Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-26
TRAvEsTY ON JUSTICE.
: New York lrishmen Denounce Trial
and Sentence Of Lynch.


New York, Jan. 25.-At a meeting of
delegates of the United Irish Ameri-
can Societies of New York, presided
over by Daniel f. Colahan. tonight,
resolutions were adopted denouncing
the trial ard death sentence of Col. Ar
hur1.ynch as q travesty Oh justice.
After reviewing the circumstances
under which Col. Lynch became
naturafized citizen and subsequently
soldier of the Transyaal republic, the
resolutions continue:
- 1--WE desire to express our belief that
the British. GoverRment will not dare to
carry out the sentence imposed upon
Col. Lynch and also to point out that
the action OF an English court in find
ing man who had become in due form
a naturalized citizen of another coun-
try, guilty of treason in England, is un-
just, unfair and gross violation of all
the conditions under which millions of
citizens had been added to the popula-
ton of this country. England after the
lessons administered to her by America
in the war of 1872, was very glad to
abandon the theory that a British sub
ject. could not renounce his allegiance
to the British crown, in order 10 be-
come a citizen of another country and
in the case of Col. Lynch, she is simply
attempting to resume a position from
which we drove her by force in 1872
Just as the declaration of Chamber
lain at the outbreak of the Boer war
that England could not with safety
permit the existence of republics con-
tigltolls to English territory meant that
our republic could only exist next to
Canada while our strength continued
too great for that Of England, so the
verdict of guilty in the case of Col.
Lynch means that the American citi-
zenships of hundreds of thousands of
American citizens born in Ireland will
only be respected so long as England
has no power to strike at them here in
America
"At this time when England for her
own selfish purposes is attempting to
conceal her enmity to America under
the guise of friendship, in order the
more thoroughly to avail herself of our
strength and power, she endeavors to
set aside one of the cardinal principles
of our Institutions and to take from
US one of our greatest sources of our
strength.
I'VE denounce her action as coward
ly, brutal and tyrannicaI and predict
that it will only serve to call the atten-
ton of the world to the fact that as
you cannot change the spots of the
leopard. so you cannot make the Eng
lish government anything but stupid,
bloodthirsty, cowardly and cruel"
Another meeting will be held in about
two weeks.
A conference of representatives of
Irish societies was held here, tonight,
to consider the question of taking con-
certed action in behalf of Col Lynch,
recently sentenced to death in England
for treason. About so delegates were
present when President r. j. Kennedy
of the United Irish League, called the
meeting TO order.
Thomas H. Romayne, addressing the
meeting, said: 81 advocate a policy
of silence. so far as the American Irish
in this country are concerned. OF
course the 20000,000 Irish must have a
heavy influence in England in case
they move conservatively. Therefore
think it best to await Instructions from
Ireland, and especially from Australia,
where Col Lynch was born and where,
of course. a deep feeling in his behalf
must exist. I understand a telegram
was, received in this city, today, from
an Australian gentleman saying steps
had been taken there to invoke the
clemency of the King in Col. Lynch 8
behalf.
Mr.. Romayne said the appointment
of a committee of nine to act in bring
ing together the representatives of the
societies in the uniform action and to
act rs general committee for the
Irishmen of the city in behalf of Col
Lynch. Mr. Romayne was appointed
chairman and the other members were
named as follows: F. 3. Mcfarland,
u. Mcmahon, Major Thomas d. Henry,
j. l. Donlon. Michael Breslin, j. T.
Smith, Hugh Curtin and Robert OLA
herty.
The committee was Immediately Or
ganized and it was decided to call d
general conference, this week.