Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-07
THE IRISH MASS-MEETING.
(From Washington Correspondent Phila
delphia Star)

| (lrom Washington Correspondent Phla
delphia STAR
\ feature Of the week was the
immense Irish meeting at Masonic
Temple, on Wednesday evening.
Senators Riddleberger and Van
Wyck and William Walter Phelps
were the conspicuous speakers, and
the colored member of the National
House of Representatives, from
North Carolina, OIIara, delivered
a brief and earnest plea for Ameri-
can sympathy with Irish nationali-
ty. The meeting embraced much
intelligence and character, and
was a revelation of the intense in
terest Americans take in the cause
of the country which has so helped
to make the fame of our country.
u showed how, under our institu-
tions, public opinion is educated
by discussion of topics that interest
the public. Upon this feature Nj.
Phelps dwelt with much force,
showing how public opinion
throughout the world had grown to
the point OF recognition OF the fact
that Ireland had wrongs that even
English public sentiment and Eng
lsh political leaders were driven to
defer to. Senator RiddlebergeI's
speech was aggressive in its asser-
ton OF American sympathy with
Ireland, because both Ireland and
America, he said, suffer from Eng
lish commercial policy.
He does not believe that the
Gladstone policy is sincere toward
Ireland, and condemns the Glad.
stone proposition that Ireland can
be made free by sentimental as
surances, when it maintains the
old English policy Of making Irish
men paupers by destroying Irish
industries. He quoted Lord North's
famous declaration that the "mOth
would eat up the cloth" in his
scheme Of the treatment of the
American colonies by England |
more than a hundred years ago, as
illustrating the plan of the Glad !
stone bill.
Senator Riddleberger's speech |
has been much criticized. | asked |
him today if he thought that the |
Irish wonld approve his criticism of |
Gladstone's contemplated legisla /
ton. "That is not the question
with me at ALL he said, "but |
believe they will, because | believe
they are true to their own country"
"Mr. Gladstone is trimmer in
politics. lie said twenty-five years
ago that Jefferson Davis had Great
ed nation. That was to beat his
rival, Disraeli. A coercionist as to
Ireland, he has yielded only as
Irishmen have compelled him to
yield 10y pluck and perseverance.
While | should urge lrlshmen to
avail themselves OF whatever advan-
tapes his concessions give, | do not
believe they ought to trust him eX-
cept as they may compel him and
his party to do them justice. Eng
lands free trade politics will ruin
America, as it has ruined Ireland,
# we do not check its growth"
Ex.Speaker Randall presided at
the meeting with characteristic
parliamentary skill. Some Irish Re
publicans say that ho leaned more,
in carrying out the programme, to-
wards PrOtectlonist emocratS
than to Protectionist Republicans,
II ia not a bad hand in the work
Of getting advantages for his party.
From the Washington Sunday Paper,
The meeting in this city last week
to extend American sympathy TO
the movement for Irish home rule
vas largely attended and there was
2 genuine quality of enthusiasm
One Of the admirable