The Irish standard., 1886-11-06
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, S

with loud and long applause and began
his lecture in an easy tone as follows:
Mr.. Mayor, Ladies' and Gentlemen:
Eight years have rolled their courses
into the stream of time since Hast had
the honor of addressing meeting IN
Minneapolis, and although my career
has been somewhat checkered since
then, and many exciting events have
crossed my path, have distinct re-
collection of the warm and kindly
greeting received at your hands on
that occasion. [Applause.] Then, as
now. many citizens of Minneapolis, not
of Irish birth, paid me the compliment
OF coming TO hear the case l tired 10
make out for Irish liberty. Here to-
night, the chief magistrate OF your
city presides over this meeting, not as
a candidate for Governor, not as par
tisan, or as politician. but. | will ven
ture to say, as an American citizen
yoicing the sentiments Of this city i'll
sympathy with the cause of Ireland
[Applause]in this struggle of ours to re-
gain for our country those rights which
she once possessed, and which you en-
Joy. We aspire to win the sympathy
and moral support of the entire Amerl-
can people. We cannot discriminate be-
tween Republicans, Democrats and
Prohibitionists and the rest. Cries OF
hear1 bear!] We have no opinions on
these issues which divide yoI here at
this time in America. We look upon
you all as American citizens, enjoying
the freest government in the world,
and having the privilege and benefit OF
the institutions which you have built
up in this gr atrepublic, and hence we
want, in the struggle we are making to
win similar institutions and g similar
form of government for Ireland, the
sympathy of all American people, lrre-
spective of party differences.
Now T make no apology FOR coming
here and asking for this moral support
from the American people. In the first
place we are asking for nothing in this
Home Rule movement in Ireland that
is in any way inconsistent with the
spirit of your government or Of your ln~
stitutions. In fact, we have taken our
blossoms of liberty, in a great measure,
from you, the American people. Weare
aiming in this Home Rule movement
to win for ireland privileges of gov
ernment and social rights which we
think ought TO be extended to the
whole human race. Applause.] We
want to vindicate the right of nationali-
ties. 10 have the management OF
their our affairs and to he
the masters of their own desti
,nies. In the second place we want to
bring down all those monopolies and
privileges which stand between men
and the use Of those natural agencies
which the Creator intended should be
at the service Of industrious humanity.
But we have another and, think, a
higher claim to the sympathy Of the
American peoplein this struggle which
We are waging in Ireland for Home
Rula, and that is, the claim OF grati-
tude. In 1875, in the. infancy OF your
great republic. the father Of American
independence appealed to Grattan;s
parliament for it's moral support in the
struggle which was then being waged
against British oppression on this con-
tinent. The parliament of Ireland did
not hesitate for one moment in regard
to what to do. It's sympathy was voiced
In plain and unmistakab]e language,
and twice the continental congress OF
America appealed to the parliament
of Ireland for assistance, which was
rendered to the cause of American ln-
dependence. [Applause.] Now, when
the Irish people at home and abroad
are united in one magnificent move
nlent 20 obtain restoration Of legisla-
tive Independence, / think we are justi-
fed in asking the American people to
give TO us the same sympathy which
GRA1TAN's PARLIAMENT VOICED
for American independence more than
a century ago. But [ have no appre-
hension whatever that the good will OF
the people of America will be wanting
in this righteous struggle which we are
waging against oppression in the Old
country.
Everywhere have gone III this brief
tour have heard sentiments similar to
those uttered by our chairman tonight,
voiced not by the representatives ofone
party, but by statesmen and orators
and eminent men OF America, belong
ing to all political parties, aud differ
ing among themselves on various is
sues, but uniting upon this Of
giving to ireland the sympathy
tor which we are now practically at
your doors. Our difficulty in Ireland
during the next few years will be to re-
strain the impatience Of our own peo-
pie. I am afraid that this proverbiel
weakness Of the Celtic character-this
Finonatience is manifeSting itself now to