Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-02

views Strongly in Favor of Glad stone,s
Irish Policy.
PORTLAND, June /.
Inc Gladstone meeting in City Hall to-
night drew an immense throng. Fully hall
an hour before the hour Of the meeting every
seat in the hall was filled and crowds occu.
pied standing room at the rear of the hall and
IN the aisles and galleries. Hundreds crowded
the stairways but were unable to gain admis-
sion. Chandler's band gave a concert OF
halt an hour, playing Irish melodies. Among
those who occupied seats on the stage, were
w. ii. Looney. Esq, president of the Port
land branch of the Irish National Land
League. Mayor Chapman, Gen. Samuel j
Anderson. collector, Hon. George w. Wood.
man, Hon. Geo. F. Emery, Postmaster
Palmer, Hon. H. V. Jose, Hon. w. F. Mill.
ken. Col. F. N. Dow, Albion Little, Rev
Fr. Charles W. Doherty, Fr Cornelius W
Gallagher, j. j. Lappin, Col. O'Donoghue
and many prominent priests, Irish Ameri
cans, and large number of representative
business men of Portland.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor
Chapman, who made appropriate and spirited
remarks, speaking in complimentary man
ner Of Parnell and Gladstone, and saying
good word for the cause of Ireland in hel
struggle for home rule.
The Mayor then introduced Governor
Robie as chairman of the meeting. The
governor spoke briefly, and concluding by in
Producing Rev. P. A. McKenna of Marlboro
Mass, who referred to the efforts of IRELAND
to build up agriculture, manufactures, min
ing and fisheries. The fishermen of IRELAND
are now fed by charity. If this ever come.
to the fishermen of Maine it will be the same
red hand of England that is behind the figures
on the chess board. He then discussed al
length the salvation of home rule betwee1
Ireland and England. His perioration was
eloquent and held the audience spell bound.
AT the close there was loud applause and the
band played "St. Patrick's Day in the
Morning"
At this time Mr.. Blaine came on the stage
escorted by Mr.. Looney. Immense enthusi-
asm was manifested Men stood up and
yelled at the top of their voices. Mr.. Blaine
held his white tall hat in his hand and bowed
again and again. Then he shook hands with
the mayor and governor and the applause
broke out again.
Governor Robie introduced Mr.. Blaine as
a distinguished citizen of the Uuited States
Mr.. Blaine appeared in perfect health and
spoke with the greatest vigor. His voice
was clear ard could be heard not only in the
hall but in the ante rooms and halls, which
were by this time full.
MIR. Blaine said:
Your RExcELLENcY-Directly after the pub
lication OF this meeting, | received letter
from venerable citizen 10 an adjacent
county asking me to explain, If could, just
what the Irish question is. l appreciate the
question, or rather | appreciate his request
for in a question that calls forth so much
sympathy and sentiment on the part of tht
world at large, and evokes so much opposl-
ton among those who are directly interested
there may be danger OF not giving attention
enough to the simple elementary facts of the
case.
Now. what is home rule? Why, it is wha
every state and territory of the United States
enjoys [applause] and it is what Ireland does
not enjoy.
In a parliament of 65S members Grea
Britain has 553 AID Ireland has l05, and ex
cept with the consent ofthat parliament
Ireland cannot organize a gas company
! daughter or horse railroad company, or q
! ferry over stream laughter] or do the
slightest thing that implies legislative power
Now suppose we bring that home and the
State of Maine should be linked with the
State OF New York, relatively as large witt
the the State of Maine as England in mum
bers with Ireland, and your beautiful city
here could not take step for its improve
mept. nor the State of Maine organize al
association of any kind. or charter company
of any kind unless the overwhelming galaxy
of the New York legislature gave her conss Mt
and how long do you think the peop'e
of Maine would stang n! Applause.
That is the simple question between England
and Ireland, except there is great fact IN ad'
dition which would not apply to New fork
and Maine, that there are centuries OF wrong
which have built up monuments of hatred on
the part of those who are the subjects OF op-
preston and which has aggravated the ques-
tion between Ireland and Great Britain far be-
vond the limits that would be found between
New York and Maine. l suppose If the ques
t,on were left to the United States to accede,
we should say ''adopt the federal system
have your legislature for Ireland, your iegis-
lature for England, your legislature Ioi
Wales, your legislature for Scotland and
your imperial pariamsn. for the British III a,snl s%+
pire." Let questions that are irish De se,uee
hv Irisbmen. questions that are English bs
settled by Englishmen, questions, that are
welsh he settled BY Weishmen and questions
that are Scotch be settled BY scosenmen osan9 en-
TApplause. The questions that affect the
e whpie empire of Ct. Britain be settled in
parliament in which the four great constlta
ent en elements shall be impartially represented
Appaus ha, would ,Su anss,,on be the or 'hor
have lived that way for one hundred years
nsss nsss 's' n the shs' United Of Amsrss iss
GApplause. do not forget, however una
i would be political empyricism as;,. to a.5e"p ?,
aasrra that should settle this long dis
anse ans e between Ct. Britain and Ireland an, am
edmonished by what have noticed IN !ne