GENERAL GRANT.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3124, 21 February 1879, Page 1

GENERAL GRANT.

Djbbate in the Cobk Council oh bib

Proposed Recbption.

New Yobk, January 6.—The Herald's Dublin special says:—The contrast between the generous welcome extended Grant by the people of this city and the spiteful slight aimed at him by a clique of the Cork City Council is interesting as showing to what lengths sectional and religious agitation are sometimes carried. Mr Richmond, United States Consul at Cork, addressed a letter to the Council announcing that Grant would probably arrive at Cork within a few days, Mr Tracy, a Nationalist, proposed at the Council meeting that the letter should simply be marked " Read," and that no action should be taken.

Mr Harris (Conservative) said: It will be to the interest of our fellow countrymen in the United States if a proper reception is accorded to General Grant, who repre« sents the governing party in that country. There can be no personal antipathy^ to the gentleman himself; neither was there anything in the Government of the exPresident objectionable to the Irish in America. Probably Grant will again be at the head of the United States, in which event it would be to the interest of our fellow-countrymen in America if proper recognition was given to Grant on his arrival in Cork.

Mr Barry, an extreme Nationalist, said that the ex-President had insulted the Irish people in America. He got up the "no popery " cry there. ; Mr Tracy said it would be unbecoming for the Catholic constituency of Cork to welcome such a man. It would be ungenerous to refuse him hospitality if he deserved it, but he saw nothing in Grant's career that called for sympathy from the Irish nation. He. never thought of the Irish race as he thought of others, and he went out of his way to insult their religion. Mr Dwyer, an advanced Nationalist, would, not couple Grant's name with America. The Irish who sought,refuge and home in the United States had received kindness and attention from the American people. Grant had never given them the same recognition as other inhabitants. It would be an impropriety to pay any mark of respect personally to Grant. " . -■ "('y"''- 1' ■ "■•■?-

McSweeney and Creedeh (Nationalists) spoke to the same effect, and with a great shout of "aye," there being no dissenting voice, Cork refused to receive Grant. This action has produced a profound sensation throughout Ireland. The people are griered at it as a violation of the rites of hospitality. One Irish gentleman said: " The noisy little lot of fellows who have committed this outrage are mere wind bags, and were seeking a little notoriety. Cork has a weakness for being thought more Catholic than the Pope, who, I believe, saw no objection to receiving General Grant." General Grant remains in Dublin until to-morrow. He will not visit Cork, and had made up his mind that he could not before hearing ®f the action of the Town Council. He passed to-day quietly visiting a number of sights and leaves iv the morning for Londonderry and Belfast. The General smiled when the correspondent referred to the speeches of the Cork Councilineni and said, "I am sorry the Cork people know so little of American history."