Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-09
EL0QUENCE AND LOGIC.
REV. DR.. j. &. ARMSTRONG ON
THE IRISH QUESTION.

Ertuis A bic and Prominent SOns-lre-
lands Opposition Not Due to Differ
enoe in Religion but Because she
Wishes to Free Her soil from InvA-
ders.
Or. j. G. Armstrong, OF Atlanta, arrived
in savannah yesterday morning to lecture
before the Irish National League. He was
met at the depot by committee COM
posed OF Col. Peter Reilly, Mr.. Luke Car.
son, NJ. A. O'Byrne, Esq, and p. j.
/ O'Connor, Esq. These gentlemen saw
him TO the Pulaski mouse, and in the
afternoon he was shown around the city,
/ which he was visiting for the first time.
While the audience was assembling in
! Catholic Library nall last night Dr.. Arm
strong was presented to number Of cIti-
len- and an informal reception was held
in the sOciety's reading room. Among
I the gentlem n who met him were Judge
/ A. Pratt Adams, Capt. George A. Mercer,
/ Alderman Il. Myers, Alderman Wells,
Rev. Charles II. strong, j. W. Wilson,
/ Esq, Capt. NJ. j. Doyle, j. Mclaughlin,
Dr.. Num-, W. II. Jade, Esq, B. Il. Rich
! ardsOn, w. f. Waller, Sheriff John Il.
Roman and E. J. Kennedy.
/ DIR. Armstrong wore the conventional
clerical black. with white tie. For every
one he had a CHEEKY smile, a warm grasp,
and pleasant word. His smooth shaven
face nor Intellectual features showed no
lines that seemed recently turrOWed by
worry or anxiety.
The hail was but little less than crowded
when his tail figure passed up 10 the plat
form. He was welcomed with a burst
Of applause. for although he was
a. that moment seen for the first time by
the most Of those present, all were tOler-
ably familiar with recent occurrences
with winch his name has been associated
All OF the gentlemen named above and
more took seats on the platform, as did
he following also: Hon. Peter Reilly,
Hon. Gazaway Hartridge, f. X.
Douglas, NJ. A. OByrre, T. II. O'Dono-
van, secretary lrsn National League,
John Feelay, j. b. Klllourhy, Mr.. Noble,
Atlanta J0urn0i James Ward, Charles
Gassman, Col. Barnard E. Bee.
Back OF the platform was suspended
this motto in Irish letters ga spark
from heaven has ignited and set agiow
the fires Of his intellect" Right above
the sentiment was an engraving Of Charles
stewart Parnell.
P. J. O'Connor, Esq, president of the
savannah branch Of the Land League in
trOduced the lecturer.
DR.. Armstrong began by referring TO
the new bill which Gladstone has con-
sented to introduce IN the English Par
itHtAAEhL~ II - hul a Jill AOi COEl ClOu hui
for the suspensionOf the writ of haoeas
corpus but for home rule. The power
that forced Gladstone to cOnset 10 in
trOduce the bill was Charles Stewart
Parnell and his colleagues.
81 believe to-day that they are debating
the terms" said the speaker, and his
words were greeted with loud applause.
Continuing, be said: II am come here for
a special purpose, and that is TO lend my
influence towards increasing the volume
OF mora, weight Of the people Of savannah
in behalf OF the cause for which Parnell
and his colleagues are striving. Now,
IN order to do this | do not think
1t prudent to indulge in an exaggerated
TRADE against England. l have heard
sneeches made on the Irish cause which
| to me as an Irisnman were offensive be-
/ cause every Irishman listening knew that
| the statements were not true. England
is great nation. In many respects she
is grand nation. She has had great
poets, historians and orators, although
| believe that the most of those who have
woven any garlands around her
| brow had drop of Irish blood
| in them. She has had her scientists,
| artists and warriors. Dr. Armstrong
proceeded TO analyZe English and irish
/ patriotism as it is found impressed upon
the poetry, the song and ballads of the
! two countries. English poets sing Ottheir
| warriors, their navy and hearts of oak.
| That does not touch the first spark OF an
| lrishman's heart, the speaker declared.
An lrishman's love for Ireland is for her
! soil and turf, peat walls, green fields and
beautiful lakes.
DR.. Armstrong read for his text a pas
sage from the declaration, "We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men
were created free aud equal" etc. III
/ would like, before discussing the passage
| to remove what | consider to be two
| preiudces against the Irish question.
One is that it is a religious question"
Dr.ArmstrOng went on to show that the
| opposition of the Irish to English govern
ment is not on account Of religious differ
ences. When Henry III invaded Ireland
/ there was no question of religious
| differences. Both peoples were OF
/ the same religion. For 800 years the
Irish and English wOrshiped the same
/ God and the same Christ through the
/ same forms. From Henry III. TO Henry
! VIII, from the middle of the twelfth cen
| fury to the middle Of the sixteenth, there
was no religious phase to tue question.
/ The tyrannizing class was Catholic, as
| was the oppressed for 400 years. From
/ the reign OF Henry VIII. to the close of
/ the Georges, tyranny was exercised very
/ largely upon a religious basis "a shown
/ in the penal act. From the time 81 Henry
] VIII. 10 Inc present England mas m nj
| tested the spirit Of extermuation of the
4 Irish race and persecution on ac-
count OF religion. The organ
izatiOn OF the Brotherhood OF
! United Irishmen was sketcned by the lee
turer. Five OF its leaders were Protest
ants. OF the two religious parties the
Catholics have the greatest cause 10 pro-
test because they have suffered the most
he said.
Speaking Of the appeal recently made
| by the Irish Presbyterlans TO the Scotch
members 20 vote against GladstOne's bill,
DR.. Armstrong argued that the Scotch are
more closely allied to the Irish than 20
! Norman or IeutOn. Where did the Irish
come tromf lwillte you. They are the
! oldest child that was Graded IN the
lap OF the Himalayas before the great
separation of the Arian family" Drop
ping into phllOlOgy for a few
minutes, the lecturer traced the
| etymol)gy OF few words In proof OF
the assertion tnat the Celts formed the
/ first wave OfpOpulatiOn that spread across
/ Europe To the westward. Iran. the an
Gent name Of Persia, and Erin are the
same. Ireland was first settled, ana from
that island the Celts went over to Scot
| land and up through the Highlands.
/ Tribes from Scotia major settled SCOTIA
minor. "lhe Scotchman aud lrishmau
are nearer than brothers. The ScOtchman
/ is The lrlshman's SON."
/ The lecturer den bunced the pOyning's