The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-03
0'Brien. Sullivan, Dillon and Har-
rington Arrive Safely in
New York City.
They are Received With Great
Honor by the Irish
Societiee
Situation Of Af.airs in the Emerald Isle
and Experience Of tho Party
in Escapinx.

wife, T.. D. Sullivan and wife,
John Dillon and Timothy Harrington,
arrived this morning on the steamer
La Champagne. The reception committee.
representing various Irish societies, met
them at quarantine, and whom the steamer
arrived at the dock, reception was held.
after which the visitors went to the Hoff-
man house. Gov. Hill was one Of the first
to call upon them. He warmly welcomed
them to the city and the state; expressed
sympathy with their cause and signed his
name to an address of welcome prepared by
the Irish societies. Mayor Grant did the
same. Eugene Kelley and Joseph J. O'Don-
ahue were also among tho callers.
In q talk with the newspaper men, Mr..
O'Brien said that out of forty bye elections
held in Great Britain since the assembling
OF the present parliament, fourteen ha d
been won by the home rule party. This
was fair indication Of the feeling Of the
Irish people on the question. He believed
the tories would be forced to dissolve par
lament sooner than they anticipated.
The government, be said, was
not taking proper measures for
the relief of the distress which prevailed in
Ireland. At first it denied that any famine
existed, and now admitted that there was
deep distress in the country, by proposing
measures for its relief. Mr.. O'Brien also
read an address on the situation Of Irish
affairs, and the purport of the visit of him
self and his fellow travellers to America.
''We are coming to America" the address
said, "by the desire and with the approval
of Parnell and the Irish parliamentary par
ty." MI. O'Brien stated that there was alb
solute unity in the ranks Of the parliament
ary party, and among the people. The old
taunt of instability of purpose could no
longer be thrown at Ireland.
Speaking of the experience of Mr.. Dillon
and himself, Mr.. O'Briek said they were
we'll watched by the police and spies. When
they took the special train at Limerick the
police took another special train in order to
keep them continually in sight. Yet the
police were caught mapping. Neither bribes
nor nor threats induced any one to tell the po-
tenn OF espionage was wasted.
1.-The government cannot trust it's own
servanta continued Mr. OBrien. why,
on the day before We were arrested Dillon
wrote me. informing me what was going to
take place. although it was supposed to be q
tions of . national fighting fund and q
charitable fund are wholly separate. The
danger of famine along the western portion
of the seaboard, is unquestionably real and
horrible. The Irish party are watching the
situation with the utmost solicitude. The
bill which they have called for spspending
evlctions for non-payment of rent ON small
holdings, combined with more liberal ad-
mlnlstration of the poor laws, would 20 far
to avert any danger of general famine.
The opinion of the Irish party is that any
general American fund poured into Ireland
ina vUn d,.NN NkNn6 1x, hoxy kh0 nEr
OF confirming Balfour in his policy Of leav-
ing the relief of the distress to private init
iatlve, and afterwards boasting that the
distress was imaginary, while large sums
disbursed with an imperfect knowledge of
the circumstances of the country, would in
landlords. whom the prospects Of American
aims would encourage to extort rent from
their famished tenantry.
I'VE waited in Tipperary 60 long as there
seemed the least chance of forcing
prompt disposal Of the charge. As soon as
clear We took leave to tumble their elabor-
ate house of cards about their ears, and
came away to appeal to America against
Balfour's ignoble dodge for starving out
the tenantry whom he has failed to lntimi-
date: We will, Of course, return the mo-
ment our business here is finished. II We
shall have in the meantime secured the
means of preserving the Irish ranks un-
broken until the general election, We will
not grudRe Balfour whatever comfort he
can derive from keeping % in jail for our
success. The essence Of the tory policy in
own terms. To effect this the tenants
combination had to be stamped out. The
tenants once smashed and disorganized,
under the terror of coercion, q cabinet Of
landlords and landlord tribunals. could ar
range the rest at will. II wao with the view
to crushing the tenants combinations that
all the prosecutions, batonings, and police
outrages took place, and it was to prevent
this that the Irish representatives came
here.
Tho London Times has exultantly calcu-
lated that Balfour's policy has cost the ten
ants defense fund $4,000 year. and that
rary. They calculated that the Irish people
at nome, who last year subscribed 10000
for the evicted tenants fund. would not be
able TO come to the rescue this year, and
that y We must appeal to Americans. Hence
tne llppeIary arrests on the eve OF our de-
parture. II the tenants would be broken
by the terrorism Of starving, the govern
ment could carry whatever land purchase
scheme they pleased, and 60 to the country
with triumph over the success of coercion.
On the other hand. II Balfour has to face
that the landlords syndicate, with ali their
power, has failed to break . coupleof dozen
bodies of Irish tenantry, after all these
years of merciless repression and coercion,
Balfourism will be overwhelmed at the
polls."
This evening the parliamentary fund as
sociation gave . reception to the delegates
at the Hoffman house. About 200 invited
guests were present. Among them were
Eugene Kelly, Hon. Robert Roosevelt,
Judges Morgan, OBrien and Fitzgerald,
Mayor Grant, Ex-Mayor Grace. Bourke
Cochran, General O'Brien, and President
Gleason, of the municipal council Of the
National league. An address of welcome
was read by James A. German, expressing
tho deepest sympathy Of all true Irish
Americans and all liberal Americans for
the Irish cause. II was signed by Governor
Hill, Mayor Grant and the chief officers |
OF the Irish societies. Each of the dele
gates spoke briefly. Mr.. Dillon made . !
stirring appeal for aid and pictured the |
condition Of his own constituAnoy. Mr.. |
ORrien asked that his men be not struck |
IN the last hour Of winning the battle |
when American hearts and purses oould |
save than. T. d. 61llivan said sympathy
for tho cause va growing in England and
prejudice was paMing away.
Mr.. C'BTisn told the reporters the story |
of the escape Of Mr.Dillon and himself, and |
apparently enjoyed telling Of il. Mr.. Dillon
helped him with the narrative. They walked |
from Dnhlin, AI. UBFien said, down TO |