The Washington times., 1902-12-08
IRISH ENJOYS SPEAK
FOR CAUSE OF OLD ERIN
MeSsrs. Bake and Davitt
Have Large Audience.
MEETING A BIG SUCCESS
Senator Patterson of Colorado Presides
and Introduces Speakers-Lafayette
Theater Appropriately Decorated.

More than 5000 persons assembled las
night at Lafayette Square opera Houst
to hear addresses by Edward Blake anC
Michael Davitt. the Irish ENJOYS. JohI
Dillon, who has many friends in thii
city, was prevented from speaking b!
Illness.
The meeting was held under the aus
pices Of the Michael Davitt branch o.
tho United Irish League Of America
Elaborate arrangements were made FOL
che last OF a series held by the dis
tinguished men throughout this country
Unlike all other meetings held by them
no contributions we're solicited Nor,
than $4,000 has been given their caus,
in this country.
The arrangements OF the meeting wer,
carried out by a special committee o
the local branch. under direction Of vii.
liam r. Downey, president The the
ater was prettily decorated in green. tn,
Stars and Stripes being daintily en-
twined with the green banner of ireland
For an hour before the speaking the or
chestra rendered a program Of popular
Irish and American airs.
Senator Thomas N. Patterson OF Colo
rado presided. Seated on the stage were
Representatives Littleheld OF Maine
Alexander Of New York, Reeder OF Kan.
sas. Sims OF Tennessee. Kern OF Ini-
.nois, Caldwell OF Illinois, Gilbert OF Ken
lucky, Dovener Of West Virginia. Bower
sock Of Kansas. GraT OF Illinois. Reeves
Of Illinois. Joy OF Missouri, Hedge OF
Iowa. Zenor Of Indiana. Gooch OF Ken
lucky. Bellamy Of North Carolina. Escf
OF Wisconsin. Cooper Of Wisconsin, Foss
OF Illinois, Miller Of Kansas. Fowler OF
New Jersey, and Burkett Of Nebraska.
Other prominent persons we're Messrs
J. 3. scully, Burlington, Vt: N. j. Fitz-
simmons. Patrick Martin. Baltimore: P
Mann, NJ. F. Greene, J. T. Springrnan.
jr, Cotter T. Bride. E. W. Martin. Ter
ence v. Powderly, E. L. Ferguson.
Michael T. Hoban, and the Rev. John
Van Schaick.
MT. Patterson's Remarks.
Mr.. Downey introduced Senator Pat
terson, who paid tribute 10 the vaior
OF those Of his fatherland now striving
so hard for home rule. He said:
Il greet the two patriots. Michael
Davitt ana Edward Blake. the men who
are so successfully bringing about a
unity OF Irish sentiEIeat in America.
The struggle in which they are engaged
IS not being accOmpi led by carnage.
but In humane ways. The struggle is
tWenty-one years old. and therefore
strong and full OF age. II is ughtheart-
ed as we'll
These men are fighting for home
Iule- what may we not expect with an
irlsh parliament meeting AT Dublin.
making laws for their fellow-men: pro-
wong Tor the education OF the rising
generations? l can now hear the hum
Of the wheels Of industries and the low
ful notes OF a happy nation Home rule
for Ireland is an inspiration in every
irish breast II is M pleasure. there
Tore. TO introduce trat leader OF the
struggle. Edward Blake"
Mr.. Blake was greeted with applause
er
OF the stage Before commencing his
address he told the audience IL was the
desire OF his fellow member in parlia-
ment. John Dillon. TO b. present Ill
ness, however, Overc8me LIN in Chicago
two weeks ago. and IL be anne necessary
Tor him to proceed at once to New York.
There he met his wife. who has been on
the Atlantic for a week hurrying TO her
husband. whose illness for a time seemed
serious. The billions will return home
by the first steamer. where Il is hoped
the distinguished leader will completely
recover.
Mr.. Blake devoted much Of his ad-
dress 10 natural conditions OF Ireland
and those impediments TO its growth as
placed on it by the English law. He
said. in part:
ireland is yearly drained by the pres
ent parliament Of an over and undue
proportion Of revenue. 1 will direct my
remarks TO the question Of agricultural
holdings. Coercion IS in full sway. and
each year more farms are abandoned and
turned into cattle ranches. Within a
brief space, some hope for a change has
sprung up even In Ireland Itself. and a
change is anticipated soon Wider views
are now held by landlords, and tenants
even possess broader opinions as to their
work. l could speak for hours OF edu-
cation. taxation. and land ownership
but viii leave that for my friend
Michael Davitt. I desire 10 refer 10
Irish self government.
Seat of Free Government.
81 would choose no better place than
Washington to advocate tbs principle,
for this is the seat Of Government Of
the grardest nation in the whole world
and one which had It's birth in the prin-
ciples OF freedom OF speech and thought
This country gained les liberty from the
very nation 20 which ireland Is so un-
willingly united. That forced union Of
England and ireland has made the
strong mightier and the weak more help
less. once ireland was one-third as
populous as England. Now II Is but one
eighth.
This Is wrong. a people should be
ruled and governed by laws made by
their feIlow-men. elected 10 ONCE by
their own votes. This, Ireland does not
enjoy. In parliament. those advocating
home rule are CutnumbCTed eight to one.
The English make and administer the
law. The officers who execute these
laws are drawn from the Irish minority
by English landlords. and they are Sc
we're. Our people are not given fair
jury trials. but are arraigned before
those unfriendly 10 them. Roman Cath
olics are tried before Protestant juries