St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-15
RIGHT OF SELF RULE.
Michael Davitt Greeted by Tremendous
Crowd of Sympathizers With Ire
land at Chicago.

land at Chicago.
he Makes an Address Replete With Flo
quence and Tempered by Cool
Judgment.
What Legitimate Means Have Effected
for the Cause of
Erin.
Perseverance and Patience VIII Con-
quer--The Lesson of Glad.
stones Defeat.
Davitl's Appeal.
CHICAGO, Aug. 14.-There was ire
mendous concourse of sympathzers with
the home rule movement in Ireland at
Ogden's grove. in this city, this afternoon.
The meeting was presided over by eX-Con-
gresham John f. Finerty who introduced
Michael Davitt as the first speaker. The
latterS appearance was greeted with ire
mendous cheering. On the platform were
Alexander Sullivan, eX-presdent of the
Irish National league, Patrick Egan, preSi
dent of the league. and Matthew p. Brady,
John Boyle O'ReiIly and Others. The
Clan ma Gael guards and the Hibernian
rifles served as an escort to the speakers
to the park. 1t is estimated that
900 people were on the grounds.
Before Mr.. Davitt was introduced Chair
man Finerty made short but fiery speech.
Matthew 2. Brady then read an address in
the same vein from the executive commit
tee of the united Irish societies of Chicago
to the people. The address,, while ICON
templating with satisfaction the results of
the lab0rs of the parliamentary party under
the leadership of Parnell, so far as they
have obtained for the Irish cause the ap-
prevail and sympathy of civilized nations"
maintained that the restoration of IrelandS
legislative authority ''wil' not be accom-
plished by the efforts of Irelands repre-
sentatives in the British parliament alone"
and that the Irish people have the right to
resort to every means necessary to accom-
pliSh their deliverence.
MIR. DAVITT SAID.
Ladies anG Gentlemen: l think can best
prove my gratitude to you for the warmth Of
your reception by promising to detaiu you
only for a short time from attractions which
must appeal more strongly to YOUR inclina-
lions than dry political discourse upon the
perennial topic of Ireland. I have been spe-
cially invited to address this great demonstra-
ton of the united Irish societies of Chicago
on this question to-day, and l am therefore
enabled to plead the obligations of duty for
keeping you from participating in the many
amusements which have been provided for
your entertainment. To give you something
like an accurate idea of the present crisis in
ireland it will be necessary to allude to and
recapitulate some circumstances with which
you are doubtless familiar. The defeat of
Mr.. Gladstone's measure of home rule in
parliament and the rejection by the English
electorate of the appeal which he made
against the decision, has placed the reins Of
government in the hands Of the bitterest en-
emies Of the Irish national sentiment.
This is
NOT so MUCH OF A MISFORTUNE
for the cause of home rule itself, as for the
evil consequences which a postponement OF
the question cannot fail in inflicting upon
Ireland through continued turmoil and agita-
ton. The methods which were resorted to 10
accomplishing the defeat of Gladstone's
efforts were as mean and as INSCRIPTIONS as
the triumph which they achieved will be
fruitless and heeting. Gladstone APP
pealed to the heads and hearts of the
British people to right mighty wrong
which has inflicted untold miseries upon Ire
land. Nations like men, are made up of good
and bad qualities. The appeal for justice to
Ireland was addressed to what is good in En-
glish nature. A counter appeal was made by
the e.Tories and Unionsts TO the prejudice,
the result that the meaner traits in English
character have triumphed for a time over the
better. There are, however. associated with
THIS DEFEAT OF GLADSTONE
many circumstances which go to prove that
the victory of his opponents was but
Pyrrhic one. The weapons with which he
was assaulted were such as can never again be
of the same service to the enemies OF home
| rule. Division and disorganizaton of the
Liberal party made the task undertaken
douby difficult for the leader. Yet, notwith-
| standing the superior organization of the
Tories, the frantic cries of the en-
pire and Professionalism in danger
the boiling of Chamberlain and
Harrington, the proposal to grant to Ireland
parliament of her own was Endorsed by
million of English voters. But this support,
surprising as it is, when considered in rea
ton with the events of the past seven years,
would have been far greater had Gladstone
not weighted his home-ruie scheme with his
land-purchase bill. This unfortunate pro-
poSal was milestone around the
neck of the defeated measure. The
taxpayers of Great Britain were frightened
at the idea of having the Irish landlords
| bought out at the expense of the British ex-
chequer and consequently universal cry
went forth against the purchase bill Of the
| government. The opposition to buying out
| the Irish landlords is in itself a significant
| sign of the times and
A VICTORY FOR IRISH LAND REFORMERS
| as well as tribute to the movement of the
| land league, which began the assault upon
| the citadel Of Irish landlordiSm If England
will not buy out its territorial garrison
In Ireland, the landlords must ultimately sur
render to, or make terms with the Irish
nation. There is circumstance connected
with the unpopularity of the land-purchase
| bill so characteristic of England that must
point the moral with it. While the Irish land
question was simply matter of rack rent
| and eviction between Anglo-IriSh landlords
and the Irish people, English public
opinion upheld the sacred rights of
landlord property and denounced as
communism aud cOnfscation,' the doctrines
of the land league, which affirmed that the
property of the Irish landlords in the soil
had an unreal value, while the institution of
landlordism itself was but a systematic legal
robbery of the fruits of industry and enter
prise. But mark the change. No sooner
did the English taxpayer see himself threat
ened with some financial risk by Gladstone's
purchase bill than he discovered how bad
an investment Irish landlord property was,
and how unjustifable a thing it would be to
give twenty years purchase for so question
able an article Of value. 1 am aware that
| there is
| FEELING WIDELY PREVALENT
among our kindred here in America that the
defeat Of Gladstone's home rule proposal is
not an unmixed evil. A similar senti-
! ment largely obtains among Nationalist
at home. In main respects the constitution
| provided by the bill was undemocratic. The
limitations of power. curtaiment of privil-
eye, and amount of tribute were justly un-
satisfactory and irritating. The safeguards
provided for the interests of the British en-
pire were ridiculously unnecessary, but
| they paid an unconscious tribute to the
determination of the Irish race in Its
struggle for liberty. These blots in the
bill being undeniable, many men in America
| charged us with weakness in conserving to
accept such solution of the Irish question
! do not dispute their right or impugn their
motives in thus cricising our action. I will
only reply by way of asking their attention
| to few considerations which ought, in nv
| opinion, to become factors in the formation
of fair Judgment. Notwithstanding all the
| drawbacks of the measure, it must be cred
| tied with recOgniZinC in the exclu sion of tha