Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-16
IRELAND'S GREAT NEED.

IRELAND'S GREAT NEED.
 In making an appeal to the citizens of Waterbury to come to the assistance of Ireland iu her hour of great need the Waterbury division of the Irish National league seeks to revive local interest in a cause that should be de3ff to the hearts of all who sympathize with human lib erty and national freedom. In its efforts to cruch Charles Stewart Parnell the London Times is pointing its knife at the very heart of the Irish cause itself, and it behooves those who are in sympathy with that cause to rouse themselves to action.
 Dark days, indeed, and sore times have come upon bleeding and long suffering 1 Ireland. A concerted raid has been made on the national leaders and severai of them have been sent to jail for periods of imprisonment that have scandalized
 even the callous scribes of the English
 press. That brave and unyielding pa
 triot Edward Harrington is imprisoned
 at Tullamore for alleged offences under
 the crimes act, and other patriots mem-
 bers of parliament and active workers
 in the cause, including Dennis Kilbride
 and James l.. Carew and the
 editor of the Roscommon Her aid, have been summoned to
 answer to similar charges. with almost
 certainty of being sentenced to jail.
 William O'Brien and T. D. Sullivan,
 members of parliament, seem to be
 slated likewise for terms in Tullamore
 jail. The evictions, by means of armed
 soldiery and constabulary, of the unfor-
 tunate peasants of Donegal and Wick low who have for years been kept alive
 by the charity of humanity at large, is a
 crime against the commonest instincts of humanity that the world will add to the : long list already made out against the
 landlord system of Ireland The fate that has overtaken the Irish leaders who have dared to stand up against the in
 famous course of the tory government. that has overwhelmed the poor peasants
 who have been unable to meet the oppres- sive demands of the heartless landlords, | is simply that which is hanging above
 the heads of others in bleeding Ireland unless the hand of love and charity is
 stretched out from this smiling land of
 plenty to raise them from out the dark ness of imprisonment. eviction and
 death. It is terrible picture that comes to us from the unhappy isle beyond the
 sea.
 The time for action is at hand. A
 eft lJty "a nf Irn- land and the cause of liberty. It is to
 hold up the hands of Parnell and his
 associate leaders in their struggle against , the enemies of their country by providing
 them with the means to make a defense I against the false charges and foul con- , spiracies of the London Times and the ! tory government. The ideal leader ot v the great Irish struggle is on trial and /, his trial is the trial of the Irish people
 It is gratifying to note that the Irish a people in America and those of theii I American fellow-citizens who sym pathize with them in their brave strug e gle against overwhelming odds are show. a ing disposition to contribute liberally e to the Parnell defense fund. Waterbury " should be, and there is abundantly satis Q factory reason to believe she will be a equally generous in her contributions to the cause. In arranging for to l. morrow evenings entertainment at Cit, d hall the local branch of the league Ina: a provided a programme of unusual at
 traction. Senator Ecclesine of New if York is a gifted orator, and his lecture T on Home Rule is certain to bring ou i the attractive and interesting features O r. the subject. Mir Dennis O'Reilly of New d Haven is a finished elocutionist, a brigh
 and entertaining speaker, a devoted
 patriot and man who is peculiarl, r. fitted to interest, instruct and entertain
 an audience. From an intimate ac C quaintance with the different gentlemen le who will take an active part in the pro l. gramme we can promise our readers al if evening of rare enjoyment at Cit, = hall.
 h We hope to see large assemblag i'll present and generous disposition on tn It part of those who attend to assist in tn ,, good cause Let Waterbury send .i message of help and good cheer to Pa1 m nell, bidding him and his gallant com is rades to fight on in the cause of Iris ,t freedom and never to give up the strif . till the blessings of home rule are ac 'o corded to the blighted and sufferin, 70 isle that is
 t. First flower of the earth
 of First gem of the sea.