Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-23
MICHAEL DAv1TT's SPEECH.

Mr.. Davitt's lecture in the Opera House
Tuesday evening was a clear exposition oil
the situation in Ireland. the present status
Of the Home Rule question and the pros
pect Of Ireland obtaining the full measure
of her demands. While MI. Davitt makes
no claim to oratory. he 10 clear, direct and
earnest. He fires straight at an idea and
brings it from cover, stripped Of verbiage
and presents it SO plainly that the most
obtuse can comprehend it. And it is in
this directness, earnestness and truthful
ness, combined with his plain reasoning
that Mr.. Davitt's power as q speaker lays.
He needs no flowers Of rhetoric to embel-
lish his sentences. He convinces his hearers
by his plain earnest presentation OF facts.
Mr.. Davitt is ~sanguine that in the very
near future the force OF public sentiment in
forI reland all she asks. Indeed, SO pro-
nounced is Wales in her advocacy of Irish
nationality that she sent more Home
Rulers to Westminster in proportion to
her population at the last election han
Ireland did. Scotland also shows a marked
longing for a piece of the Irish pie, while
England herself grows and harbors a vast
army of Irish sy~mpathizers within her
borders. It is this fact, as Mr.. Davitt
says, which largely incites the
opposition of the English aris-
tocracy to the demands of Ireland.
They fear that the establishment Of an in:
dependent power within four hours travel
rom the English coast would fan to a
fame the smouldering desire for greater
constitutional liberty, pent up in the
breasts of the hardy yeomanry on their
side of the English Channel. This fear
may be considered the prime cause of their
opposition to Irish autonomy.
Mr.. Davitt dispelled the popular belief
entertained on this side of the Atlantic
that this agitation for Irish liberty is insti-
gated wholly by Catholics. On the con-
trary he proved that the principal leaders
in the great agitation are Irish professionals.
The question of religious liberty cuts no
no figure in it. Professionals, as well as
Catholics, were in the cause. each feeling
that religious tolerance will be the
cornerstone in the new edifice to be erected
in the name of liberty.
Mr.. Davitt held that in the light of the
facts before them Irish independence can
not long be withheld. One of the prime
which will force this grant from
England is the persistent, courageous and
never Quoted agitation of the Irish ques-
ton in Parliament. Early and late, day
and night, in season and out of season, is
the question Of Irish independence thrust
in the faces of English lords and English
It has become a skeleton be-
fore them by day and a nightmare in their
The e~ighty-ive Irish members of
the English Parliament are sleepless and
in their demands. Legislation for
England cannot be attempted only under
the shadow of some bill for the relief of
Ireland. Johnny Bull is getting heartily
sick OF the eternal, everlasting ding-donging
of the question in his ears, and at times is
ready to give the members all they ask to |
rid of them.
Mr.. Davitt counseled peaceable measures
to accomplish the purposes OF the Irish
people. Those who expected to hear a
clustering bravado in Mr.. Davitt we're
disappointed. He is the very antipodes of
the unreasonable ranter. He is an honest
man and an honest speaker, and appeals
to the reason OF his audience without
awakening its passions or %preiudices. 1t is
through the efforts OF just such men that
Ireland will gain her liberty. The gentle
acknowledged in graceful terms the
evidences of the interest taken
in the cause Of Ireland by native and Irish
born citizens in America. May those evi.
denccs multiply and the hands of Irish
patriots be strengthened until their efforts
shall be crowned with that liberty SO dear
to every heart in this free land.