Morning journal and courier., 1886-05-18
FOR OLD IRELAND.

FOR OLD IRELAND. Address by Hon. William E. Robin-
 son, of Brooklyn, at Carllss Opera
 House-H1s Honor Mayor HoIcOmb
 &resides-The Audience Not Large
 Hut Very Enthusiastic.
 The gathering at CarlPs Opera House last evening, although not as large as on many previous occasions of like character when Ireland's wrongs and the all-absorbing ques- tion of "Home Rule' was to be considered, yet was an intelligent and enthu- siastic one and the utterances of the dis tinguished speaker were given that strict att tention which they deserved. His Honor Mayor Holcomb presided, and on the plat form were many prominent citizens. Dr. M. A. Cremin was secretary of the meeting. Preceding the lecture there was short con- cert by the Second regiment band which was heartily enjoyed.
 His Honor Mayor Holcomb, on rising to in troduce the distinguished speaker, returned
 thanks for the honor that had been conferred upon him in selecting him to preside over the meeting, and then in few appropriate words introduced the Hon. William E. Robinson, of
 Brooklyn.
 In his opening remarks MT. Robinson said:
 I need not say that am very happy to be
 here tonight It is many years ago when 8
 poor, friendless and penniless Irish boy
 wandered into New Haven. When landed
 in America all my money had been spent on
 the way except $4. S4 in American currency.
 I had sovereign, and knowing that
 must foreswear all allegiance to sovereigns I
 exchanged it for an eagle. I found my way
 to New York from Staten Island and there
 1 1oH n months
 When landed in New Haven to seek an ed
 ucation in Yale college I had just twelve
 dollars in my pocket. The speaker then
 gave an amusing sketch of his examina-
 tion for admission to Yale college,
 especially as to his knowledge
 far as the United States was concerned, but
 he proved to be better posted on Ireland and
 Greek and Latin. He then paid a tribute to
 the late President Day, Professors Silliman
 and Olmstead and others, to the scenes of his
 college life, his efforts in behalf of the Irish
 men of those days, and paid passing tribute to the memory of the late Bernard Reilly, the first president of the Hibernian Prevalent society, whose charter was secured on the speakers solicitation with the late Roger s. Baldwin, then Governor of the State.
 Proceeding the speaker said: But I am here tonight to talk about Ireland. My heart like yours, goes back to Ireland and her sons keep bright her fires upon their al tars, and look to her and pray for her wherever they may be. We bless her and believe in her. Far above the other nations of the earth she was at one time, resplendent in her literature and art and learning. But darkness has come over her since. While Ireland's history has been one of glory it has also been one of sadness. England invaded her shores, bad luck to her. Loud cheers.)
 Have kept the oath of allegiance better than those who go to Europe and pander to zE r s.~1-t much of man who foreswears his allegiance | to strong drink and then hugs and kisses the l bottle every morning. I suppose you have 1 learned that have been called the ''tail l twister." We'll, don't like the name, but | ask whether you can trust the man who fore swears all allegiance to the Queen of Great l Britain and then goes bobbing around to get | the smiles of court. We saw with shame | at Yorktown the British flag run up and the l guns fired when we met to celebrate a victo- l ry over the British, and I would have shot | the man down who would run up that hated | flag under such circumstances. If you expect l someone to dance for joy over this reprobate | who in the war of the revolution murdered | American citizens, you must look to some | body besides me. If Jeff Davis had estab- | lished his seat at Washington and | subjugated the northern States as England subjugated Ireland I wonder | how long you would endure it if you had |
  into their midst. 1 am not in favor of dyna- | mite, but God bless Ireland. tell you there | is not country in the world where life and | are so safe as in Ireland. The l Irishman has fought on many a battlefield, l but he never took advantage of dynamite l to blow men and women into eter- l nity. Why it is fact that more | murders were committed in Connecticut 1 last year than in the whole of Ireland. Why, | there was one murder in Ireland in 39 years | and I don't know but an Englishman com | mitted that have hated Gladstone and | am not going to say an unkind word of him | to o-night although I have done so heretofore. l He seems to be doing we'll enough now and | while won't say g. word against him, yet I | confess am considerable of an unbeliever. | In Charles Stewart Parnell I have faith, and | through him great good has been done for | Ireland While I think Ireland would be | better under home rule, yet I do not l believe she will ever flourish until she is free | from the rule of England. God forgive me | if am wrong. I do not advise Ireland to | take up the sword now, but the time may come for her to do so. I proposed in Con- | gress that Ireland be re-annexed to the Unit ed States and it was read twice and there 1t rests George Bancroft, the historian, told me had struck the key note, but was as- sailed by the public press. When I was here I was an old Whig and I reeollect that the late Mayor Osborn used to attack me through the columns of the Register; but when came over to his side we were good friends. But when proposed to re-annex Ireland I was severely attacked by this same Regis ter; but why was attacked I know not, l believe in the doctrine I then advanced. I believe that Ireland should belong to the United States. did not propose to take it, but proposed to buy it if we did not want to fight with England for it. All we wanted was to have England fix the price. We bought a larger slice from Russia for $7,000,00 than Ireland is. Why should not England sell us Ireland Russia sold us Alaskaa England cannot govern Ireland, then why should she not sell it? say to pay and never will pay. My scheme may never be carried out, but if it should what a glorious prospect would there be for Ireland. But then my Republican friends may say hat Ireland would be too strong Democrat c State. We'll, Texas and other States are sheless The United States has the destiny of mankind in its grasp. The nations of the earth are looking towards her.
 You your honor, come here tonight be- cause you are an American citizen. What brings all classes and conditions together on hese occasions? It is because they have liberty and love home rule everywhere. Truth crushed to earth will rise again ;" it must be so Ireland served America well in he days of the Revolution and is now deserv- ng of that favor she is receiving from America in her struggle for home rule. I enlisted in the cause of Ireland fifty years ago and I come here to night, seventy-two years of age, to say 8 few feeble words or Ireland. I thank the gentlemen who have come here tonight and favored me oy their presence l thank the students for heir presence to night and thank the press # New Haven for the favorable notices they nave given me from time to time. When l irst landed in this country I dedicated lit le poem to America which I repeat to you. The speaker then closed with the poem, which commenced as follows: "Hail bright ,st banner that floats on the gale"
 The poem was gem in it's way, and when MT. Robinson concluded it he was greeted with loud cheers.
 Qr. Cremin then presented the following which he said had been adopted 0y the leading Irish societies in this city. They were as follows:
 Whereas The Right Honorable William E. Glad tone Premier of Great Britain, has introduced in Parliament two bills for the settlement of the Irish question, viz: For Irish Parliament in Dublin md land purchase bill; and
 Whereas, Both these measures are acceptable to ! oarnell and Ireland's representatives, i
 Resolved, That we assembled here this evening ndorse with exclamation both bills tending to ettle long vexed questions and to remove sources # discord between two people whose interests are loosely allied.
 Resolved, That we trust that through the genius