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GOD SAVE IRELAND!
BREATHES THERE A MAN WITH SOUL SO DEAD
WHO NEVER TO HIMSELF HATH SAID:
“THIS IS MY OWN, MY NATIVE LAND”
Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 7, 1896.
Dear Sir:
All Irish American Citizens of Philadelphia must be familiar
with the pathetic story of Dr. Gallagher, Albert Whitehead (John
Murphy) and their associates, the Irish political prisoners recently
released from British Dungeons; and their blood must have boiled when
reading an account of the pitiful condition of these men brought
about by cruelties revolting alike to christianity and civilization,
and only paralleled in modern times by Russia's treatment of her Polish
subjects. These poor men, whose only crime was love of country, and
hatred of tryranny, have been cast on the world mental and physical
wrecks, bereft of reason, health and this world's goods, pooralikein
mind, body and pocket. Released by an iniquitous and tyrannical
government, not through any spirit of generosity or feeling of com-
passion, but through fear of the wrath of public opinion, should they
die on its hands. Their condition appeals for sympathy to all human-
ity. How much more forcibly should it appeal to those in whose veins
the same blood courses, whose hearts beat in sympathy with theirs._
with love for Motherland, and who like them hold in detestation the
same tyrannical government that has held our country in bondage for
the last 700 years? Shall WE then stand idly by, indifferent alike
to their sufferings and needs? Surely not. The warm Irish-American
heart is too generous, too sympathetic, and too grateful to be deaf to
such an appeal. It will see that these poor men, martyrs to British
tyranny, shall live in comfort during the remainder of their lives,
and that all the necessary medical skill and science that their con-
dition requires shall be placed at their command. This is a melan-
choly duty which the Irish American citizen is unfortunately too
familiar with, but one he has never yet shirked. Aneffort is being made
to raise a fund by voluntary contributions for this worthy purpose,
and it is confidently expected that the Irish-American citizens of
Philadelphia (always foremost in patriotic and charitable work) will
respond liberally and make their contributions worthy the City of
Brotherly Love, the Cradle of American Liberty. The Beneficial Saving
Fund 12th and Chestnut St., has kindly consented to act as Custodian
of the Fund, and all contributions received by that institution or by
Alex. McKernan, Treasurer, U. S. Internal Revenue Office, Post-
office Building, 9th and Chestnut Sts., will be promptly acknowledged.
A public meeting of the citizens of Philadelphia will be held
in the Academy of Music on Monday evening, Oct. 26, 1896, to protest
against the inhuman treatment of Irish political prisoners by the
British Government. His Excellency, Governor Hastings will preside.