The Blackpool Herald. — 1889-10-25 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

MEETING AT BLACKPOOL.  The Blackpool Branch of the Irish National League held their half-yearly public meeting ow Tuesday evening, in the Alpine Hall, Bank Heystreet. The chair was announced to he taken by Dr. Fisher, but in his absence on important private business, Mr. John Ainsworth presided, and was supported by Messei. Owen Kurnan (district organiser), William Faulkner Cox, and Mr. T. Donnelly (secretary). Later in the evening Dr. Fisher, Rev. J. Wayman, and Dr. Kelty catered the room, which was well filled.—The Chairmaa said they might fairly congratulate themselves oil the progress that their cause had made, and it was obvious to all that the British electorate was rapidly recognising that the brutalities of the present Gevernment were not the thing. Forth. great reforms they had had, thanks were duet. Mr. John Morley, Sir William Harcourt. and Mr Gladstone. (Applause.) Referring to the sue(seises of the Liberals at bye-elections, he thought the contest at Elgin and Nairn was most significant. (Hear, hear.) Home Rule was a certainty. though not yet an accomplished one. It was tbr only way to pacify the Irish peopleii, and any other scheme would fall through. It w s his opinion that Mr. Gladstone would live to ',edema Ireland from her present miseries. Mr. Joseph Chamberlain was going to Egypt. lie was not the first Joseph who had been to Egypt, and he Was ist one respect similar to the Joseph of old, inasmuch as he would carry with hies a coat of many political colours. (Laughter.)— Mr. Kurnan proposed the following resolution:— "That this meeting denounces the conduct of the Government at the Gweedore trials, ami oanaiderii the total exclusion of Catholics from the juries air unconstitutional and as an insult to Catholics, and also to all lovers of justice. Thst we hail the victories of Elgin and Nairn, and of Peterborough and North Bucks, as indicating the early downfall of the Coercion Government, and the certaia triumph of Mr. Gladstone's Home Rule policy, which is calculated to bring peace and prosperity to Ireland, and honour and unity to this great empire." He then went on to speak to some length of the recent bye.electione, and subsequently referred to a recent speech of Mr. Chamberlain at Huddersfield, in which he stated that in 1642 the Confederates of Kilkenny had basely made a wholesale massacre of the Scottish Proteatante ef Ulster, and that they would, if granted Home Rule, repeat that vile act. He challenged Mr. Chamberlain or anyone else to prove that such MS abonainableoccurrenceever took place. (Applause.) —Mr. W. Faulkner Cox seconded the resolution, and said that what the Tories had done for then, was to abolish trial by jury, combination among tradesmen, abolish public meetings, free speech, and a free press. They had also proclaimed the branches of the Irish National League, but they did not dare to try to suppress the parent association. Also as a means of "vindicating the law" 12 Ireland 4,000 persons had been placed in gaol including Irish members of Parliament, an English member of Parliament, priests, editors, .proprietors, and reporters of newspapers. There bad been nearly 10,000 evictions, and close upon 20 people murdered in gaol. It was all very well for the Unionists to argue that the Irish would persecute the minority if they were given Howe Rule. But did they do so wheu they had their Parliament? No. Well, what was the use of them picturing such scenes without being able to give reasonable cause for their fears.---Dr. Fisher and the Bev. J. Wayman briefly supported the resolution, which was carried with enthusiasm. Mr. T. Donnelly then aunounced that the diesSon of of6cers would be left over till next week. The meeting then closed with a vote of thatike to the Chairman.