The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-23
The CAUSE OF IRELAND.
Hon. Justin McCarthy's Lecture in
the Stockbridge Course.
An Eloquent Presentation of the
Cause of Homo Rule.

The lecture delivered in the Stockbridge
Course last evening by Hon. Justin McCar-
thy, M. P..was attended by large audience
among whom were many prominent people.
Mr. Mccarthy entered the hall at a few min
utes after eight o'clock, accompanied by
VIM. ii. Looney, Esq, the chairman of the
evening. The distinguished speaker of the
evening is a man above the medium height
with an intellectual face. He wears point
ed gray beard and his hair is iron gray. The
lecture was delivered clearly. and at times
the lecturer showed his earnestness and
spoke with considerable rhetorical effect.
In introducing Mr. Mccarthy, Mr. Looney
spoke as follows:
MIR. LooNEY's REMARKS.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The momentous struggle which the De-
mocracy of Great Britain and Ireland are
now waglng under the leadership of the
great English commoner, VIM. L. Gladstone
for Irish National Independence and Irish
liberty is watched with the keenest interest
by the civilized world.
In that contest to clothe their birth land
with the privileges and the dignity of q Ma
ton, the Irish people have had in the past,
and Will have IN the future, the moral and
oupfuLb VI I'LL luLclilHpnI HDcTtN
loving. Americans, irrespective of party
af1llatl0nS or religious convictions.
Of the patriotic band of Irishmen who are
engaged in that struggle to place Ireland
among the Nations of the earth, none is more
able to plead Ireland's cause, the genius and
character of none are entitled to higher ad-
miratlon than he whom Mr.. Parnell called
the most distinguished Irishman in the
world" the impressive debater, the wise
statesman, the brilliant novelist, the pro-
found historian, Justin Mccarthy, NJ. p,
whom have the pleasure of introducing to
you.
THE LECTURE.
Mr.. Mccarthy was greeted with applause.
He spoke for about an hour and quarter
using no notes. The lecture consisted of a
history of the Irish struggle for home rule
since the Irish Parliament ceased to exist,
when the union of England and Ireland was
effected at the beginning of this century.
Mr.. Mccarthy said that the chairman of the
evening had well expressed the nature of the
Irish question when he called it a struggle of
the Democracy of Ireland and England
against the aristocratic classes. The lecturer
then described the Irish Parliament as it ex
listed prior to 1898, and referred to the efforts
of this Protestant legislative body to secure
for their Catholic fellow citizens the rights
which they themselves enjoyed. A high
tribute was paid by Mr.. Mccarthy to the
heroic efforts in behalf of ireland made at
this critical time by Lord Fitzwiliiam, the
Protestant Viceroy Henry Grattan and Sir
John Pamell father Of the present leader of
the Home Rule party, and to the Protestant
gentlemen who then and in the subsequent
revolution of '9S did noble work for their
country and suffered loss of property ex-
lie and death.
Lord Fitzwilliam having been recalled to
London by George I'LL, and conducted there
as man in disgrace, Lord CORVALLIS was
sent to take his place with power to use such
measures as might be necessary to effect an
union between Ireland and Great Britain in
accordance with the desire of the King.
CORVALLIS, by harsh and crafty measures,
accomplished his object. He despoiled men
Of public .honors when they were firm in
their allegiance to their country, intimidated
some and bribed others until at the second
attempt he succeeded in passing the measure
by small majority.
Ireland was then left with few repre-
sentatives in the Parliamentof Great Britain
who were constantly subject to the efforts OF
the English ministers to win them to the
side OF the government until, at last. after
repeated efforts in behalf of home rule, Ire
land lost faith In constitutional and Parlia-
mentary efforts to regain her lost freedom.
At tEis period the present Home Rule party
was formed by four or five men, among them
being Charles Stuart Parnell. They resolved
TO keep the question of Home Rule for Ire
land as constantly before the attention of
the country as to win for it consideration
and victory. Mr.. Mccarthy and one or two
others soon joined the party and these seven
or eight men In the House of Commons com
menced the movement which is now SO near
success. The lecturers description of the
endless speeches made by the party to keep
their object before the attention Of the peo-
pie and the frequent calls made by them for
a division Of the House, was one of the best
things in the lecture. In these divisions. the
eight members of the Irish party went into
one division lobby, while all the remaining
members of the House filed into the other.
One member OF the minority had Way of
keeping up the spirits of his colleagues by
shouting as he went before them, Don't
crowd so boys, there's plenty of ROOM"
Here we come in our thousands, and similar
expressions.
Mr.. Mccarthy predicted an early victory
Tor Home Rule, but said he did not know
whether It would come from the Liberals or
Tories. The Tories may, as in the past.
adopt this measure as they have others, be-
cause its success is meritable. The lecturer
said that Catholic Parliament in Ireland
would respect the rights of Protestants, If
for no other reason, when it remembered the
illustrious Protestants who have aided Ire
lands cause.
The lecturer was frequently interrupted
by applause, and his illusions to the eminent
advocates of home rule were warmly re-
ceived.