The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-06
FOR irish PRISONERS
Arrangements Made for a Large
Demonstration in Favor of
a General Amnesty.

A largely attended meeting of repre-
sentative Irishmen was held at Humboldt
Hall, Newark avenue, yesterday after
noon, to make arrangements for a public
demonstration in favor OF extending
amnesty to the Irish political prisoners
and to give financial aid to their fami-
lies. The following gentlemen were
unanimously chosen officers of the COM
mbttee on public OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
3. Homes, Chairman; Thomas Riley,
Vice Chairman; John Larkin, Secretary;
Judge John Kenny. Treasurer.
Representatives were present. from both
branches of the Ancient Order of Hiber-
mans, Irish National Foresters, st.
Patrick's Alliance, County Cavan Mems
Association and other organizations.
Committees were appointed to obtain a
hall, draft a programme, to secure a
presiding officer for the public meeting
and to secure speakers.
Some of the very best musical and
vocal talent of this city have volunteered
their services in aid of the movement.
MI. James f. Egan, the delegate from
the Amnesty Association of ireland. with
headquarters in Dublin, was present,
and made a very interesting address.
Mr.. Egan was arrested about eleven
years ago mainly on account of being
an intimate friend of John Daily, who
was convicted in Warwick, England.
July, 1884, and, like Daily, he was tried
under an ~antiquated law known as the
Treason Felony act and sentenced as
Day vas to imprisonment for life
After serving nine years in Portland
convict prison, inc enduring such tor
lures as would put the authorities of
Russian Siberia to blush. fearing he
would die in prison the authorities liber-
ated him. He is a man of fine presence,
of delicate physique. but of very deter
mined character. After his release he
determined to devote his life and ener-
gieS to the release of these who. like
himself, had beenfsentenced to life inn
-prisonment in English and irish dungeons
for loving their native land.
Mr.. Egan made an eloquent appeal TIC
those present in behalf of the Irish
E~clftical prisoners and their families,
and asked the cooperation of all Irish
men and an lovers of justice and liberty
for the cause he represents. He sad
that the great meeting held in New York
shown by the press and the liberty
loving people of America In favor of the
Irish political prisoners had already
borne fruit and he hoped that ere his
mission in America had ended to have
the pleasure of knowing that the last
Of the Irish political prisoners would
be a free man.
He said he never would cease while
God spared him and while a single man
of the Irish political prisoners was de-
prived of his liberty. to plead their
cause n show to the world the brutal
and human treatment melted out to his
unfortunate countrymen in Engiand's
convict prisons.
Mr.. Egan was frequently applauded,
and it was resolved by those present tie
do everything possible to make mis- mis-
sion a grand success.
Judge Kenny said as this was the FIRST
representative gathering of Irishmen
since the sad intelligence of the death
of ex-Mayor Cleveland had been an
nouneed, he thought 1t was right and
to call the attention of those
present to the many kindly acts he had
performed and many generous subscrip-
tons he had made to Ireland's cause.
Judge Kenny offered a resolution recog-
nizing Mayor Cieveland's noble efforts in
behalf of ireland and expressing deep
regret that Ireland and every other
country whose people were struggling
for liberty should lave lost so warm a
friend as Mayor Cleveland always proved
to be. Judge Kenny's resolu-
ton was seconded by several gentle
men. The Chairman, who was Intimately
of Ireland's cause spoke feelingiy of
him, and 1.-THE resolutions were unani-
nsously adopted by a rising vote. The
committees have determined on active
work and win be prepared to make
reports at the next meeting.