Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-10-24
Stirring Up Irish Voters.

SUSPECT M'SWEENEY TELLS HIS STORY.
The public reception and address Of well
come to Daniel McSweeney, 1.-THE Amer
lean Suspect" at the Academy of Music
in New York last week. brought out an
immense gathering of Irish Americans.
Mr.. McSweeney was escorted from the
New York Hotel to the Academy by the
Sullivan Club. which bore Cleveland
and Hendricks banner, presented to them
by Mrs. Hendricks. The route was illu-
minated with fireworks.
Mr.. Sullivan waved in front of the au-
dience the banner presented by Mrs. Hen.
bricks. referring to its motto, Freedom
to Ireland,' and promising that should
naturalized citizens be imprisoned in Ire
land after next March, Mrs. Hendricks
would not let the Administration rest uu-
til the prisoners were set free.
Mr.. insolvency gave the audience de-
tailed account of his arrest and imprisoE-
ment for eighteen months in Dundaik jail,
without Information as to the charges
against him, and without trial, without
the slightest recognition of his American
citizenship. at time when Mr.. Blaine
had undisputed authority in the State
Department. He said that Mr.. Blaines
present promises could hardly be believed
in view of his conduct when he had the
power to do something more than pro-
mise. Mr.. insolvency declared that he
had never acted as a British subject since
he took up his residence in ireland for his
health. but had expressly refused SO to
act. He admitted having raised the Amer
lean flag over his residence and having at
tended meetings for lawful, peaceable,
and constitutional agitation, under the
leadership of Parnell. But he was watched
by detectives and finally arrested without
accusation. although he protested that he
was an American citizen. Neither Mr.
Blame nor Mr. Lowell did anything for
HIM, but let him remain in his dungeon
until the British Government let him out
without trial.
Gen. M. T. Mcmahon read a series of
resolutions denouncing the conduct of
Blaine toward the irish Nationalist. The
following is a sample:
Resolued, That James G.. Blaine, then
Secretary of State. in failing to make re-
clamation ard to enforce it by the voice
of fifty millions Of people, after request
and repeated appeal had b en- made by the
imprisoned citizen, was guilty Of great
wrcng and a crime against liberty and
constitutional rights.
at this point. escorted by Hon. Jas. Oliver,
was the signal for uproarious cheering.
Congressman Hewitt made speech, cri
tlcising severely the shortcomings of Mr..
Blaine in neglecting, for eight months of
his term OF Office. to assert the dignity and
honor Of the A merican name. Hequoted
the Report Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the House of Representa-
lives, and showed that that Republican
committee approved the action Of Lowell,
as Instructed by Blaine, SO that the Re
publican party was on record as approving
the enforcement OF the Coercion act
against naturalized citizens. He COM
mented upon the curious fact that in all
OF tue published correspondence Mr..
BlaiDe's letter, although referred to- was
not produced. This suggested to the
speaker and the audience Mr.. Blaine's
Burn this letter"
While Mr.. Hewitt was speaking man
in the audience shouted, 'Three cheers
for Frelinghuysen." Mr.. Hewitt said:
Cheer him if you will He did his duty.
They all did their duty when we prodded
them up to it, and if we had prodded them
more Bergh would have interfered on the
ground of cruelty TO animals. James Il.
Blaine and the Coercion act are twin
brothers.
Mrs. Parnell got cordial welcome
when she advanced to speak.
Glow long Will it take" she asked, ito
purify the Republican party? We shall
never be able to find soap enough to purify
it, She charged the Republicans as far
back as Grants administration with re-
sponsjbility for the harsh treatment of
Irish Nationalist. She quoted some of
the sayings Of her father, 'Oid Ironsides,''
and said that she felt as though she could
see the spirit of her father saying, IS of
cid, that Britannia should net rule the
waves. and dfploring that our navy
should go to Davy Joncs's locker under
under Republican administrations. She
reused the audience to enthusiasm by say
ing;
My sen Charles would not be leading
the movement that he leads if he were not
a Democrat. He is Democrat to the
core and the marrow of bis bones.
The Rev. DR.. McGlynn was the last
speaker. He said he was not much of
statesman and less Of politician. In an
swer to the question why he, priest,
should be there, he said ne did not con-
slider the meeting political one in par
tisan sense, but in the higher sense. The
fact was he was going to preach them
sermon, and he suggested as text
Thou shalt not steal" and Thou shalt
not bear false Witness" or ''Thou
shalt not commit perjury" The Doctor
got his audience in great good humor by
addressing them as Clearly beloved fell
low citizens"