The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-13
crowd Of several thousand persons to gain
the building.
INSIDE THE RINK.
A Great Crowd Listens TO the
Speeches of the American and
Irish Orators.

barn-like structure. Long before the
meeting began the seats and benches
were crowded with the iiberty-.oving
people Of this county. II any one sup
poses it was distinctive Irish gathering
he is mistaken. Men whose faces bore
the traces of their German origin elbowed
the native born, while among the contrib
utors to the fund which was collected
later in the evening was q colored man.
The boxes at the side were filled with
Indies who evinced a great Interest In the
proceedings throughout. The hall was
beautifully and appropriately dec
Grated for the occasion. Bright
c0lored bunting covered the homely
bare rafters and posts of the rink and
hundreds OF gaily hued lanterns mingled
their soft lighr with the glare of the cleo
trio lamps. The stage was draped with
American and Irish colors. The back
ground was the American flag, grouped
in graceful folds and caught up in the
centre by green flag with the golden
harp and the sun burst Of old ireland.
To the right was a portrait Of Gladstone
and on the left hung an excellent like
ness OF Parneil.
The honorary vice presidents and secre-
taries, whose names were published In
THE JERSEY CITY NEws recently. began
to arrive early and take their places upon
appeared 1t was cheered by the vast but
patient audience.
THE PARTY ARRIVES AT THE RINK.
1t was nine o'clock when the sound of
martial music and tumultuous cheering
in the rear of the hall announced the
arrival Of the Parliamentary party. The
first to appear was Governor Albeit with
Mrs William O'Brien upon his arm.
Thoughtful, sad vIsaged William
0'Brien, hat in hand and bowling to the
ringing cheers of the multitude, fol-
lowed, and then came Mrs. 7. d. Sullivan
close behind and soon after him
came Messfs. Timothy Harrington
anu 4. T. Gill. They were
followed by a throng of distinguished
citizens and the military and civic organ
izations. When all had taken the places
assigned them, ex-Mayor McGavisx. Of
Hoboken, called the meeting to order and
introduced the chairman.
Governor Albeit WAS hen introduced,
and was received with an ovation. He
said:-
II am with you tonight to speak word
of welcome to the representatives of Ire
land that are here TO plead their own
cause for their own native land; not only
for myself but for all the liberty loving
people of New Jersey In giving them
the welcome that is shown by this vast
assembage and this enthusiastic recep-
mean TO say without any regard TO
nationality or creed that they are in
favor of Irish home rule. These gentle
men are with you to speak of the exact
condition of affairs in Ireland, and you
want to send them back with the golden
stream which Will enable them to meet
the British treasury. Applause.
IN THE SHADOW OF PRISON.
''Why is it that an assemblage such as
this is seen in this city. What is it that
arouses the heart wherever these gentle
men go, and causes them to be greeted
with the applause OF shouting multitudes.
There is no war here. We are not to ap-
peal to you because the country is in
danger. 1t is because these men repre-
sent the sacred cause of liberty and are
here to plead for the Irish people. They
have inculcated in them the Irish love of
liberty. Two come with the shadow Of the
prison enveloping them because they
dared to plead for Irish liberty; that which
is crime under British law is a consti-
tutional right in America Applause
and cheers.l
'sWe are with these representatives be-
cause they are fighting for the right of
self government and tree speech. AL
though their party has been in existence
only ten years they have raised up the
cause of the Irish people which was
trampled in the dust until all liberty low
ing people are crying God Save Ireland
Again / appeal to you for the golden
stream which these gentlemen may take
back to Ireland to fight the British gov
ernment with"
The Governor was loudly cheered when
he sat down and then the chairman intro
duced Mr.. O'Brien. At the sight of the
pale, thoughtful face of the man who has
suffered SO much for the cause of Ireland,
the vast multitude went wild. They
arose as one man and cheered and shouted
until the building fairly shook. Several
times Mr.. O'Brien esssyed to speak but
the sound OF his voice was the signal for
a fresh outburst of enthusiasm. Finally
the cheering subsided and Mr.. O'Brien
began.
WILLIAM o'BRIEN's SPEECH
II won't waste words in attempting t o
thank you for the glorious welcome, civil
and military, that you have been pleased
TO give myself and my friends tonight in
New Jersey. This is one of the most
glorious, one OF the most inspiriting
sights that my eyes have ever fallen upon.
The only reward you want is TO be told,
as | now tell you, that the success, the
unexampled success, that has attended
our mission to America has brought JOY
TO the heart of every man who is fighting
coercion upon the old soil of Ireland and
struck terror and despair into the hearts
OF Mr.. Balfour and of his assembly of
spies and removabies in Dublin Castle.
prolonged applause-
"We have come here at the call of our
own matchless leader, Parnell renewed
applausel. to, In the words of the old
song, answer the question, "How is poor
old Ireland, and how does she stand?'
and, although the fight is still raging and
our people are in the thick of fierce and
cruel conflict for the commonest rights
and liberties which you as Ameri-
can citizens enjoy in this great land,
still the story which we have to tell
you is no longer a story of disaster and
despair but of steady progress and of
inevitable victory. [Applause.1 The
progress of our cause has been SO rapid.
friends, and powerful friends, are now
thronging into our ranks in such num-
bers that we sometimes all but forget
how incredible has been the advance that
the Home Rule cause has made in the ten
years of the existence of the Irish Parlia-
mentary party, under the unrivalled lead
ership of Charles Stewart Parnell. Jap
plause again and again renewed
II know of nothing more exhiiarating,
nothing better calculated TO encourage
us. than to recall the condition of Irish
politics when Parnell arose and the brave
'Joe'' Bicgar (appiause) with him, 20
confront the enemies of Ireland in the
British Parliament. II was then, indeed
in a sad plight. Look at it now We
have united Irish nation, united
as Ireland has never before been
united We have ON our side the greatest
orator and mightest master of the En-
glish tongue, the peerless Gladstone 1pro-