, 1886-08-15
DAvITT SPEAKS
To a Large Audierce Of Irish
Sympathizers.
What Gladstone's Defeat Has
Done for Ireland.
Progress of the Anarchist
Trial in Chicago.
D~avitt's Downright Views.


CHICAGO, Aug. IA. "A very large con
course Of Irish sympathizers attended the
meeting at Ogden's grove this afternoon.
John +. Finerty, presided, and Michael
Davitt, Alexander Sullivan, Patrick Egan
and Matthew p. Brady we're the principal
speakers. Davitt, in the course of his re
marks, said that the defeat of Gladstone $
measure had placed the reins Of govern
ment in the hands Of the b~ittsrest enemies
OF Irish national sentiment. : Further on,
Mr.. Davitt said he was aware there was u
credulous feeling among the Irish people
of America that the defeat Of Gladstone's
home rule proposals were not an unmixed
evil. A similar sentiment obtained at
home among the Nationalists. In many
respects the constitution provided by the
bill was un-democratic. The safeguards
provided for the interests OF the British
empire were ridiculously unnecessary.
These blots in The bill being undeniable,
many persons in America charged us with
weakness in conserving to accept such a
solution of the Irish question. Davitt
would not dispute the correctness of these
impressions entirely. but maintained that
limits could not be arbitrarily set to the
progress Of a nation. The progress of the
Irish cause must therefore be judged by
either an optimist or pessimist estimate of
Gladstone's home rule scheme. After
reviewing at considerable length the
progress Of Irish national affairs under
Parnel's supervision, Mr.. Davitt said
that Parnell had the most just claim upon
the forbearance and patience of all who
are Interested in Ireland's liberation The
situation in Ireland at the present moment,
was such as may draw largely upon the
patience and ~forbearance of the Irish peo-
pie in America:
Gladstone's defeat had LANDED the gov
eminent into the hands of a landlord gar
rison To unrefecting minds this might
seem like a complete defeat of our policy.
This was not the belief of the leader, at
home. They were neither disheartened
nor dismayed. 1t was apparent that the
policy which tn, Tories try to carry u
was one of terrorism. They will continue
to play upon the political fears and rclig
ious criticism upon the English people
This would end in the rufianism which
has already reduced a prosperous Irish
city to the state of terror and disorder in
which it now is. He was confident that
the kindred policy now about to be initis
ted by ev%ictions and landlord terrorism.
would result in the cause of Irelan 1
emerging from the coming ordeal with
lightcned hope aud more uni -ersal sym
pathy than it has yet possessed.
In the evening fully 70. 900 people were
iD Ogden grove. Alexander Sullivan
presided and made a short speech. Davitt
again spoke, but briefly. In the course
of his speech he said the Irish people
could fight their battles without an appeal
to weapons; the destiny of Ireland could
be worked out without the aid Of dyna-
mite: but he would not pass judgment on
anv 1rishman, however. As those in the
old country had to stand the ousequences
they reserved the right to suggest the
means OF Ireland's salvation. But they
would not rest until they had the Irish
parliament in College green.
Speeches we're also made by Patrick
Egan and others. Finerty then made a
motion that a vote of thanks be rendered
TO Davitt, and in doing 50 referred to the
passage alarms between himself and
their distinguished visitor.
Chairman Sullivan, before putting the
motion. explained that this passage at
arms was nothing but a slight love spat-
nothing more. The motion was then
carried amidst cheers upon cheers from
the assembled thousands.