American Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 3, 10 May 1889, Page 2

American Notes.

The'4th of March is now regularly celebrated all over the DnitedStates in memory of Kobert Emmet. This year the 111 th anniversary of the patriot's birth occurred. In all tbe towns meetings were held and demonstrations made, many of them on a very large and important scale, and at most of them the Home Rule question entered into the subjects discussed, and wa9 warmly advocated. One of the most remarkable speeches made on the occasion was that delivered at Scranton, by Captain O'Meagher Condon. Among other things he reverted to the evidence lately given in England by Major Le Caron. Le Caron, he said, had declared that the sympathy with Irish Nationalism shown by Piesident Garfield had been injurious to the British Government. Was it not possible then, he asked, that this spy or some of his associates had instigated Quiteau. Facts had come to light which made it seem probable that the Haymarketriotsin Chicago had been inspired by a similar influence. Thespeakerclaimed a right to demand that tbe Government of the States should call on that of England to withdraw their spies from tbe country. He himself, he added, had known of their presence in Washington for the purpose making their reports to the British Minister.

A movement is oa foot in Brockton. Mass., i'or the erection of a monument to the memory of Colonel Thomas H. Cass, of the " old Irish 9ch." Colonel Cass was an Irish-American soldier, a native of the Queen's County, Ireland, who distinguished nimself in the civil war. His regiment in the course of three years passed through forty-two engagements, fighting bravely and 'osing heavily in all. The Colonel was mortally wouoded at the battle of Milvern Hill, and died on June 12, 1802.

St. Patrick's Day was. as usual, observed with splendour and enthusiasm all over the States. The most noteworthy feature in the whole celebration, however, w^s the prominence, for three days,* the Irish flat: on the City Hall at New York, where last year thF bigotry of Mayor Hewut had forbldJen it to be hoisted. It was greeted this year with redoubled enthusiasm, as ita presence waß

taken not only as an honour to Ireland, but as a token of the victory gained over bigotry and know-nothingism. All the citizens, except the small and narrow British faction, sympathised with their Irißh townsmen in the joy and triumph felt by them.

Major Le Caron having denied Mr. Powderly's statement relam P ro P Oßal made DT him f ° r destruction of railroad property, Mr. Powderly replies that he holds both the letter and the envelope with tbe impress of his dating stamp of April 3, 1886. He Bays he is further advised by men along the Missouri Pacific lice that they are in possession of evidence which can bring Le Caron back in handcuffs to the States. There is also a probability that evidence will be forthcoming to prove the spy a criminal of a much deeper dye thanhaß as yet been revealed with regard to him. The probabilities Beem, therefore, to be that Le Caron has been, as the saying is, too clever by half.

It is reported that the Mexican Government have offered to sell the peninsula of Lower California to the States for a sum of twenty million dollars. The offer, if the report be true, is considered a most important one which should be accepted without delay, «s not only would a vast tract of fertile country, rich in all the products of the tropics be thus acquired but the outlet of the great river Colorado would become exclusively American. The position of the peninsula, moreover, is such as to mark it out as intended by nature for anuexation to the United Srates.

The question of the seal fisheries of Behring sea has been decided very sharply and promptly by President Harrison. The President Das issued a proclamation declaring the sea a closed sea. This practically cods the controversy as to whether tne United States in purchasing Alaska from Russia bad secured the full rights to which tbateountry laid claim. The Government of President Cleveland Bhowed a disposition to make concessions on this point, and last year they were considered to have acted weakly in ordering the release of certai <i British seamen who had been arrested for poaching. President Harrison s decision has put an end to all doubt. It is also taken as proving tbe determination of the President to act independently of all pro-British considerations.

Apatnarcban&dy named Anastatia Parsells, resident in Pamrapo, N.J., has celebrated her 103 rd birthday. The old lady's memories extend back to many stirring events of the close of the last and the beginning of the present century. Among those she cherishes most is that of a kiss given her when she was a child by George WashiogS.a«?w * i^l^V" good Preßervation,P reBe rvation, and, as her age is undeniably established, her case is a very interesting one.

An impudent attempt defeated last year in the Massachusetts Legislature has been renewed. The attempt in question is to close the Catholic schools and force tbe attendance of the Catholic children at those of the State. The matter is now being argued before the n? B it. J1 Com ü m i ttee on Education. Tbe claim made is fourfold. U., idat local bodies shall have an absolute right of inspection and supervision of all private schools ; (2.) that parents and guardian? causing children to attend any school or tutor, however efficient, except that approved of by the committee, shall be subject to a heavy penalty ; (d.J that school committees shall only approve of teaching in the Jfingllsh tungue, and of text books selected by themselves ; (4.) that any person attempting to influence parents or guardians in their choice of a school shall be subject to a heavy fine. The allusion to the English language is in relation to the numbers of French children now in the State, and to the pretence that a disposition exists on the part ot French Canadian immigrants to revolutionise the conditions of society there. I here is very little attempt made to hide the fact that the whole undertaking is an attack on the Catholic schools, which these bigots would close in any way possible to them. It is, however, hardly possible that tbey can succeed in anything so completely out of keeping with the American spirit of freedom.

„ „, Tbe . dea . th at Heidelbergr, on February 21, of James C. Flood, of California, is reported. Flood was one of the four Bonanza Kings, as tbey were called, and had nude an enormous fortune in the Cornstock mine. He was born of Irish parents at Statten Island in Octot io/,7 \! , worked at nia trad e of a carpenter until the gold fever of 184J broke out, when he sailed for San Francisco, via Cape Horn. As a miner he was successful, and had retired from the occupation to a farm in Illinois, where he met O'Brien, subsequently another of the iiiDgs. In partnership with him he opened a saloon, and afterwards a stock exchange. The fortunate purchase of the Comstock mine by the partners including also Fair and McKay, resulted in the famous wealth of which all the world has heard. A ll four were either themselves Irishmen or of Irish parentage

Mrs. Leonora M. Barry, the female organiser of the Knights of Labour, gives rather a melancholy account of the state of affairs in Ueorgia, where she has been making a tour of inquiry. Child labour, she finds, is largely employed in tbe cotton mill?. In some instances a woman by running eight looms is able to make 1 dol. 50 cents, a day ; but, as this involves the^abour of two weavers, there are few whose strength is sufficient to maintain it for any length of time. The efforts of the Knights of Labour have succeeded in shortening the hours from 12 to 10 a day, but, so dispirited are the poor creatures that they do not seem to hope that much more cm be done for them, lhe wages a first-class carpenter can earn are fioni I dol. 25 cents, to I dol, 75 cents, a day. Mrs Barry calls on the Knights to bestir themselves in the matter.and indeed she seems to have good reason to do bo.