The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-23
He Charges the Responsibility for Ireland's
Condition Upon Forster-Independ-
ence Almost Assured
Mr.. Forster's Defense of His Course
Before the House of Commons.
He Holds Parnel Responsible-McAdara
Denies that He Is "NO. L." and
Courts Investigation.
AN AGITATOR's VIEWS.

Organizer Sheridan Thinks Ireland on the
Straight Road Independence.
New YORK. Feb 22.-The forthcoming is
sue of the Irish World will contain long
interview with P. J. Sheridan, whom James
Carey, the informer, in his testimony in
Dublin, Ireland, stated to be an 'invincible
organizer"
Reporter-Do you propose leaving New
York to avoid being extradted, as has been
! threatened by the English government?
| Sherdan-l had intended going West
previous to my reading of Informer Careys
! references to me at the Dublin trials, but
have now decided on remaining in New
| ork. If any emissary of the British gov
ernment wants. to know where [ am, he will
/ lind me at my desk in the Irish World office
/ any day of the week.
I Rep-Do you not think the consequences
might be serious if you were placed in the
4 dock in Dublin
4 Sheridan The British conrts of law in
/ ireland are organized simply to convict, and
/ ftm ar wanted. J know if the British
! goveI,.a got me into its clutches. I would
| certainly - hanged. even though j dis
| proved, as | could easily disprOve every
charge which Informer Carey has sworn
| against me. Ny innocence OF Lliit would nos
effect the issue.
Rep.-With such fears on your mind
would it not be better to move to some
country having no extradition treaty with
England?
Sherdan-If there were no other consid-
| Grafton than my individual safety, might
| be induced to think so. But feel my trial,
should it come to that, will result in giving
the American people an opportunity of
Judging of the class of evidence on which ir
reproachable men are almost daily hanged in
Ireland. Such an expose, I imagine, would
be productive of good results for Ireland.
| TlprefOra I rpD1aiO
Rep-Do you entertain any hopes for the
| prisoners in Ireland?
Sheridan-No; Dr. Nulty's life is no safer
than Joseph Mulletts, if the English govern
ment only deemed it polite to hang him. If
| Carey, Kavanaugh and Farrell found it nee
essary to save their necks to swear Dr. Nulty
killed Cavendish and Burke, they would do
| it. The government has only to name its
victims and the informers will swear accord
ing to order.
Rep-Supposing those men should be
hanged, what do you think will be the re-
suit?
Sherdan-That is matter only to be
| guessed at. There is one thing, however, of
which | have no doubt and that is, Ireland
| was never so determined on the achievement
of her independence, and never so straight
on the track to obtain it as she is at this
hour
Rep-Do you know this informer Carey,
who says he was introduced to you at the
Angel Hotel Dublin?
| Sherdan--I never met the man in my life.
| His reference to an interview with me at the
| Angel Hotel, Dublin, and his statement about
my promising to forward him some arms
| from London are sheer fabrications, and con-
| vince me his story has been concocted in
Dublin Castle, and Carey, in order to save his
miserable neck, volunteered to swear to it in
| the witness box
Rep.-As a matter of fact, have you been
a
legged?
Sheridan --"Yes; I found it necessary to
visit Ireland for two reasons, which | will
give you, and being aware of the fact that a
general order was issued from the castle to
the police to arrest me if found in any part of
Ireland-at tina. time the British government
was arresting every Irlshman who was
thought to be of service to the land league
cause-I assumed the guise of a priest
and went to Ireland, first for the purpose of
arranging for the recovery of some property
OF which had been robbed during my i'm
prisonment and exile, and second for the
purpose of putting down agrarian acts and
upholding the no rent manifesto, by a pro-
| cess of social ostracism, that being, in my
opinion, the most potent as well as the most
moral we eapon within the peoples reach. 1
also found it necessary to inquire into some
alleged neglects and abuses in connection
withe the expenditure of Land League funds,
arising out of the fact that the ladies' league
in Dublin, as we'll as Egan and myself in
Paris had been deprived of the assistance of
our trained organizers then locked up in
prison as suspects"
Rep.-Do you think if you had been al
lowed to return to Ireland you could have
prevented many of these acts of bloodshed?
Sheridan-I have no doubt if myself and
other active men, then either IN prison or
exile, were allowed to move about as usual
| among the people, society would have
been spared the horrible exhibitions, or
most of them, that followed. Forster ruled
otherwise, and on him and him alone rests
the responsibility Maamtrasna Gurten,
Ballina, Phoenix Park and like tragedies
throughout Ireland would be unheard of.
In fact. Forster has on the floor of the House
OF Commons admitted his responsibility for
the acts committed by officers of the law,
and feel history will charge him with the
responsibility of the crimes committed by
the people. He it Is that should be on his
trial for these massacres, Phoenix Park in
cuded.
Rep.-In your opinion, have any Land
League funds been employed for promoting
disorder in Ireland, as alleged?
Sheridan-Such presumption can only
come from one or two sources, viz: either
total ignorance of the Land-league policy and
its leaders, or an ill-concealed desire to dis
parage both.
Rep.-Have you distributed any money in
Ireland during your disguised stay there2
Sheridan-I have. When Forster charged
that was engaged in fomenting disorder, 1
was occupied in bringing succor to the men,
women and children whom he left without a
home or morsel to eat. One case is note
worthy. Finding myself in a poverty
stricken district in Munster, discovered
fourteen evicted families forced to seek shell
ter on Christmas day under fence in Valen-
tia Island, on the west coast of Kerry There
the tender babe and the aged grandsire had
looked for manifestations OF those "tidipgs of