Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1891 — POOR OLD IRELAND. [ARTICLE]

POOR OLD IRELAND.

William O'Ericn Jeered arid Insulted While Visiting Kilkenny. JHie Sinister Cry of “Jlurdcrer” Drown the Cheers of His Friends—Michael Davltt Nominated. A cablegram from Dublin on the 21st at Kilkenny yesterday to attend the county convention. He, was met at the railway station by a great crowd of people, who, upon seeing him emerge from the waiting room, greeted him with mingled cheers and hisses. A strong police escort was .drawn up in front of the station, and as soon as Mr. O’Brien had taken his place in the carriage which the committee had provided for his use the officers formed in a square about it and the progress to tho town hall began. As policemen and carriage moved slowly along the enthusiastic cheers of Mr. O’Brien’s admirers were met and sometimes drowned by the ugly hissings and derisive jeers of those in the crowd who insisted on looking upon the occupant oi the carriage as one of the enemies of the dead Parnell. Presently tho sinister cry of “murderer” was heard, and until the arrival of the procession at its destination this epithet fairly divided tho honors of the occasion with both applause and hisses.

Immediately upon Mr. O’Brien’s arrival at. tho Town Hall tho convention organized by electing that gentleman as its presiding officer. Routine business was promptly dispatched, and then Mr. Michael Davitt was selected to contest tlie seat for North Kilkenny, made vacant by the death of Sir John Pope Hennessy. Whilo the convention was in session numerous rows were taking place, and tho streets were filled with fighting mobs. So savage made byAhe"psrtisans upon their opponents that the police were repeatedly compelled to separate ithe fighting men in order to prevent outright murder, In one or two instances the officers found it necessary to charge the crowds in force.

Both factions are said to be alarmed by the evidence of government gains, not only in the north, but also in the south of Ireland. Tenants everywhere are hurrying to take advantage of the land purchase act, and the remarkable spectacle ha been witnessed in Tipperary of tenants who recently regarded the eonstabularly as their bitterest enemies, actually subscribing forpflzes to be offered at the constabulary’s athletic games. For theseand other reasons both the Parnellito and McCarthyite leaders begin to fear that the prize may slip away while they are quarreling over it.