Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-07-31
THE GREEN ABOVE THE RED.
IreIand's Opportunity Convention of Irish
Nationalist Called for August Next.

James Gibbons, President of the Fee
MAN Brotherhood, has issued the fol-
lowing address:
To the Irish Nationalist in America:
Fellow COuntryD1eR-It has long
been an axiom with all who pretend
to deal with Irish political affairs,
that ''England's difficulty was Ire
lands opportunity" The present
complication of European affairs
promises to present us that opportu-
nifty in its most available aspect. 1t
is almost impossible that England
can keep out of the storm of war
which is now brOoding over the Old
World; and Once drawn into it, her
utmost resources will be insufficient
to maintain her position as a leading
European power, much less to de-
fend her widely-spread commercial
interests. The bulk of her military
force is now employed in keeping in
subsection the Irish people at home.
A few years ago she was compelled
for a time to remove that pressure
from the breast of our country; but, be-
cause Ireland, suffering then from the
reaction of 1913, was without q ma
tiOnal organization, the chance was
lost, we should not suffer the present
and more promising opportunity to
pass unimprOved. The Irish national
element here is powerful to aid our
people at home, if their strength be
applied and uniteda at once. We have
numbers, wealth and influence. BY a
combined movement of our people we
can at once paralyZe the nation that
has so long oppressed our kindred, and
compel her to do justice to Ireland, or
forever sink her from the rank of
a leading power. In the presence
of so momentOus a crisis, all minor is
sues of the difference of policy or or
ganizatiOn should be at once laid
aside, and the main question of what
can be done most eifectually and
speedily for the good of Ireland should
alone occupy u attention. Our peo-
pie are already moving, and our duty
is to aid them by every means within
the reach of our race, wherever it is
scattered throughout the world. To
concentrate those means, and apply
them in the most practical and etfec-
tual manner, a convention of repre-
sentatives of the Irish national ele-
ment in America will assemble on
Tuesday, 23d of August next, in the
city of Cincinnati, OHIO. To this con-
ventiOn all who truly love Ire
land, without distinction of creed,
class, or political differences,
are earnestly invited to send repre-
sentatives. Every organization of
patriotic Irishmen throughout the
land should have q representative in
that asSemblage; and wherever our
people have made a footing, wherever
even a dozen Irishmen can come to-
gether, they should send a delegation
to the convention. The opportunity
long sought by our people is before US;
it is for US to improve and profit by
it. Let none hold back; for Provi-
dence has at length given us the COM
mon platform upon which all can unite
and work for Fatherland; and this
convention cal practical work
for Ireland, and not talk. The
time and the locality have been
chosen with n view to giving the
largest possible representation to Our
people from all sections of this cOun-
try. Let the Irish nationalist every
where go to work at One to elect
their representatives and send them
prepared for the work of aiding in
the redemption of their fatherland.
And let it be understood that this
convention will meet, not as the rep
re~sentative of any faction, or clique,
or party, but as a council in which
all who are true to Ireland can have a
free and untrammeled Voice-the is
sua Of whose labOrS ShOuId he a pOm-
binatiOn of the efforts of all patriotic
Irishmen at home and abroad, and its
ultimate fruit the establishment of
Ireland's national independence, for
the benefit of all her children, with
out distinctintiOn.
By order of the Executive Council.
JAMES GIBBONS, President.
PHILADELPHIA, july 2. 1870.