AMNESTY DEMONSTRATION IN DUBLIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue XXI, 7 April 1893, Page 6

AMNESTY DEMONSTRATION IN DUBLIN.

(Weekly Freeman, February 4.)

Sunday night a torchlight procession in connection with the ctnie of amnesty passed through the principal streets of Dublin. It formed at and started from St Stephen's Green, and having pawed through Dawson street, Nassau street, Dame street, Parliament street, Capel street, Bolton street, Dorset street, Rutland square, O'Connell street, and along Eden quay, halted at Beresford place, where a meeting was held to celebrate the release of Mr Jas. Egan, and to demand the release of the other Irish and Irish-Ameri-can political prisoners in gaol. When the procession, which extended the length of Dawson street, started, a brake, in which were Mr Jat, Egan, Mr John Redmond, M.P., Mr Pierce Mahony, a lady and some others, drove np and fell in at the rear of the column. In tail order the procession marched through the city. Cheers wer« given opposite " the old House " in College Green and opposite what wai once the National Club. There was no cheering at the Redmondite Lesgue. Large bodies of police were on duty at tha Bank of Ireland, Trinity College, the City Hall, and at other points along tbe ronte. Crowds followed the bands to Beresford place, where the brake went to the front, and the meeting commenced. The procession reached Beresford place at half-past ten o'clock, and tte meeting was immediately proceeded with. Mr Pierce Mahoney having opened tbe proceedings, Mr John Redmond, who was received with cheers, eaid he had ! been asked to propose a resolution welcoming Mr Egan back to liberty, and at the same time declaring in their name, and in the name of tbe Irish people, that there ought not to be, and there shall

not be, peace or comfort for any Government, Liberal or Conservative, in this country so long as there remained a single Irish political

prisoner in English prisons (cheers). Mr Pat O' Brien seconded the resolution, which was paaacd amidst loud cheers. Mr James Egan, who was received with prolonged cheering, addret-sed the meeting. On Tuesday a meeting of the Amnesty Association was held in the Workmen's Club, 41 York street, to demand the reltase of the ! pjhtical prisoners still in g^ol, and to enrol members. Mr James Egan and Mrs E?an, and Mr E. Leamy, ex-M.P., were amongst those pree'nt. Mr F. J. Allan presided. Mr J imes Egan, who was received with loud and prolonged applause, next addressed tbe meeting. He said that during the time 1 Mr Daly and himself lived in Birmingham they lived a quiet and honest life. Every day he went to his office and returned home in the evening. D^ly and himself had been schoolboys and were reared together. The Government knew that they had been associated with I tbe extreme party in Ireland. He believed that their arrest waß originally planned in Dublin Ca9tle or in the D.pot of the Phoenix Park. Only was the most important roan to be arrested, and certain men ia Liverpool were paid by the Government to place in his poß9eseioa certain articles which caused him to be put into prison. ; On him (ihe speaker) there were only found a few letters about Mr 1 Butt's Home Rule policy, and the evidence asjainst Daly was that certain bombs were fouod in his possession. For years before they attempted to poison Daly be was subjected to the usual torture which the English warders were always ready to give Irish political prisoners. They got the worst of food. It was fi thy and foul, and should not hive been given to the meanest dog. Mr Egan characterised the commission ot inquiry which had been instituted to inquire into the complaints of tbe prisoners as a packed commission J| and as a Government job. Bveiy s atement made by the prisoners i aad been denied, and he had tendered hie evidence on oath, but the commissioners would not receive sworn evidence. On last Whit Sunday morning poisonous food was supplied to the Irish political prisoners in Portland. Oo that morning he picked up bis " nine

ounces" of bread. Ha tasted it. It was not very nice. He bioke it up and found three patches of green in it and tbe centre black. Had he eaten it he would not be there that night. What he told them there that night he was prepared to swear to. Mr Egan then described one of the prisoners becoming very sick in the chapel next evening, and baring to be carried out, Tbe same bread, he said, which had been given to him had also been given to John Duly and Wilson (cries of "shame"). He would be one of the meanest men on the face of the earth if he was to sit down and leave these men at tbe mercy of their gaolers (applause). Tbe resolution was adopted, and the meeting adjourned.