The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-09
TO WELCOME ESMONDE.
A BIG DAY FOR THE IRISH
NATIONAL LEAGUE.

Esmonde, Hon. John P. Sutton and
"Richelieu" Robinson to Speak at the
| Theater Tonight on the Irish
Question-Arranging for the Recep-
ton OF the Distinguished Visitors-A
Drive Through the City and a
Banquet at the Pulaski House
Esmonde's Career.
To-day will be National Leaguers' day in
Savannah. Sir Thomas Henry Grattan
| Esmonde, Secretary Sutton, of the Irish
National League of America, and Hon.
| William E. Robinson, of Brooklyn, will be
here, the guests of the Savannah branch Of
the league, and will speak at the Theater
tonight on the Irish question.
| Mr. Robinson will arrive on the New
York steamer this morning, and will be
accompanied by his daughter and niece.
The party will be met at the Ocean
Steamship wharf at Z o'clock by
special committee in carriages
and will be escorted to the Pulaski House.
President OConnor of the Savannah
Branch of the League, Sergt. J. B. Xii
| lourhy and Mr. Francis Hart will meet Mr..
| DR.. NJ. +. Dunn will escort the ladies.
COMING FROM JACKSONVILLE.
| Esmonde and Mr.. Sutton will arrive from
Jacksonville on the north-bound vestibule
train at 2 80 o'clock this afternoon. Hon.
p. w. Meldrim, chairman of the reception
committee, Sheriff John f. Roman, Alder
man W. F. Reid and Messrs.
Kehoe, Gleason and Herman will
meet the distinguished visitors, and
! they will be escorted to the
| Pulaski House. After dinner the entire
party with the Reception Committee win
be taken in carriages for drive through
| the city In the course of the drive the
visitors will stop at the Telfair Academy of
| Arts and Sciences, where they will be re-
ceived by Gen. Henry r. jackson and
shown through the art gallery. The drive
will occupy about two hours.
AT THE THEATER.
| At 7:45 o'clock Esmonde, Sutton and Rob-
inson will be escorted from the Pulaski
House to the Theater by the Irish Jasper
| Green's The exercises there will begin
promptly at O'Clock. The invited guests,
with the members of the Reception Com
mittee and the Jasper Greens will be seated
| upon the stage. President O'Connor will
present the speakers to Gen.
jackson who will preside at the
meeting. Esmonde will speak first and after
| him Mr.. Sutton. Mr.. Robinson will speak
last upon the countries OF Emmett and Wash
ington. In announcing his departure from
Brooklyn and tine fact that he will speak
here on the Irish question the Standard
Union says:
| A CHAMPION OF IRELAND'S CAUSE.
GA mere mention of the fact indicates the
object of Mr.. Robinson's visit Love OF
! freedom and hatred of oppression have dis
| tinguished him from his youth up, and ad-
vancing years have neither weakened nor
chilled his sturdy manhood. What he has
to say on the wrongs and hopes of Ireland
would command attention anywhere and is
sure to do it in the South"
| The Union COrnet Band will be at the
theater. and will play Irish airs during the
intervals between the speeches. Ushers
will escort ladies TO seats, and it is expected
that there will be large attendance of ladies
interested in Irelands cause.
TO BANQUET THE VISITORS.
After the exercises at the Theater the
visitors will be banquetted at the Pulaski
House. The Reception Committee, which
has charge of the arrangements will bear
TIE entire cost of the entertainment.
Sir Thomas and Mr.. Sutton will remain in
the city u day or two. Mr. Robinson and his
party will probably stay over Sunday, leav-
ing here on Mondays steamer. 1t is quite
probable, in fact the result may confidently
be anticipated, that the visit of Sir Thomas,
from his arrival in the city until his depart
ure, will be one not only of pleasure to him
self, but of exceeding interest and substan-
tial profit to Irishmen and those who are
with them in the cause in which they are
fighting.
SKETCH OF ESMONDE.
Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde is
the youngest of the Irish members of Par
lament, being only % years of age, but he
ranks among the leaders of the Parnell
movement Aside from his personal APP
pearance, he is perhaps the most picturesque
figure in the ranks of the Irish patriots, and
is one of the most popular of their number.
He is, as is known, one of the land
lords of Ireland, and has contributed
perhaps more than any Other member
of that class to redeem the name from
utter condemnation. A painful accident a
few years ago forced him into temporary re-
tirement, which he spent in STUDY, and from
which he emerged with his talents and abil-
tiles devoted TO the purpose which he has
made his life wcrk-the redemption of Ire
land. When his name was proposed as a
candidate for Parliament in 1885, shortly
after he had joined the central branch of
the national league, the people rather dis
trusted him because he was landlord.
OPPOSED BY DAvITT.
Although he was the choice Of Mr.. Par
nell, Mr.. Davitt opposed his nomination
and came near defeating him. Sir Thomas
frank and earnest speech on that occasion
converted even the doubters, and Mr.
Davitt and his subsequent career has amply
confirmed them il the trust and admiration
he then aroused for the first time in their
breasts. Within his own family and the
circle of his alistocratic association Sir
Thomas has encountered strong opposition
to his patriotic course, but he has won even
many of these to his side as he wins all who
know him or hear his plea for thu cause of
the people whom he represents. The name
he inhoritS is indissoubly linked with all
that is brightesS and best in the past of
IrelandS history.