Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-14
ParneH's Reception.
Ovation to the Leader of the
Irish Cause.
A PLEA TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE


Evicted Tenant and Lenity In Judgment
of Fenians and Dynamiters--The Times
Case Before the Commission Closed
Twenty Live Lost in a Coiiiery Disaster
Foreign News Notes.
LONDON, March 1s.-St James Hall wa
filled to overfowing last night on the occa-
sion of the long heralded reception to Par
nell The hall was profusely decorated with
flags, flowers, ETC., and the gathering was re-
markedly enthusiastic. John Morley pre-
sided, and upon taking the chair delivered an
earnest and eloquent speech. The absence of
Gladstone, be said, was greatly regretted by
all, but he was assured and in return
would assure his audience that the great
leader of the Liberals would be present if it
were not for the fact that he had been earn
estly besought and prevailed upon by his
friends to spare himself for another occasion,
when the cause of Ireland would be advo-
Gated before body competent to take action
on the questions he presented. Gladstone
would not, Morley said, spare himself of bis
own free will, because he plainly sees that the
time is fast coming when we will surely get
to the bottom of these Irish proceedings
Whatever form home rule may take it must
rest upon a foundation of mutual respect and
good Will He severely censured the entire
course of The Times against Parnell and his
colleagues, and rejoiced in the downfall of
the fabric it had reared.
Parnell in rising to speak was greeted with
perfect bedlam of applause, the ovation
lasting many minutes. He was sure, he said,
that his countrymen in Ireland, Australia
and America would be equally glad upon
hearing of this reception. He had, however,
not much to say, and would reserve his last
words on the vital subject for the witness
box and the house of commons
He referred briefly to The Times charges,
and then closed as follows: al think we are
entitled to ask all thinking, rejecting men
and women in England to consider this: Is it
right that the future and the liberties of Ire
land should be dependent upon a casual pub
LEGATION of forged letter by The Times on the
morning of great divisoni (Cries of NO "
1t has been admitted on oath by the manager
of The Times that the publication was pur-
posed to affect the division. [Cries Of
shame. J Now let us come to the question
OF the government of ireland. The land
question, for instance, is only one example Of
the bungie every English government makes
III all httciliHt " lEeldfl'l lIOui w est
minister. do not say that the land question
is an Irish question, but bring it forward as
most salient example OF the unfortunate in
capacity of the English parliament to do JUS
tice TO Ireland
Referring at length TO the history of the
land question, the improvements made by
tenants, and the fact that the occupants had
built their houses, the speaker proceeded.
you English men and women ought to re-
feet when You read OF forcible resistance in
some cases by Irish tenants against armed
force that it is not real resistance, because it
amounts to such resistance as a fly might
make to an elephant about to crush it under
its foot (cheers and laugnterl; but when you
hear these things you must reflect that, after
all, these people are being expelled from
houses they built themselves and which are
their own property, although the law has not
yet efficiently protected that property You
must see that it is sometimes not in human
nature TO endure and withstand this provocs-
ton as passvely as we desire they should for
the sake of the future of their country, and
that sometimes their manhood revolts and
they strike blow in their own defence
Parnell recited pitiful example of misery
and continued: That is the history of many
men who are denounced to day as dynami-
boiu' dltuougu from every
point of view We condemn violence and ille-
gal and unconstitutional action--from the
point of view Of the interests of Ireland, from
the point of view OF morality, and OF hope
and confidence in the future-yet sometimes
we can not help thinking that after all there
has been much i'll the lesson that English mis-
government has taught Ireland for genera
lions to justify or excuse the actions of these
rash. hot-headed men [cheersl men who, de-
spairing of parliamentary agitation, losing.
and justly, all trust in their Irish representa-
tives, who so repeatedly had betrayed the
constituencies which trusted them, turned to
criminal methods as the only hope for the
future of Ireland
But 1t is an honorable thought which
feel tonight that since the introduction of
the great measure of 1885 Ireland has defin-
ttely turned her back upon all these base,
hopeless, and desperate courses; that she is
confident that in the ways of the constitution
lie her safety, and that under the genius and
guidance of that great and devoted English
man. Gladstone prolonged cheers, with the
new hope that has come into all our hearts
and breasts, the day OF ultimate freedom for
Ireland can not be long deferred"
Sir Charles Russell followed Parnell in a
few remarks and was greeted with deafening
cheers.