The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1888-03-24 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

POWER. M.P., who had a most cordial welcome accorded him, expressed the opinion that such a gathering was a happy augury of the kindly feeling which should exist between the two nations. They had in the chair an English gentleman, the representative for that Division, and whilst he was proud to think that he (Mr Power) had the honour of addressing a good many of his own countrymen, he had also the honour of oddressing many English friends. (Hear, hear.) There were few more touchlug things in political life than the love %filch the Irish race, although scattered all over the world, had for the old cause. He pointed via that it was a happy augury for the future to find that for the first time there was an alliance between the two democracies. He believed the Irish people had at last won the hearts and affectimis of the English democracy, sad with that on their side they could afford to set at naught the sneers of the censors who pretended to judge them. (Cheers.) Referring to the Crimes Act, he said it had done no harm to national life in Ireland. So far from injuring it, it had increased and purified it. (Cheers.) Speaking of the Tory cry about 'law and order" in Ireland, he said that all recognised that if a country expected to he prosperous its inhabitants must respect the laws of that country. But I More anjone prated about respecting this law in Ireland it should be known that the laws did not favour one close more than another, and that the administration of those laws was worthy of respect. (Hear, hear.) But in Ireland they had laws which were not worthy of respect, and Irishmen could not bow down to them. (Cheers.) He then touched upon the " Mitchelstown massacre' and the evidence which Captain Seagrove gave before the coroner's jury, and pointed out that such a man, notwithstanding his damaging admissions at the inquest. ,A as allowed to sit in judgment and send men to prison the latchels of whose shoes he was not worthy to loose. (Cheers.) Touching upon current political topics, he asked it there was a way oat of the Irish difficulty which would be honourable and sale to England, and honourable and safe to Ireland. The Crimes Act, he pointed out, had only aggravated matters, for coercion only tended to keep the Irish and English peoples separated when they should be united. He drew attention to the fact that a great change had come over dlughsh public opinion with regard to the Irish question, and said that that change had been caused by the knowledge that a great statesman bad arisen—Mr Gladstone—(cheers)—who was prepared to do justice to Ireland. Such action had done more to unite the democracies than all the Coercion Acts of the last eighty years. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN (Mr Poulton) also spoke to the resolution, and in doing so sketched all the measures which Mr Gladstone and the Liberal party had passed for Ireland during recent years; and, referring to the Crimes Act, he pointed out that it was not passed to put down crime, but combination, and it had net brought to light one murder which would not have been brought to :ght under the old law. (Cheers.) The resolution was unanimously carried. Dr. GAYLORD moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman and Mr P. J. Power, M.P.. which was secoutied by Mr MCLINDON, and cordially agreed  good programme of music was gone through !luring the course of the eveuiug. The vocalists who took part were Madam Fleming contralto (Newcastle) ; Miss Costello (Darlington), Miss Marley, Mr Wiustone ISouth Shields), Mr Whitesmith, aud Mr McGahm). Miss McGarrity very ably accompanied the vocalists on the pianoforte.