Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-09
Rev. Eugene SheehY.

SAVANNAH, February Editor Morning
Ae1oS: Whilst am OF opinion that Ireland
has produced but few men between whom
and those that the world acknowledges as
its greatest there can be made any COMPARE
son, still the unprejudiced will concede that
there are many of her SONS the moral gran
deur of whose lives cannot be excelled;
1t is seldom, however, that we have an
opportunity Of meeting any Of those, as
they become inmates of British prisons or
are banished to convict settlements before
their ardent affection for their native land
is as yet appreciated by their countrYmen.
Happily, however, one who has suffered and
erned country, Father Sheehy, will be in
our city on tomorrow, and that our citizens
may understand the moral grandeur OF his
life, would request their attention to the
following letter addressed to the Clonmel
Greland) corporation In reference to reso-
luton passed by them petitionirg for his
release:
KILMAINHAM PRISON, July 9th, 1881.
DEAR SIR have just received copy OF
the ClOanaeL Chronicle of the Oh inst, with
certain marks directing attention to reso-
luton introduced at a recent meeting OF the
Clonmel corporation in reference to my ar
rest and release. This resolution, as far as
it is a protest against an interruptions eXer-
else of British brute force, is quite harmless
and blameless, but in that part of 1t which
pleads for my liberation, 1t, like many
kindred illusions of other corporations
throughout the country, becomes very non
sensical and very nauseous. Against all
such pulling and sickening sentiment, OF
which ! am the object and the victim, it
seems to me meet and urgent that should
at least enter my reluctant protest. l don't
need pity; don't want 1t, and my friends,
l hope, will privilege me to say so. Did my
friends of the Clonmel corporation content
themselves with protesting and pleading
in the abstract, l should not interfere
with what, at the worst, might be interpret
ed as the harmless, If senseless outpour-
ing OF good nature and well meaning
friendship. But the gentlemen Of the Clon-
mel corporation have proceeded further
much too far indeed--and would present
petition through Count Moore for my re-
lease. This action of the Clonmel corpora
tion-this shject and servlle pleading and
petitioning In my name and interest-this
grovelling at the feet OF my enemies and
jailers in Parliament assembled resent
and repudiate with unutterable disgust and
scorn. The whole discussion on this subject,
as reported in the ClOnmel Chronicle, is to
me unspeakably odious and offensive. You
will, sir, am sure, take the earliest oppor-
tunitY Of reading this my protest to your
corporation, and thus relieve me from the
responsibility of any sympathy with the
spirit and object of its recent proceedings
in connection with my name. l will also
thank the Clonnael Chronicle for the publica-
ton of my letter.
1 remain, dear, slrs, yours faithfully,
EUGENE Shelby, G. G.
Let the countrymen and women Of that
dear old land of Father sheehy's show by
their appearance at the Theatre on to-mor-
row evening that they endorse the language
Of the patriot priest, and that, like him,
they "repudiate with unutterable scorn and
disgust any grovelling for him at the feet of
his enemies and jailers in Parliament as
sembed." Give welcome to the hunted
Irish priest outlawed by the British Gov
eminent but idolized by the Irish people.
YOurs trIIIv KENMARH