The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-04
M. Hes!y in San Antonio.
ARRIVAL = ENTHUSIASTIC RECEP-
TION-GREAT MEETING AT
># TURNER HALL.
Mr.. Healy's Speech-Recital of Ireland's
Wrongs - The Land Bill ana Its
Working-The Land Commits
siOn-LandlO rdism-Evic-
tiOns-Predicted
Success.

tions-Predicted
Success.
Mr.. Healy, M. p for Wexford borough,
secretary of the Irish land league and member
of the home rule party, responding to the in
vitation of the Bexar county land league.
arrived in the city from Galveston by the train
due here about 7 o'clock. On arrival, he was
received by Mayor French on behalf of the
city, and by Major Dwyer and other members
of the land league. After the Introductory
ceremony had passed, and we had an opportu-
nifty Of resuming an acquaintance with Mr..
Healy, the party drove off to the
MENGER HOTEL,
where a room had been retained and salts
factory meal awaited them. This done, the
party again took the carriages and were
driven to
TURNER HALL,
at which place public address had been ar
ranged for. Here, further introductions were
made, and friendly all-round chat was held.
Ats o'clock the party proceeded to the plat
form, which was decorated by the Arhef. ...ll
and Irish flags being blended together and by a
transparency having the legend, God
Save Ireland and the Irish ensign
of the harp. Judge Noonan, by the
invitation of the Bexar county land
league, occupied the chair, and he was sup
ported by Justice Shields. Mr.. Eugene Digges,
Major Dwyer, and J. P. Newcomb and sever
al other gentlemen. Judge Noonan having
welcomed the distinguished visitor, eulogized
his actions end expressed sympathy with the
people of Irelahel, called upon
MR.. HEALY,
who, rising amid much cheer, said he appeared
here to night as a representative of Ireland,
and he would show its position to be one of
population of five mill from whom ten
thousand idlers drew thei l. les, leaving the
great majority to live upon a.iled potatoes and
salt. This injustice was the main cause of the
many revolts with which history had made the
American people familiar. In Ireland liberty
was at an end. Mans life and liberty were
at the disposal of mean informers, and per-
sons were condemned without trial to incar-
ceration in Jail. Here the San Antonians had
liberty Of speech and free press. In
ireland such meeting would be dispersed by
bullets and buck shot, and he, for daring to
speak to it, would be taken up and imprisoned
The editor of every newspaper that had spoken
against English mis-rule had been imprisoned.
In the case of The weekly Irishmen" six ed
itOrs had been successfully cast into prison,
but as fast as one editor was arrested another
filled his place, and then, the government
finding no other means to disperse it, forced
the office and took the fittings to Dublin Cas-
tie. 1t was, for this bold speaking that
MI. Parnell lay that night in Kilmainham Jail.
Referring to the land allotment in Ireland
he asked: What would Texans think il, after
the southern war, the land had been dis
tribute to about five thousand favorites, and
kept down by force? Yet this, he asserted,
was the position of Ireland.
1t had been alleged that the Irish land bill
was sufficient to rectity Irish grievances, but
this was scarcely the case. High rents and
systematic extortion had broken the farmers.
From this cause the begging hat was sent
round for the Irish people, when enough
produce to keep twenty million pco-
pie went to supply the landlords with luxur-
les. This same had occurred in IS48. AT
time when the American people were sending
provisions for the relief of the famished Irish,
ten times the amount necessary for their sus-
tenance, was being passed to the English
landlords in the form Of rent.
Ireland had for twenty years demanded
fixture of tenure, fair rent and free sale, but
the idea had been received with scorn. 1t
was then that the land league claimed the
right of the soil, and then the English govern
ment attempted to force the original PROPOSE
ton down their threats by bayonets.
THE LAND BILL
affected the rights of 10000 workers, as OPP
posed to 10000 idlers, and Mr.. Gladstone |
had proposed to define them by land COM
mission consisting of three gentlemen. One
of these was landlord, the second a land |
agent, and the third lawyer. They were not !
elected by the people, and had no
sympathy with them. Moreover their !
record was one of opposition to the peasantry.
These held their court in Dublin, and they |
appointed sub-commissioners, whose duty it |
was TO investigate the claims Of tenants on the :
spot and then give judgment These were
fashionable dandy lawyers who were well
e iough to firt and dance with the ladies of
Dublin castle, but they had nc qualification for
the office and lacked understanding of tn, Irish
race and sympathy Of the people. These SUBJ
went to the farms, turned over
the sod they did not understand, made very
inquiries, and, If the rent was out
high, made trihing reduction.
Some of the New York papers said that the
American farmers would like to have such a +
bill, but he would like to see the president