The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-08
IRELAND'S CHAMPIONS
For Home Rule.
Two Enthusiastic Meetings Held Last
Night to Aid the Cause.

when the meeting was called to order by
President Thos. F. Cary. Miss Archer
commenced the interesting programme
with one of her choice musical selections,
with organ accompaniment. Don't
Trust the Enemy recitation by Miss
Haley, was well delivered and evoked ap.
plause Henry Head, who seems to have an
inexhaustible selection of stirring songs,
answered recall. The debate followed:
"Resoloed, That Parnell has accomplished
more for Ireland than O'Connell." The
affirmative was ably taken by Mr.. Patrick
Ferron, who extolled the present Irish
leader at considerable length, and with
equal fervor assaled o Connelns policy of
assisting the oppressed people. O'Conaell
was born in l715 aud entered public life
in 1898, dying in 1917. The speaker
thought that Catholic Emancipation
which OConnell had secured. was more
of detriment than benefit to the Irish
people Parnell had taken the leader
| ship OF Ireland at a time when the people
were divided in factions by British OPP
preston, 5ut he had reunited the peo-
| pie and was now making a heroic strug-
gle for liberty. By his parliamentary
tactics he had succeeded in putting Glad,
stone out aud Salisbury in, and Salisbury
out and Gladstone in. Parnell was Sc
curing aid from every quarter of the
globe, and he is doing more for the Irish
cause than any of his predecessors.
| Mr. Fred Sharon, editor of the Iowa
Messenger, spoke on the negative side, in
favor of O'Connell He was pleased to
see such large audience present, as it
showed that Rock Island was alive to the
importance of sending assistance to the
Irish people in this grand struggle for
freedom. In regard to the subject of the
debate, he said his opponent had dealt
largely IN generalities, but the unpreju>
diced pages of history wouid not be al him
out 10 all his assertions H said OCon.
mel first became prominent 10 1907,
when the Irish people were sadly in need
of some determined leader O'Conncl
had carved out his own career, alone and
unaided At that lime he was the only
man who had the courage 10 rise mp and
hurl defiance at the British power. Ths
clergy. the press and the immense landed
interests opposed him. But he tonight
bravely Notwithstanding the great op.
position. Father Burke in his lecture.
had SAID that it was 0'ConnellS leader,
ship that saved the Irish people from de
struction, uniting them as one man
Catholic Emancipation was great bless
ing to Ireland Without it a Catholic
could not sit in Parliament. O'Conuel
was the man who secured it. The speak
er then cited several noted men who hat
done more for Ireland than Parnell wa
doing now, and concluded with ,
a fine eulogy of O'ConneIl. Mr.. Ferror
concluded the debate with few wei
chosen remarks in defense of Parnell
when a song was announced from Mr.
Robert Atkinson. 1t was of the RICH
ring to touch the hearts of the audienc:
and be was so heartily encored that HI
was compelled to make his second ap,
pearance.
Hon. P. O'Mara was then called from
the audience, and asked to make few
remarks. lie said he would have to max
an apology. Had acted as prosecutin!
attorney in the circuit court for the pas
two weeks-but had convicted nobody
and was too fatigued to think o
making any extended remarks II
urged the young people to take
greater interest in the work. They shoul,
prepare rectatiOns and addresses to b.
delivered at the meetings. They coul,
make the programme much more inter
esting by participating in the exercise
themselves. Speaking of the presen
ministry in England, he thought it wa
composed of shreds and patches, AM
would be short lived He was pleased t.
see John Morley appointed chief secretar
of Ireland 1t was on Indication that Mr.
Gladstone was favorable TO Ireland. II
deprecated the idea of another electio
for the want of funds The last one ha
cost $97 900, and if home rule bill coul
not be gotten through parliament tha
body had better be dissolved and an ap
peal made to the country. He shove
the assessment imposition on can
idates in the case of MI
" Healy, who was so outrageOusl
assessed by the sheriff that he went be
fore the House of Commons and state
. his grievances, and his expense bill Wi
" then greatly reduced The speaker cor
cluded by referring to the friendly feelin
Mr.. Gladstone had lately evinced toward
" home rule in Ireland, as evidence that Il
cause was steadily gaining ground.
. The exercises were closed by the sin.
y ing of kathleen Mavourneen" by A
derman james W. Cavanaugh in b
usual good style. Treasurer Daniel Da'
ID reported the receipts at the door
IN 5000
nj AT DAVENPORT
d A great meeting was held at Dave
$. port last night in the interest of Erin
If. course. NJ. M. Corbett, ESQ.,, of til
ce city delivered the speech of the evenin
a. Court Cuttings.
j., The case of w. LssCoyne for ipcitil