Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-15
THE FIGHT FOR IRELAND.
I. p. Gill, the First Of the Irish Leaders
to Arrive Here, Describes the Conflict.

From the New York Tribune.
without any previous warning and without
any Irishman in the city knowing anything
about it, Thomas P. Gill set foot yesterday in
New York, having come from Ireland on the
Alaska Mr.. Gill is an Irish member Of parlia-
ment, follower OF Mr.. Parnell and q repre-
sentative of South Louth.
He drove from the pier yesterday to the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, where he is staying, and
no sooner had his arrival become known than
several prominent Irishmen called to pay their
respects among the first being Gen. James r.
OBeirne. assistant superintendent Of immigra-
tion. MIR. Gill greeted a reporter of the Til
oune who called upon him cordially and ex-
pressed his surprise and delight at the great
and population, since his last visit.
~ am" said he modestly and with a smile,
what may be called the first installment of
the delegation of Irish parliamentarians who
are coming to the United States to represent
the Irish cause. Our intention, in the first
case, was to come in body and we had ar
ranged to sail on the Teutonic on October /,
but the arrest Of John Dillon and VIM. OBrien
obliged US to change our plans"
"Are Messrs. Dillon and o Brien now on their
way here?" asked the reporter
They are" replied Mr.. Gill, triumphantly,
Notwithstanding all Balfour's elaborate efforts
to prevent them"
"How did they manage to slip away so sue
cessfully?"
"One Of our fellow-members Of parliament,
William Murphy, owns yacht. and it is very
probable that they left on that craft, and l hope
they reached Havre in time to catch the French
boat, for it is not likely that they could have
safely embarked at an English port
How does Mr.. Parnell regard the step?'
"Mr. Psrnell," Mr.; Gill replied alphabetically
us the inspiration Of the whole affair, and he
called a convention in Dublin which decided
upon this plan. Every step in the whole
transaction was resolved upon only after con-
suitation with Mr.. Parneli, for, you must re-
member" continued Mr.. Gill, enthusiastically,
that he is the guiding spirit Of all our actions
and outside OF the parliamentary party and
among the masses Of the people his popu-
larity has never been greater than at this mo-
ment"
a., Are you coming to raise money for the
81 want it distinctly understood" said Mr..
Gill, emphatically, that We come to state the
case OF Ireland to the American people, and not
to appeal for charity. We want to tell the
American people Of the tremendous struggle
that Ireland Is carrying on at present. There
IL an immense conspiracy on foot to destroy the
national party in Ireland in the interest of the
English tory government and the landlords.
Within four years 5000 persons have been i'm
prisoned for alleged political offcnses, and l
may say one-third Of the Irish parliamentary
party have been put in Jail from time to time;
and the persecution Is still going on
will you explain why the fight OF Dillon and
OBrien was resolved upon?"
Indeed l will, my friend" replied the
member Tor Louth, gleefully. Their arrest
came so suddenly that we expected the trial
would not last week. The purpose was to
appeal from the decision of the magistrates
if it should have proved unfavorable, not in the
Of ling hot
gaining time which would enable them during
the tendency OF the appeal to visit America
week ago last Friday we learned that Bal
tours tactics were to delay the trial as long as
possible. while O'Brien and billions counsel
pleaded for speedy trial. No less than 200
summonses were issued. 1t was further learned
that they were to be sentenced under an old
act of Edward III, which precluded an appeal.
In this way Balfour could hold them in jail for
an indefinite period"
will there be any feeling among the Irish
people that this was cowardico or that it was
running away?"
That is bosh," replied Mr. Gill, sternly.
''Of course there will be no such feeling. WHY
should there be? Why, my good friend, does
not everybody know perfectly well, and do
not Mr. Dillon and Mr.. O'Brien themselves
know, too. that the very moment they stand
upon English soil again, let it be a week from
now or year from now, they will be arrested?
The trick has stopped for the time Bafour's
attempt at the persecution as well
as the prosecution of these men, and it will,
am confident, result in great benefit to the
Irish cause"