HONOURS TO MR PARNELL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 404, 21 September 1889, Page 6

HONOURS TO MR PARNELL.

The report of the presentation of the freedom of the city of Edinburgh to Mr Parnell occupies no lees than 20 columns of the "Freeman's Journal" on the 22nd July, The occasion, with the subsequent proceedings, is described as invested with unpi'ecedented importance, and as a great national demonstration. Bailie Walcot, as senior magistrate, presided at the City Council, and in a very eloquent speech gave Mr Parnell a right hearty welcome to Scotland, and afterwards presented him with the freedom of the ancient city, the metropolis of Scotland, enclosed in a beautiful silver casket, amidst great enthusiasm. Mr Parnell delivered an important and eloquent reply, thanking his fellow citizens of Edinburgh and the Scottish nation for the wonderful and magnificent demonstration which accompanied their valued gift at the great national demonstration held afterwards in the Corn Exchange, a building in the grass market, a spot associated ard consecrated with many a stirring and terrible struggle of the "Scottish people for religious and political liberty. [\ Lord Aberdeen presided. He and Lord Elgin, with seveial members of the House of Commons, received a great oration at this vast concourse. Mr Parnell was presented with nol less than 140 addresses, and over 500 delegates attended Irom varioue parts of the kingdom to present them. Soeeche3 were delivered by the Earl of Aberdeen, Right Hon. Mr Childers, MiHerbert Gladstone, Mr Shaw LeFevre, Dr. Wallace, Mr A. L. Brown and Mr Buchanan, M. P.'s, and of course at this meeting Mr Parnell made an important and eloquent speech on the present and future position of the Irish question, and ths certainty of its speedy r.riumph and acceptance by an overwhelming majority of the English people. Ho further stated that they had the greatest man of the English race pledged to do his utmost to grant Ireland her legitimate freedom and the means of prosperity, and that they had side by side with him the great Liberal party which had never lost any fight it had once commenced. Dr. Wallace, M.P. for Edinburgh, amidst great applause compared the Judicial Commission to an infernal political machine, which bursting had done more harm to its contrivers, the Government, than to those whom it was intended to blow up. This speech is stated to be an excellent piece of genuine Scotch eloquence, and nearly every speaker endorsed the opinion expressed regarding the character of the special Commission. A noteworthy incident occurred in the reading ot a letter by the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone to the Earl of Aberdeen, and created an immense sensation, the whole audience rising to their feet and cheering for some time. The occasion is pronounced to be one that shall never be forgotten to Scotland bj T the Irish nation, and a worthy memento of it was tha 140 addresses from various Scottish bodies presented to the Irish leader.