Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-02-15
Rev. Geo. w. Pepper Lecture.


Considering the weather there was
good-sized audience at Turner Hall last
Wednesday evening to hear the lecture
of Rev. Geo. W. Pepper upon the theme
of "The Ireland of To-day" DR.. E.
Johnson in introducing the speaker dwelt
for few moments upon Ireland and her
cause. The lecturer sketched the history
of Ireland from the earliest period down
to the present and paid glowing tribute
to the island and its people. He illus
trated the characteristics of different type
of Irishmen in most happy and humor-
GUS manner and met the arguments of
those who claim that the Irish people are
not fitted to govern themselves in way
that proved clearly the untenableness of
their position on the subject The dan
ger to the Protestant minority from the
Catholic majority in case of Home Rule
being procured, was treated as frivolous
and absurd by the speaker, himself a
Protestant minister. He asked anyone
in the audience to advance any good rea
son why Ireland should not have her
rights. The love for America always
shown by Ireland was portrayed in elo-
quent terms and the reciprocation of this
feeling manifested by the American peo-
pie was gracefully and feelingly acknowl-
edged and he warmly maintained that
Home rule would be achieved by the
irish people within two years
Rev. Mr.. Pepper is fine orator. He
speaks very rapidly and as a result an
occasional word is not clear to the listen
or. He appeared here laboring under
two Disadvantages, one a cold and the
other severe and painful lameness &C.
casioned by badly sprained ankle.
Three cheers were given for the speaker
and at the close of his address the follow
ing resolutions were read by Charles
Lynch:
Resolved, That we, the citizens of Watertown
in public meeting assembled, do enter our solemn
protest against the imprisonment of the chosen
leaders of the people OF Ireland for no crime but
demanding simple justice for their country for
the suppression of the press and free speech, the
denial of public meetings and the right to trial
by Jury under the present coercion act, that we
denounce the chief secretary ofIreland (BalfOur)
as premeditating murder in locking up in prison
men of delicate constitutions in the hope that
they would not survive the brutality of their En-
glish jailors.
Resolved. That considering the late revulsion
of feeling amongst the masses of the English
people, and the warm sympathy shown by them
towards the oppressed people of Ireland, we ten
der them our warmest thanks, and express the
hope that their kind interference on the side OF
Justice will result in harmony and good will be-
tween both people in the future.
Resolved. That we congratulate the Irish peo-
pie on the steady progress they are making
towards self-government, on their patient crime
less and determined perseverance in resisting
the brutal coercion act, and that we promise
them our heartfelt sympathy and pledge them
financial aid in their struggle for justice and
liberty.
Resolved, That the thanks of ST. Bernard's
Temperance Society, and of the citizens of Wa
tertown are hereby rendered to the Rev. Geo. w.
Pepper for his patriotic devotion to the princi-
pies of human liberty. his love for even-handed
Justice and especially for his sympathy for the
oppressed people of Ireland.
Be it further resolved That we heard with
deep interest his eloquent and mastery treat
that we congratulate him as the associate of the
best men of Ireland and America as advocates Of
the rights of God in the affairs of nations and
charitable treatment of man.