Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-24
THOMAS BRENNAN.
The Great Irish Orator in Los Angeles
Sketch OF His Career Interview
with a Herald Reporter.

Sketch OF His Career Interview
with Herald Reporter.
Thomas Brennan, Secretary of the
Irish National League, paid short visit
last week to Los Angeles and then made
a flying trip to Arizona, returning on
Monday. He will leave for San Fran
cisco to-day by steamer, to meet engage
ments to address the people Of that city.
Mr.. Brennan is tall, manly, well-built
gentleman, of pleasant manners, indom.
table courage and natural orator full
Of spontaneous and kindling emotion.
He is native OF the county Of Meath,
20 years Of age, and at his majority gave
himself to the cause of reform in his ma
tive land. He became the right hand
man Of Parnell byreason of his eloquence,
good judgment and noble zeal, and for
his services was thrust into Kilmainham
Jail in 1881, where he lay for more than a
year with no charges preferred against
him. He has been arrested four times
since and placed in solitary confinement
for Is hours day.
His career in Ireland has been bril-
liant and untarnished. Those who are
opp osed to him are indignant because
they cannot find any crime committed
by him against any law Of Great Britain.
After being released from Imprisonment
he went to France and Italy and thence
came to America, where he arrived
about fourteen months ago.
From the time he landed In New
York, and during his career through the
Unitsd States, during which time he has
spoken in New York, Boston, Chicago,
st. Louis, Denver, San Francisco, Port
land, Seattle and nearly every prominent
city In the Union, his progress has been
cheering and his receptions have been
ovations. A reference to the daily news
papers shows that he everywhere drew
the largest audiences and received well.
merited and overwhelming applause.
In an interview with reporter Of the
HERALD, the following exchange OF sen
timent took place.
Reporter What impression have you
gathered from your tour through the
United States of the feeling Of the peo-
pie towards the cause of Ireland, and If
there is sympathy, is it confined to per-
sons of Irish nationality?
Brennan-The feeling is exceedingly
friendly and is not confined to persons
Of Irish nationality, but by Americans
generally. The cablegrams that are sent
from England are under Euglish control
and are colored and fashioned to suit the
English side of the question.
Reporter the National Land
Leagne any sympathy with the dyna-
mite ODonovan Rossa party?
Brennan--The National League has
no connection or sympathy with the
dynamite party. But as long as Ireland
is governed as il is, it is no wonder that
people get infuriated and resort to des-
perate and bloody measures.
Reporter--Has the National League
any hope or expectation of relief from
either Of the political parties of England!
Brennan-We have no expectation of
help from either party except as we con-
vince them by our efforts of the justice
Of our cause. Neither party will do us
justice from any sympathy which they
entertain. Gladstone, even, said it was
the intensity Of Feniapism that led him
to favor the disestablishment of the
Irish Church.
Reporter-What is the principal cause
Of the destitution in Ireland
Brennan-The principal cause along
the west coast Of Donegal to Kerry is
because the land is not able to support
the people. When they cultivated fine
land the landlords put up the rent till
they drove them away to more barren
land, which could not support them and
pay the rent. The poor tillers of the
soil had to go to England to work in
harvest lime 10 keep the wolf from the
door. This state of things was entirely
caused by landlordism
Nonresident landlords never came to
see how their tenants lived, or whether
they lived at all, and the resistance of
Irish peasantry to extortionate rents has
create | lad blood on both sides. In
every part OF the United States ! have
received sympathy and respect, and my
tour has been very pleasant. II was the
good influence of the Lard League that
caused Gladstone to obtain the act of
Parliament of 1881, which took away the
power Of the LANDLORDS to eviot tenants
at their pleasure or TO raise the rent for
fifteen years in the future.
This important work has been done by
the National Land League, and the
effect is great and salutary. The auroral
light Of liberty is slowly but surely
dawning on the horizon of ireland. and
the good work must and shall go on till
the Irish. nation shall be redeemed and
disenthralled forevermore
Mr.. Brennan will speak in San Fran
cisco on the 9TH of May, and an effort
will be made to have him address the
citizens Of Los Angeles in the new opera
house when that shall be completed.
The people of this city who listen to him
will find him brilliant and eloquent or
ator, whom it will bs delight to hear.
and whose manly sincerity will win all