PUBLIC MEETING.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 567, 6 April 1868, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

ADDRESS OF CONDOLENCE TO H.R.H. TEE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

A Public Meeting, in accordance with an advertisement by the Deputy-Superin-tendent, was held in the Council Chamber, Napier, on the evening of Wednesday, Ist April, to prepare an address to his Royal Highnces the- Duke of Edinburgh, expressive of the feelings of the community on the subject of the late attempt on his life. His Honor the Depiity-SiiDerintendent occupied the chair, and at. the advertised hour the room was crowded.

The Chairman, after reading letters from the Rev. Father Forest and other gentlemen, expressing sympathy with the objects of the meeting, and regret at being unable to attend, said that he was gratified to see so large an attendance, and only regretted that his Honor the Superintendent was absent from the Province on this occasion. He believed no more loyal community existed on the face of the earth than the people of Hawke’s Bay, and he believed that if called upon they would rise to a man in defence of their Queen and her family. The cowardly and horrible attempt made upon the life of an unoffending young Prince would be a blot on the fame of Australia as long as history remained ; and be was truly thankful to Almighty God that the crime had been spared New Zealand. We had, as it was, something to be ashamed of in the late Fenian procession at Hokitika : but the loyal meetings held since, there and elsewhere, must go far to efface the offence. He had, to facilitate the business of the meeting, prepared the following address, in which he would make any alterations which the meeting might suggest: — To His Royal Highness Alfred, Duke or Edinburgh. May it please your Royal Highness,— We, the undersigned inhabitants of Hawke’s Bay, in the colony of New Zealand, desire to express to your Royal Highness the deep sorrow and intense indignation which we have felt on receiving intelligence of the attempted assassination ot your Royal Highness ; and the heart-felt joy with which we have heard of your providential escape. We prav God to grant you a speedy and perfect lestoratiou t j health.

It had been our hope that your Royal Highness would ere ,’his have visited New Zealand, and afforded its inhabitants an opportunity of expressing the feelings of affectionate loyalty which they entertain for the Queen and her family, and we trust that your Royal Highness’s visit, though postponed, may not be finally abaudoued. The Bishop of W.viai’f, in proposing the adoption of the address winch had just been read, said that the Queen and Royal Family of England had always been regarded by Engli-hmer, not only with loyalty, but with the deepest affection. They loved the Queen for her many public and domestic virtues, and when (lie blow fell which rendered her a widow, the sympathy of all her people was as intense as though they had lost a dear relation When it was known that she was intending to send one of her sons out to these colonies, the visit was looked forward to with the deepest interest, and all w t re anxious to show their loyalty and affection for the Queen by the honor with which they would receive her son. His progress was eagerly watched, and when he arrived in Australia nothing was wanting to stive hum a truly princelyreception. His visit drew towards its termination, and the people of this Colony were expecting him almost daily, when they were horrified to hear that he had been assassinated. Every one in the first shock doubted the truth of the report; but the rumor, though vague, appeared to be well authenticated. All they could do was to await anxiously the arrival of further news When the steamer arrived on Sunday afternoon last tb 5 greater portion of the inhabitants hurried to the port to gain the earliest and most reliable news. Their, fee’ings of suspense were turned to joy on hearing that, through the intervention of Divine Providence, the assassin’s bullet had failed to take the Prince’s life, but their horror of the outrage was in no degree diminished. He concluded by moving that the address just read be adopted. Mr P. Boijhke had much pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr G. Wougax said that the remarks of the Bishop had left him little to say, but he could not refrain from expressing his surprise at the extraordinary phenomenon of the last few years—Fenianism. For the last five-and-twenty years England had been engaged in the task of ameliorating the condition of Ireland —in repealing vm just or oppressive laws, in removing disabilities, and in placing her Irish and Roman Catholic subjects on the same footing 1 as all others. Now, at the end of this time, this party had arisen, and their cry was for “justice to Ireland” ; and to obtain this i “justice ” they had blown down prisons, killing innocent men, women, and children, i and had added to their long list of enormities the crime of attempting the life of one of the sons of her Majesty the Queen. He could only account for this movement

by supposing that it had arisen in America, where the scum of the earth had been brought together by the revolutionary spirit which had its origin there—such men as had fought under General Butler. He felt the deepest sympathy and commiseration for the loyal Irish—men who

would feel keenly the disgrace these men were bringing on their country, and the suspicion which would, in the minds of some people, attach to themselves. He fully agreed with the address: and the only fault he had to find with it was that it read a little too coolly. Mr Teot, as an Irishman, thanked the last speaker for the kind manner in which he bad spoken of his countrymen. As a Roman Catholic, too, he conld say that his church had always used its power to put

