The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-05-13

At the mass meeting of Irish sympathizers in
this city Wednesday evening at Masonic
Temple, Senator Riddleberger delivered the
following speech
1t has fallen to me to be in an humble way
on recent occasions an humble exponent of
American sympathy with Ireland. THANK
you for your cordial welcome and am grateful
for the opportunity you give me of again as
serting my desire for a nationality of Ireland.
which for seven hundred years has rebelIed
against atrocious tyranny, outrage and wrong.
Thank the God of Nations, the Irish are still
rebels against organized crime and tyranny
There is still a race to furnish the world with
steadfast convictions and undying devotion.
consecutive invasions, confiscations and other
crimes against the rights of Ireland thought
Begun, for human liberty rhey had only ac
complished the result of showing the world
where the nursery OF genius, valor' and self
conservation to principle was to be found. 1t
was on that "gem of the ocean" which has been
for centuries the prey of the spoilsmen, the
victims of the robber nation of the universe
AS Americans applaud our grand National
anthem of 1.-The Star Spangled Banner let
them treasure the memories of the orators,
have enriched American history and helped
to letter the banner of the Republic with
Country for liberty from British domination Jon
has been the fight under the green flag. The
cruel red uniform of England has been the
symbol of oppression with us as it is in Ireland
to-day. Can we forget it's associations with
Indian massacres? Our history is brief enough
under it's sanction. Speaking for myself only,
l cannot separate the cause of Ireland from the
cause of liberty.
Illustrated by Burke and Sheridan and Graft
tan. History has taken care of Irish genius
which has we'll asserted itself. l am not
here to counsel Irishmen to unity. think
they have arrived at that point. Certainly 1
am not here to encourage their bravery. With
out going to the records of Fontenoy. the yell
low Ford or Londonderry, l could give you
what history has long since told Of what Irish
men can do where their faith is plighted. per
haps the story of Donnybrook Fair might help
to illustrate The world knows Ireland's his
tory. It was expressed by Curran whei4 he
said, Liberty in its last analysis is the blood
of the brave" An Irishman, Robert Emmett,
condemned by packed court, refused to ask
for clemency and despised apology for his
patriotism, when. in words that. will live as
long as the English language shall survive he
declared that he wanted no epitaph until the
freedom of his country should be assured.
Protestant Wellington said it was Irish end
Catholic valor that built his reputation as a
soldier, and that Irishmen had fought the bat
ties of England for fifty years.
The illustrious Irishmen, John Mitchell and
Thomas Francis Meahger Il make no mistake,
think, in calling their names where Irishmen
are presently were figures in our late war. They
were friends and common sufferers from Brit
side, the side l was on; Meagher was on the
Union side. Who has not heard of his gallantry
and his melancholy death Who fails to re-
member Mitchell going pack to Ireland, defy
ing British authority, which had outlawed him,
and then being elected to Parliament? Such
of Patrick Henry or Thomas Jefferson. Liberty
OF DEATH said Patrick Henry, a man of Irish
origin. Seven years later Henry Grattan urged
declaration of right, denying the right of the
British Parliament to make laws for Ireland.
That's where the Irish are to-day. am with
the Irish sentiment that Grattan expressed for
his countrymen, 1t is liberty as against bond
age.
MI. Chairman and Gentlemen: The history
of Ireland for the last twenty years has been
more remarkable, if possible, than that of
hundred years previous. stephens, the Fenian,
isjustly called the precursor, of Parnell. Plum.
dered to the verge of poverty and desolation
Irish agitation, as it has been called in vicious
derision, has compelled the greatest OF Eng
lands premiers of century to confess from
his seat in the Commons that 1.-THE history of
ireland is one long indictment against it's
landowners - that "agraIian crime has orig
mated and increased Under the absenteeism
of landlords and raising of rents as their ex-
penses while away from Ireland increased"
that Oppression married to misery had o
hideous progeny" that England was not clear
Of responsibility, for the deeds Of Irish land
in our hands we have looked on and done moth
ing;'' that ''the union was obtained against
the wish and sense OF every class by wholesale
is the language of OF the most rigid coer-
cionists. 1t has the ring of a death-bed re-
flight without making it. | would, with be-
coming, difidence, suggest TO the "Grand Old
MAN. that he add restitution to his confession.
II he can do no more, bring back to their homes
those Irish patriots from that penal servitude
to which they were consigned for no cause but
resistance to what he calls Irish oppression and
English wrongs made possible by wholesale
bribery and unblushing intimidation."
My friends, material aid is what Ireland
wants. American encouragement may be of
some assistance. American suggestion or adj
vice is of little use. But we must not be blind
to the policy which Charles Stuart Parnell and
his compatr1ots have pursued, while we rejoice,
as lovers of liberty, over what they have ac-
complished by it. They are upon the pinnacle
of sshome ru1e,' from which they can look
down and see the coveted Irish nationality"
AS Instantaneous, take counsel of your
heroic leaders, and pursue the conservative
policy which they outlined from the begin
ming When the great premier's bill shall be
enacted into law establish government in
conformity with it, then you will have limited
TONS Revolutions, it is said, never go back
ward. A rule may be. proved by. an excep-
ton. Look forward and go forward. Organize |
under the premiers proposed law, and then
agitate until the word viceroy is stricken from
it,. Agitate until Irelands revenues shall sup
port her own government, and no tribute be |
paid to England for the support of English in
vading armies or the luxurious extravaganza |
Of the Queens Own, Money made Roths- |
child peer and Disraeli a premier. Ireland /
must rely alone upon pluck and persever-
ance.
1t is sometimes said that this is going too far