, going for communism; sixth,
falling into the hands of Henry George;
seventh, beirg run by the Irish World; eighth,
intending to start a new fund; ninth, hand
ing over the land OF ireland to the Eoglish
government; tenth, abandoning Irish nation
ality; eleventh, regulating Irish national
lists; twelfth, going for an alliance with the
people of Eoglsnd. To all of which he
begged most respectfully to plead not guilty.
He never had an idea of rivalry with
Parnell. The Irish people would never &C.
cept him as leader, because 81 belong to
the ranks of the people. Parnell has all the
qualifications of leadership in the Irish
movement, and | am content with being a
free lance in Ireland's cause" As to the
charge of promulgating a new departure, he
said: at rests for basis upon a misconcep-
ton of my Liverpool speech, an ignorance
OF my declarations during the land agita-
ton, and on the unjust and upgenerous
Interpretation put upon my motives
by members who call themselves my
friends, including Mr.. Parnell. 1 have
simply explained in Liverpool what I first
uttered in Weslport. This is my plan for
Ireland, and it is merely given as my plan. /
am not ashamed OF it, nor do think it shows
hostility TO Mr.. Parnell." Regarding the
abandonment of the Land League programme,
his answer was a denial in brief similar TO
his replies to the other charges. He declares
that the writers who charged him with COM
munism, as he apprehepded it, lied in their
throats. The speaker, denying other
from his Liverpool speech with refer
en- tn ba chs IF
Ireland over to England, saying; "What /
said was this: To propose that the English
government should become the owner, stew
ard or guardian of the soil OF Ireland would,
at first sight appear as an anti-n ational
settlement of the land question and one
which involves principle of remuneration
that cannot be sanctioned by Irishmen who
belong to the extreme or Nationalist party.
am convinced, however, that with calm
consideration OF the question, 1t will dissi-
pate the idea that the national
izstion of the land of Ireland
is any more of a recognition of England's
right to rule than is involved in the payment
OF taxes or in calling upon its government
to advance the necessary funds for the carry
ing out OF scheme of peasant proprietary.
While / yield to no Irishman alive in my
allegiance to the principle OF Ireland's right
to govern itself, l would infinitely prefer TO
deaI decently win the EoSllsh government
than with Its exacting AMI INSCRIPTIONS
the Irish misunderstanding
that England must be the factor in any set
Element of the land question that takes place
so long as England's authority is dominant
in Ireland. l contend, therefore, that ma
of land under the existing
political relationships of the two countries
would be no more of an abandonment of the
national right or national honor than is in
vited in any transaction of everyday politi-
cal life of our country, while l claim for
such settlement more eolid social advan-
tages, both for agricultural and ron sgricul-
tural classes alike, than can be obtained I'M
der Improvement OF the existing system, or
by the substitution of peasant proprietary"
Mr.. Dayitt continued to speak at some
length in further denial of the chsrges
against him.
Speeches we're also made By Redmond and
others, when the meeting adjourned with
three cheers for DAvitt and the Land League