Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-21
HOME RULEF0R IRELAND.
REV. DIR. BETS ADDRESS AT
CATHOLIC LIBRARY HALL.


/ ture of the Irish PeOpIe-Dr. Betts'
! Introduction by Rev. Father o'Hara-
/ Speeches by Prominent Land
Leaguers.
Rev. George c. Belts, OF st. Louis, was
| accorded a most enthusiastic reception by
his fellow countrymen yesterday and last
| night. For weeks the Irish people OF Sa-
vsnnah have been looking forward TO the
promised visit Of the eminent lecturer.
The reverend gentleman has long been
| known through his published lectures to
the patriotic sons of "the gem Of the
sea" resident here. DR., Belts is an Epis-
copallan clergyman, but all creeds united
10 greet him. In fact, the interest shown
was to a great extent the result Of a de-
termIued effort to lose sight of sectarian
religion.
Upon his arrival from Charleston yester-
day morning DR.. Belts was welcomed
by committee at the depot, and every
hospitality was shown him. At O'Clock
last night he was announced 20 speak IN
Catholic Library Hal on the Irisn ques-
ton, and particularly that important
feature of 1t, Home Rule. Half an hour
before the address was to be given many
OF sayannah's most prominent citizens
assembled in the parlors of the episcopal
residence, at Drayton and Perry streets,
to meet the eminent gentleman,
Library Han WAS crowded from
stage to door when Or. Belts
escorted by at least two score Of gentle
men, entered. Capt. John Flannery oc-
cupled the chair and called the meeting
to order. Rev. Father OiHara in a few
words introduced the speaker. Father
/ OHara expressed the qualification he felt
| because the irish people are in harmony,
no matter what their RELIGIOUS belief. The
names Of FITZGERALD, Emmett, Parneil
and O'COnnen were received with loud
applause. "God speed the day, my
friends, when lrishmen of all creeds, of
every form of religious thought and belief
will unite and wrest from England the
| authority to legisate concerning Ireland
and Irish soil,' said Father O'Hara
iD conclusion.
DR.. Belts thanked the people present
for his welcome. Il take this as a tribute
not 20 me-" he said, ''but to that interest
which ceuters now in a question which is
agitatng the whole civilized world.
am particularly grateful for the Kind
words OF my friend Father O'Hara. 1t
has been my fortune to be introduced by
! Catholic clergymen at least nine
times in every tenn that |
| have spoken from the platform
upon Irish matters. Some have said that
| am not true to nv religious convictions.
That when Ireland gains her independ-
ence one Of her first acts win be to estab-
lish the Roman Catholic Church, set up
the inquisiuOn, and make of the speaker
one Of its first victims. If Father O'Hara
or any Of the gentlemen here should want
to stab me, or if my blood was to be shed
in behalf OF Ireland, had rather it would
be done by an ITisnman than an English
man, for the latter has no remOrse.
The English papers originated that
Islander. Some day when Ireland has
gained her independence England will
need her help, and she will receive il too.
1t isa common thing to hear Americans
say that the one great evil In this country
IS the power of the Roman Catholic
| church, That it longs to crush out liberty.
| As one who does not worship at the same
altar, say that is "A foul Islander.
Ireland is not a very large country, only
$50 miles long and $40 miles wide. There
are those who say it is not a very fertile
| land-the crops are not large. Why,
! then, does England desire the island? 1t
is the only greatness she possesses. Ire
! lands commercial greatness was
the only cmmercial greatness Eng
! land ever had. II she has greatness
as an armed power, it is by
reason OF her foreign troops. According
! to population Ireland has furnished more
generals and troops than England herself.
If her navy has made her mistress of the
seas 1t was gallant irish 8dmrals and
Captains that commanded her fleets.
| Look at the names that shine most glOri-
! Ously on the field Of literature. They are
| those of lrshmen. The sweet singers
who have charmed the heart. fred the
blood and nerVed the arm are Irish. The
songs that reused The people to enthusi.
assn were sung by lrishmen. She speaks
Na.NA NEs.A..
| son Of old Ireland. Bale, the musician.
Sullivan, the composer, are Irish.
But il seems to be necessary for an
lrishman to overtOp every body else in the
world before people Will believe he knows
anything. Hanlan had to outrow every.
body and Sullivan had 10 thrash every.
body before they were acknowledged &c
be the best men,
The English say we are not able to
Irish as poor and ignorant. 1t has come
almost to be thought by Americans that
we are an ignorant people. VINO ever
saw an ignorant Irishman? Why
there has never been an ignorant Irish.
man created since the days of Adam
You may have seen an illiterate Irish.
man but not anlgnOrant oGe. ! can pick
out the man in this audience that gives
the least sign OF intelligence and ! can
prove TO you that he knows more about
the history Of Ireland and its present
political situation than the legislator does
about what was done at the last session
If the legislature. | remember that when
| was BOY in County Donegal that in.
stead of being caught and roasted by
Catholics coming from mass they used tC
put me on a stile.
A newspaper was put In the lads hands
> for him 10 read the political news Of his
country and the general news of the world
TO his neighbors. But u is not SO to-day
; Every man, woman and child there reads
to-day. There Is not a cOttager so poor
but that he had rather do without bis
humble meal than his paDer, which tell,
him the news Of the world.
The English have said TO each other
1--WE must make the Irish a cursed race
in their own eyes and to the ewes of the
world. They must be hewers Of wood anC
drawers Of water, lowered in their owr
esteem and in the eyes OF other countries
where they have sought refuge"
In order TO carry out this damnablt
scheme TO maket this people Odious by law
they withdrew the schools from ireland
In spite Of this, there are to-day in thi,
country. men occupying the highest pc
sltons, civic and pOlitical-men who com
mand the respect OF every one, and VIII,
exhibit genius in a thousand ways; wht
Int up their heads and say proudly, Il an
an lrishman.'
Why is il we have a National League