The Irish standard., 1899-02-04
The Wrongs Of Ireland.

the patriotic priest Of Gweedore, Ireland,
lectured before an enthusiastic audience
at Central Music hall, Chicago. He was
introduced by Judge Gibbons, of the cir
cult court, who made some remarks of
local character which elicted bursts
Of applause.
When men of the Irish name." he
said. disgrace the Irish blood and the
Irish character, it behoves us to say
that as men of Ireland we denounce
them as individuals who have brought
infamy upon us, who have outraged our
people, and the people of the United
States. AS Irishmen we should form a
crusade to lay bare the villainy of every
man of our nation or religious creed
who holds public Office and uses it to
bring disgrace upon u.s.
| Judge Gibbons then proceeded to
eulogize Father McFadden. He said he
had won the title. Patriot Priest" by
acts of noble self-sacrifice, and in return
had gained historic name. He knew
the priest when both were young men
in Ireland, the Judge a farmers boy and
the parish leader student for the min
istery. -
"He stood by his people," he said,
referring to the labors of the priest in
withstanding eviction proceedings, "to
live or die with them
Father McFadden. after denuncia-
ton Of England's Irish policy, past.
present and apparent future, told his
own experience in fighting for the rights
of the tenantry of Gweedore. He said
he was twice imprisoned in Derry Jail
at Londonderry, bloodshed followed the
second attempt at his arrest. The at
tempt was made to take him into GUS
tody on the charge Of refusing to obey
summons to appear in court to be tried
for seditious speech as he left the parish
church after conducting mass.
| Constables had sworn to take him.
and he was seized the moment he ap-
peared, exciting to rage the congrega-
ton of 1000 members. Men and wom-
en-, they pounced upon the soldiers and
officers, two girls being the first to seize
the guard who held the priest by the
collar. In the melee the guard was
killed and several other officers severely
injured. Father McFadden and 120 of
his parishioners were arraigned for
murder, but were tried later for con-
spiracy and eventually freed.
Father McFadden's recital Of the
scenes in which he played part was
most dramatic. He declared that in
force lay the only remedy of the Irish
peasantry against the rapacity Of the
I landlords and the cruelty of the land
laws
THE policy of submission" he as
serted, wins nothing; the laws of the
apostle of peace cannot govern the Irish
tenant now. All his hope is in action,
fierce action. We won in Gweedore by
blows, by making it impossible for the
sheriff's officers to serve eviction papers
the reason being the fear for their
bodies.
"The land spectators, the landlords
in law, got hold Of the parish of Gwee-
dore, 70 square miles, one-twelfth of it
arabic land, and eight landowners. The
mountains and the seashore had been
free for pasturage in the older days,
but the landlords restricted the tenants
to the arabic holdings, seized the graz
ing lands to gain an added tax, and
raised the rent four times above its
figures when the region was free. When
the seasons were hard there was no
lessening Of the rent. 1t was starve or
refuse to pay rent. The tenants refused
and the officers came until they found
that 200 sheriff's men were met by 1000
peasants. They could not evict, and to
make the district peaceful the govern
ment forced the landowners to COM
promise, which has lessened the rent
IS per cent, and given us back the sea
and mountains"
| For England and her system Father
McFadden found no excuse
1.-THE curse Of Ireland" he said, "has
been the bloodthirsty dominion of Eng
land. English foothold was established
in blood"
MCGOWAN & Mahoney, ire insurance,
real estate. loans. 1875 Central avenue. .