down this movement , He could say. too, • that it was not carrying out Homan Catholic doctrine to assassinate. It was a matter of history that that church had never in any way countenanced secret societies. He complained of certain injudicious people in Napier, who, when they saw an Irishman, would call him ll h enian/’ It was only list Sunday that a woman had so called him as he passed her house. Had she been a man he would have knocked her down. (Laughter.) For a quarter of a century hehad faithfully served her Majesty theQueen, and ha would be ready at any day or hour that he might be called upon to again put on the harness and tight for her. Captain Cuelij g, R.M., said that it would be an insult to the people of Napier to assume that any speeches could inspire them with a deeper loyalty, or imbue them with a greater horror and detestation of the atrocious crime which had so lately been committed against a member of the Royal Family. When the imperfect account first arrived, the public mind was divided between indignation and incredulity ; but when the full report arrived, public feeling broke forth into a full blaze of loyalty and attachment to the Throne and to his Royal Highness. He had never heard of an act so detestable as this one which had horrified us all. What a return it was to make to that good Queen who had sent her sou out, entrusting him to the fidelity and devotion of the colonists. It was impossible to look at the awful tragedy with any other feelings than those of horror and pity. And was this deed committed in the name of the most noble and elevated feeling of the human mind —patriotism : and by an Irishman ? Every page of history was emblazoned with tho glorious deeds of Irishmen, and he believed that none would look on this deed with more horror and disgust than Irishmen. Perhaps he was now addressing some Fenians. He did not feel the utter repulsion from Fenianism which had been expressed by some of the speakers, and did not connect this outrage at all with Fenianism. All great causes bad been disgraced by ruffians, and be hoped that if there were any Fenians present they would shake this disgrace from their name as they would shake off a filthy and venomous reptile. Mr J. N. Wilson thought some explanation was required. He hoped the speaker did not consider Fenianism a great principle. A Voice : What is Fenianism ?

Captain Cuelikg resumed: All the Fenians seemed to him to be were a class of men who had certain objects in view, and gave utterance to certain principles, such as “ a Republic for Ireland,” and “Ireland for the Irish.” Worse things than this were taking place in France at present, in the Republic of Germany, and in Prussia. All he wanted to do was to exculpate any body of Irish from participation in this odious deed. He should like to see our detestation expressed in stronger language in the address at present before the meeting. It would be a historical document, and should, therefore, fully express our feelings on the subject, and should be a credit to the inhabitants of Hawke’s Bay. Mr S. Lock said that public detestation of this mean and cowardly attempt at murder had already been very fully expressed by the meeting ; and he could not think what advantage was intended to be gained by the perpetrators, nor could he define what was meant by Fenianiem. This was a new word which had arisen and come greatly into use ; but from those who bore it all that could be heard were cries of “ poor old Ireland,” and the “ oppression of poor old Ireland.” For years Britain had been doing all she could for “ poor old Ireland ” ; had placed her on the same footing as herself, politically and religiously;, but now, because of the fancied wrongs of a few maniacs, Englishwomen and children had been murdered, policemen shot, and, last of all, the life of a Prince of England had been attempted. Did the Fenians think this was the way to attain their ends —that they could thus move a great country from its position ? If there were wrongs to redress, let them bring them forward in a constitutional manner. This they had never done. Mr Petess said that it still remained to be proved that this act was committed by the Fenians. He believed that there was no more loyal a body of people than the Irish, and that this particular act was committed by a madman. With regard to the Roman Catholics, he thought they were fortunate in having such a clergyman as Father Forest, and he considered that very ill results might Have followed had they had Father Larkins. Mr J. N. Wilson said that he had como with no intention of speaking; but it had been asked what Fenianism was. To this he had a very ready answer: it was treason. He did not believe it was a great cause ; he had never seen anything great about it, for all its actions had been dictated by treachery and cowardice. No Englishman could have a particle of sympathy with a cause ■which countenanced BB9Bftsination t they would far sooner contend with open rebellion. It had been said that their object was to establish a republic. He hoped no republicans lived under the British crown, and that no one at that meeting would have the audacity to talk of a republic at all.

Mr J. Auchan a*' said that he hoped the few remarks he intended to make would travel wide of any religious or national feelings. He could not agree with a remark made by the Chairman in reference to the most caitiff-like attack on the life of the Prince, that it reflected disgrace on Australia. He differed very much from this idea, for ho considered that this crime had brought forward the true feelings of Australian men in a manner that scarcely

