Morris tribune., 1883-12-19
.yVharFInerty says About 1t.


WASHINGTON CRY, Dec. 1S.-In an in
terwiew Congressman Finerty said that
if ODonnell was hanged in London it would
be an insult to the American people; that
England had often tweaked our national
nose; but that we never took offense, and
that the stars and stripes, as protec-
tive of adopted citizens, was "faunt-
ing lie," and was looked upon as a sort of
handkerchief by European nations.
As nation of shopkeepers, he said, we dare
not declare war, as that would hurt CONNER
cial interests, and commercial interests must
be maintained, even at the cost of the ma
tion's honor. He desired an efficient navy,
and demanded American representation in
London-not by that ''duke of dudes and
adopted Scotchman," James Russell Lowell
He thought that with O'Donnell's execution
the ignis fatuus of British fair play" would be
dissipated from the minds of many Irish
Americans, and 1.-THE curtain would be rung
down on the farce forever" He had no hope
cf the Communication of ODonnelI's sentence,
for he considered the British too savage and
too panic-stricken for that "They are as
a mass more merciless than the wild
est of North American Indians. They
would put Irish patriot prisoners
to the torture now as they did in 179S and
1853, only that they are restrained by fear of
the worlds opinion. They hate America with
bitterness that nobody unacquainted with
their jealous, spiteful and unforgiving nature
could believe The British government policy
Is a curse to civilization, and humanity should
combine against itn
Mr. Finerty did not see how the United
States could consistently resent the insult
which Great Britain had seen fit to indict
upon her in refusing to stay sentence upon
one of her citizens. "What can it resent
withs Where is our navyi If we were
really l should vote to declare war against
Great Britain in maintenance of our national
honor. l confess should like to see Ireland
freed by American Intervention, but do not
want America ruined in an u.prepared war
for the sake of Ireland or any other country.
America has had sufficient cause OF
oHense to declare war, but tine in
terrorism of our national policy has left us
In most humiliating position. We are too
big to stand an insult without disgrace,
and too weak to resent it without disaster. Ii
America were forced into a struggle witt
Engiand she could only concentrate all the
defense on the most vulnerable ports, issue
letters OF marque, seize the vantage points in
Cs Ia, and let the privateers capture or
dc y every merchant vessel that sails under
the british flag" When asked if he thought
ODonnells execution would be avenged, Mr.
Finerty replied: believe its Sure as the sun
shines Some dreadful retaliation will
startle the world and make England grow
pale. There may be terrible race war in
England, but the British have more to lose
than the Irish in such struggle A fight
Of that kind would kindle this country
into a living blaze and might hurl it
into war of liberation, the end of which
would be an Irish republic or Ireland a state
in the American union. Great nations like
this must assume great responsibilities. The
people that freed the slaves, not of their
blood, will, if once aroused, do as much for
their own race, bound to them by SO many
ties of affection and endearing gratitude
O'Donnell must be avenged or the Irish race
will be dishonored."