Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-03-18
THE STATUS OF IRELAND.
her PAST, HER PRESENT AND HER
BUTURE.


Tho Opera House was we'll Allied last
evening to hear the lecture for the
benefit Of the Parnell FUND. by the
Hon. A. n. Kelley, on "Ireland's Pres
eut and Future" The private box on
one side Of the stage was decorated
with the American aag, while Ireland's
green ensign foated from the other.
While the audience was gathering the
Opera House orchestra, under the d.
rection Of Professor Rttchie, gave sew
eral fine selections. A few minutes
before O'Clock the different societies
flied In and took seats In the gallery,
and at 3 o'clock the curtain WAS raised.
Tn 0 stage was set with q forest, scene
while In tho rear the American f1ag was
eut ~ined above handsome banner be.
longing TO ths Ancient Order OF Hiber-
nians.
Among those on the stage were Geo.
FL. Bates, Esq Senator Gray, Repre-
sentative Lore, Bishop Becker, Squire
O'Neiii, II. IL. Garter, DIR. Draper, John
X. Bradford, William A. Comegys.
Sheriff Ford, President Of Council
Earra, DR.. Ogle, George w. Humphrey,
John w. CAusey, William Mccartney,
Andrew g. Wilson, Peter N. Brennan,
James Monaghan, Levy Courtman Toy,
II. II. Ward, Owen j. Hession, Capt.
Baker, Fathers Kelley, Finn and Reb-
man OF t1is city, Brady Of New Castle,
Donoughy of Ashland, Pa, O'Keefe Of
New York and others.
The meeting vas called TO order by
Governor S:ockley, when Senator Gray,
In introducing the lecturer, said that in
performing the duty assigned him he
felt that he would not be doing right
did he not express to his friends his
heaItiest sy mpathy for Ireland. He felt
that he had some little share in this
matter, as his srandfather's father had
been born on Irish soil. In referring
to the orator OF the evening, he said that
he had been honored in having repre-.
sented sixty Million OF people In two
countries, but that he was now more
honored in standing as the champion Of
down. trodden and oppressed people.
He then introd uced Mr.. Kelley, who
was received with prolonged applause.
He Ii . man of medium height, pleasant
appearance, with q gray mustache, and
wears glasses.
He introd uced his subject by saying
that, or the eastern margin OF the north
at Iantic, there lays little island that
for centuries has been the pity and the
wonder OF the wor d. AID island that
is and has been n wonder and para
dox An island with the finest climate
in the world, and yet sickness nbounds;
with immense wster-powers she has no
m 10 u fractures; with fertile soil, her
people are frequently starving; with
prolific people, her population Is con.
| stantly dt creasing; having an immense
coast harbor, there is no commerce;
/ ,vItk tfa VaNnla hra In a fanlt fond nj
arms, It has no army; with It's coast
line 30 tavorably indented, 1t has no
navy.
| What evil genius has drawn around
this land7 Who has paralyzed these
blessings OF nature aud closed the
i wells OF Gods beneficeDce? Have its
people drawn down the vengeance of
Heaven? 1t WAS once known as the
peninsula eanctoTa, and after the spoila
4 Of centuries it still lays claim to that
proud distinction. How came the
change I answer, not In the language
Iof Irishmen; not the answer OF sy mpa-
Ithy; tell you in the language Of an
English mem Der OF Parliament. The
lcalamitles OF Ireland are the creatures
OF English laws I might spend the
time here fully In mere detail of inci'
dents 10 prove this statement. Let mt
consume but few minutes in review
ling q few of the sources of dread Ca
lamity.
n After the restoration, when Charles
II. returned TO his throne, the people o
ireland were deeply engaged in agri
culture, and as consequences, thu
prod uets of their farms were brough
, 10 to com ped lon with those of England
The people of that country, envious o
lTNaianAta narifu datnanhAd fh q
, this shout bs stopped, and the Englisl
Parliament forbade the expectation G
, cattle and dairy produce. Not 9slloi
OF milk or pound OF butter could b.
| sent away. The people thel
turned to manufa oturinR, wooden manu-
featuring chiefly, but In 1909 ever!
, mandatory was closed by demand o
those In authority. Trying to devils
some method by which they could EN-
ploy their labor and capital. the peopl
= began manufacturing silk 30 successful
ly that Ii, 900 elk spinners were em
ployed. Law after law was passed b,
the English Parliament, and the dutie
placed on exports operated in the ex
tinction Of the industry.
Only the other day deputation O
Ulstermen went to Lord Salisbury wit
an argument In favor Of increasiu
! commerce. 1t was answered, not b.
the dictates of humanity or law, but b.
the greed OF England, that the ships a
English ports would he transferred {
Ireland, ana that would destroy Ena
. lish trade and cripple EOgland's com
merco. Who ever heard of such thin
> before? England hates ireland, and
is true of nations as 1t Is of men; W
always hate those whom We hay
wroDged. That country has away
Disseminated against ireland, and u
to the time of Henry viii her people al
Ispoken Of i'll every statute as the 'Iris
lsnemy."
There Is no more conspicuous exam
iple in Christendom than the conduct u
England toward Ireland, and there
no parallel. The Irish people are un
fornly mentioned as mere Irish. 1
g. ll742, q great famine destroyed one.fift
of the people of Ireland, but this ci
not excite one word Of sympathy or
s. bit OF aid. Twelve years later an eartf
Iquake at Lisbon destroyed only on
city. The sympathies of England wer
great, quick, generous, and Gl,OO0,OO
were raised. When Edmund Burk,
representing Bristol, spoke for parts
fairness, he found upon his return hom
that the last nail in his coffin had bee
driven. They even attacked the worl(
wide fame of Burke, the expression {
4 their avarice, greed and oOntemporI
neous hate. Undoubtedly there has bee
change under the clviliziug influence
OF time, but not Of the anterior caust
Of the troubles that have been sue
severe lessons to the Irish.
1t has been ssven hundred and fif
years since the English government h
been dominant in Ireland In fha Tin