The daily gazette., 1883-05-26
UNITY rs STRENGTH,
An Appeal to Irishmen and Friends OF
Ireland


The following address has Just been is.
sued by committee appointed for the pur-
pose at the meeting held last Sunday OF the
National League, No. 1, of Wilmington.
The document fully explains itself
70 IrtshDlen and friends Of Ireland -
Fellow countrymen and friends The time
has come when 1t is highly essential that all
lrish-Amerfcans who revere the land Of
their birth or sympathiSe with their fellow
countrymen TO arouse and organize together
that they may unitedly render that
moral support which IT needs, and which
cannot be extended by individual
efforts. The situation In Ireland has
placed our friends in such an embarrassing
position that, unaided, they are compelled
10 sustain cruelties which only q govern
ment like the British would impose upon an
unresisting people. The oppressors of the
Irish nation have, through their well-paid
emisEaries, under the pretense of form of
law, inflicted puDishments upon a people
who have only asked for q simple act of JUS
tice which should be every mans birth
right, the privilege of enacting laws suit
able for the requirements of a people dis
tinctly set apart by nature and endowed
with capacity ofself government. Though
granting this small boon would be virtual
redress of Irish grievances, yet the tyran-
ical rulers of helpless people, rather than
grant it have irritated the people until dis
sensions have divided them and exaspera-
tion has taken the place of reason to such
an extent that the unjustifable Phoenix
2 rk murders have been the result. That
unfortunate tragedy has been made the
groundwork of a heartless persecution. By
a form of law people in any way connected
with organizations have been arrested and
others intimdated. The method of proeur-
ing juries, and the quality of the evidence
addu:ed and used for the purpose of con-
yicting so-called offenders, make travesty
of Justice and hollow mockery of law.
In view of the foregoing the undersigned
committee OF the National League No. l, of
Wilmington, appointed at the last meeting
to prepare an address to the people do repre-
sent that we consider the ordeal through
which our people are passing as the last and
most trying test of their fidelity to the sacred
cause OF liberty and self-government.
We are compelled to acknowledge that
there has been exhibited consistent unity
of action, showing strongly the beauty and
advantage of thorough organization. By
uniting all the conflicting parties in one CO.
hesive mass and identifying the interests of
all, shows that the people of Ireland have
arisen and broken through that thraldom
which has held them in virtual bondage for
centuries. Their position to-day, though
writhing in the bonds of oppression and
tyrrany, challenges the admiration of the
civilized world and demands at our hands
recognition by thoroughly organizing, enrol
ling our names, and byou presence giving
that prestige TO the cause off brethren that
carries with 1t success, or will at least coun-
terpOise the depression likely to be felt by
the intimidating course of the Dublin courts,
through their packed juries bound to con-
vict, even on such partial evidence as can be
CLEANED from paid informers who testify
only to save their own lives, but which tes
timony is entirely insufficient for conviction
when not supported by other proof and
would never be permitted in the courts of
England.
Then proud prerogative untaught to creep,
With bribery's silent foot on freedoms sleep,
Frankly avowed his bold enslaying plan
That claimed right from God to trample man.
The next meeting of the league will take
place ON Sunday afternoon at $50 o'clock
In the front room, second story of the Tele-
graph Building, Third and Market streets.
JOHN j. LEONARD,
OWEN TRAYNoR,
j. NJ. CORE.