The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-12-03

" n2AE SEN A4V1 0VNB0 0AAOs
A Corrected Report ef ~ Ele4aens
aaa CeaehraseA speech.
The somewhat incoherent reports which APP
peared In the Sunday morning papers Of the re-
marks made by Senator Jones, Of Florida, at the
Irish meeting last Saturday night. have given
rise 10 much curiosity a. to what the Senator
really did say, that The Nssos feels justified In
publishing the speech In full from the Senator's
corrected notes, which he has kindly furnished
don't intend to offer any apology for my ap-
pearance here tonight. This meeting made no
special ofort TO reach me, nor did make any
effort to reach it, had a very Informal and not
very warm invitation TO be present. and made
up my mind TO come here and listen to those
who are known to be well informed upon great
public question which at this time engages the
attention OF the civilized world. Being a man
of Irish birth and Irish blood, and citizen of
this great republic devoted to its best interests,
leel that have right TO be here to learn what
could about great public subject which
warns the hearts and stirs the blood of more
than ten millions of people on this continent.
am aware that there Is q very respectable
portion of the people of the United States who
sincerely believe that we have no right to give
any expression of opinion or of sympathy upon
United States. Well. I thank God that don't
belong to that class. l believe in community
oil human brotherhood all over the world
look upon the boundaries OF States and king
doms as nothing more than convenient artificial
land marks TO separate those divisions of power
which are necessary to the institution of govern
ment and the good order of society. They con-
stitute limitations upon public authority, but
they do not and God forbid they ever should,
limit or in any way restrict the full and bound
less expansion OF human hopes and human SYM
pathies Government here and everywhere
has right TO say to lis citizens: You shall take
no active physical part in the contention OF 9TH
er States: 1 will not permit you to enter foreign
armies or navies, to help pull down the authori.
~ OF friendly powers. This is the law of nations,
and 1t IS just But what writer on that great law
ever penned line against any people or any
number of people sending forth their hearts anil
their sympalhies to their brethren in dstan,
parts OF the earth when they were engaged in
great struggle for freedom?
Where would this country be TO-DAY if this
right had been denied TO the foreign millions
who sympathized with and aided the cause of
American independence? suppose there are
GOOD many people here tonight who know that
the United States were at one time British prov
lnces, anu that for seven years they were en-
gaged, not 10 mere moral struggle for freedom.
but IN desperate life and death struggle They
sought aid and sympathy everywhere They
sent emlssarles all over the world but the only
countries that manifested any genuine sympathy
for them were Celtic France and Celtic Ireland
Anu II IS an undisputed historic truth that the
natives OF those countries by the thousands
fought side by side with the American culOnists
10 the cause OF popular freedom, and shed their
blood on every battlefield OF the revolution.
Luis great country to-day would be nothing
out miserable British province, and Michigan
as o'ate would never have been heard of, but
tor the warm sympathy OF those French hearts
winch came TO our rescue in our struggle for in
dependence. What were Lafayette, Montgom-
cry, Steuben? Who led your forlorn hope at the
siege OF Savannah and sealed with his lite's
blood his devotion TO freedom? France. Ireland
Germany, Poland (who has many sons here) were
AL represented in the persons of some of their
ulost distinguished sons in our great revolution
Anu "ha1 OF the rank and file Of your armies
Wnole french army and a naval fleet came to
your rescue; and but for them there would be
no monument to-day to mark the spot where
CORVALLIS surrendered. You have heard of the
celebrated Pennsylvania line. Who composed
II! AT least four-fifths of Irshmen And their
sHnerngs were greater than those of any corps
OF the war;
The immortal author of the declaration of in
dependence and the father of home rule on
tnis continent, in his great battle with the dudes
al The beginning of the century, never counte.
nanced the doctrine that the sympathies and
moral power of this people ought to go forth TO
an VINO were struggling for freedom in any part
OF the globe You know that France drawing
courage and inspiration from the success of our
revolution, engaged in most terrific contest
against kingiy power, which for 500 years had
reduced the great body of the people TO a state
worse than slavery. All the liberal spirits of the
country followed Mr. Jefferson and openly sym-
patnlzed with France and Ireland. I never ap-
proved OF the crimes OF the French revolution
Still, when realize what that country is TODAY
as compared with what ii was under kngly
power and the Infamous land system which was
destroyed 6y the revolution, while deplorng the
excuses Of the struggle, rejoice at the comfort,
independence, intelligence and power of the
French people.
have been shocked in recent DAYS at the
monstrous sentiment which has grown up in this
country against any citizen or public man giving
expression 10 his Sympathy for suffering states
and people outside of our borders This false
doctrine never until lately had any foothod
here 1t don't belong to the genius of free
country , II IS not in conformity, thank God
win the teachings and principles of the political
party to which belong. Look TO your public
annals and read the warm words Of sympathy
sent over by Clay and Webster from the Senate
OF the United States to suffering Greece in her
struggle with the Turk. And still the Turk in
all his excuses OF tyranny never inflicted half
the cruelty and injustice upon the Greek that
the Saxon has upon the Irshman MY soul ab-
hors this falseness of sentiment 1t will be said
that the classic memories of Ancient Greece
made an exception; that the verses of Homer
have touched every heart, and the contest WAS
against pagan power. l admit that all This ia
true. But what is 1t as a ground of human sym-
pathy compared with the claim of the IrishInan
whose blood intermingles with that of millions
on this continent, and has flowed like w alter on
every battlefield where the honor of our fiay
was to be maintained?
The struggle now going on in Ireland is not
sentimental one. 1t is not to revenge the out
RACES and crimes OF government in past centu-
RES; Dut u IS 10 secure justice, peace and pros:
perlty TO millions now living. and establish safe
guards and securities for the future against the
recurrence OF the oppression and Outrages of the
past. But it is often asked, why Irishmen in
America concern themselves about Irish aft airs ?
The answer TO this question can be found in the
truth, fidelity generosity and devotion of the
Irish heart. That heart is not the receptacle of
sordid, selfish feeling. The impress of centuries
OF injustice has made it feel for the old land like
child of severe birth feels for the devoted
mother who suffered terrible agony in giving
him existence
Centuries of cruel and hellish legislation tried
to exterminate the old, imperial race; but il sur
wives to-day stronger, Drawer and more enlpht-
ened than il ever was-and wherever YOU find
il emancipated from the rule of the oLpressor
you will find it equal in every field to The most
favored OF mankind.
Those who know anything of life will know
that there has existed for centuries the bitteres
hostility between the Saxon and the Celt This
innate natural aversion of the one for the other
has been so great that, after reading of their con-
fiicts, have despaired of ever seeing the two
una fhapi in or,ir; IF