anything else could hare done, and Hist it no more reflected disgrace on Australia than on Ireland —-the birth-place of the ■would-be assas in. If it had taken place in New Zealand, would we hold ourselves responsible for the crime ? So much for the locals of tbs dastardly attack. He believed that the mass of the Irish people had no connection with the Fenian conspiracy. It was a fact that Great Britain as a nation was more dependent on her Irish subjects for protection than upon either Scotch or English. Unfortunately from the poverty Qi lueir country cney were ue-.u *u ?-st numbers into the army; ;t was mainly composed of them, and who ever heard of British soldiers being disloyal? Tho idea of a federation in conspiracy was one which could never find a borne in English breasts. Ever since Babingtou attempted the life of the maiden Queen down to the time of the Cato street conspiracy, this idea was one utterly abhorrent to every feeling of an Englishman. The remarks which had been made about England having set herself to improve the condition of Ireland were quite true; for years she had tried to work a thorough amelioration of the state of that country ; but within the memory of many in that room nine-tenths of the Irish people had no voice in the government ; and it was easier to repeal a bad law than to efface the impression of injury it had created on ignorant minds. The great disadvantage under which Ireland labored was simply that the mass of the people were perfectly uneducated. Nothing but ignorance—total ig orance—could ever have given a dwelling place to that most contemptible thing called Fenianism. Their object was said to be to found an Irish Republic. Tho idea that Ireland, so inextricably interwoven with the rest of the United Kingdom by the thousand ties of blood and commerce, could be separated from England and formed into a Republic, was so egregious that it could only have been originated by fools and asses. [The Chairman : And knaves.] The idea, had no doubt originated with some of those wild and daring spirits who had left the Green Isle and joined in the war in America. But they had not read their lesson rightly. They saw there a great nation fighting to maintain its unity—to prevent disunion and disorder—and returned to attempt the reverse. It was a truth that deserved to be noted, that of all those arrested who had crossed the Atlantic to join the Fenians in England, there was not one born American —not a single true Yankee. They were all Irishmen or Englishmen. The attempt to murder the Prince, he observed, took dace at Clontarf It would have been well if the conspirators had abided by the advice given at the original Clontarf by the greatest leader the Irish ever had produced—never to attempt to gain political ends ,by resort to violence. The atrocity of this attempt was augmented by the time that was chosen for its perpe tration, when the Prince was engaged in what might be called an act of charity—an object commending itself to all hearts—doing his best for destitute seamen of all nations. While engaged in doing good he was to be shot like a cur. It was truly pitiful when we reflected that it was to wound a woman—to strike through her best and tenderest feelings, the highest lady in the land. A more atrocious crime it would be impossible to conceive. As for tho address, he thought it should be -as concise as possible.

His Honor Mr C. D. R. Waed said that as they had that evening heard one judicial authority almost offer an apology for i<’enianism ho thought it was only his duty to expresss his heart-felt abhorrence of the crime which had been committed, and his love and veneration for our widowed Queen, whom we until now had thought to be protected by her virtues ; every line of whoso history was interwoven with the history of England, Now, however, the life of a Prince had been attempted, in his sacred character as the royal guest of Australia and the son of a widowed mother, — this evil deed had*been committed, and as surely as night followed the day would woe follow the perpetrators. It was useless to deny that the Fenians were concerned in this —the would-be assassin had confessed that they were, and that he drew lots with twenty others to decide by whose hand the black deed was to be committed. Say, who were- these Fenians, men who abused the sacred names of liberty and patriotism : —what were they but the rank scum of the seething cauldron of American war, foreign mercenaries, wh° vvere first in the plunder of a Southern c'fyi and last in its assault; last in an onset, and first in re* treat. When peace was restored these Inen found their occupation gone; and then originated Fenian ism—a vast swindling scheme, trading in the name of patriotism—the last refuge of scoundrels in America. That great country had no love for assassins; it had suffei ed from them too greatly and too recently itself; and the Fenians, relying as they did on the protection ot hsr ssTsr struck & wnnsA blow for themselves than this. The feeling of the American people to the English was a friendship almost like British loyalty, and they would no more attempt to keep a Fenian murderer from English, justice than England would have shielded the assassin of President Lincoln. To show how little popularity this precious movement had in Ireland he need only mention that at the only outbreak in that country two hundred police scoured the whole district. He would venture to say that there were no men in that room who had no ties of friendship or connexion with Ireland—few more than himself. Englishmen and Irishmen lay side by sideon a hundred fields of battle, and he believed that among the gallant Royal Irish in Napier there was not one Fenian—that if they

took the whole detachment, from the Colonel to the lowest private, they would! not find such, a renegade to religion—such a traitor to his Queen. England had not shed the blood of any mere political offendcr* and slic Heeded these contemptible traitors as little ns the lion heeds the vermin which shelter in his mane. We might watch a scorpion crawl past with a lazy indifference, but should it sttenpt to sting he would be crushed at once. He trusted that henceforth tins pest would bo dealt with in stern judgment; there was a time wlisn mere? to the criminal beeftme cruelty to the country. When men rose* face to face with their country in open re bellion, there was something to be said for their manliness; but when dastards resort to the secret knife and bullet, the day of mercy is past, and the day of vengeance has come. He rejoiced to see such a crowded meeting and such universal feeling on this subject, and thought that whatever province of New Zealand might be first in loyalty, Hawke’s Bay could gallantly hold its own. The address was then put to the meeting, and carried without dissent.

The Chairman said he must again express himself proud to see such a large and respectable meeting, and thought that if it had been daytime there would have been many more. He thought the proceedings could not be better concluded than by singing the National Anthem, and he hoped tho people wonld give such a chorus as had never been beard in Napier before.

Mr Tiffkn proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and three cheers for the Queen, and three for the Prince, which were given.

After singing the National Anthem, the meeting concluded.