Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-05-07
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.
An Enthusiastic Ratification of
the Philadelphia Convention
in Chicago,
Alexander Sullivan Elaborates
the Programme for Ma.
tional Life and Liberty.
Speeches by Mayor Harrison, JUDGE
Moran and Con gre ssman David
Special Dispatch to THn BEE.

Special DispNtch to THn BEE.
CHICAGO, May The meeting to
rstity the action Uf the Philadelphia
Irish convention Last night was largely
attended. The Ancient Order of HI.
bsrLians appeared iu full regslis, and
two companies OF Irish soldiery wera
preseut IL uniform and bearing arms
On the platform were members OF the
state judiciary, the mayor of the city
and other distinguished gentlemen, In
addition to the new president OF the
league. The audience was not lacking
In enthusiasm, and some sentiments
expressed were wildly spplauded.
Judge Thomas A. Moran of the cir;
cult court bench, presided, andsia &C.
cepting the chair pointed to the fact
of the inability of Ireland to acquire
relief through the agency of the Eng.
lish parliament and spoke of tho un.
fair representation granted the Irish
people In that body. He asserted the
only hope for Ireland lay In senti-
ment which would eventually actuate
the entire American nation and which
would compel England to give Ireland
favorable legislation.
MAYOR CARTER H. HARRISON
said Irish freedom would have to be
won this side of the Atlantic, not by
throwing bombs but by the force Of
American opinion favorable to Irish
freedom.
Congressman George r. Davis said
the honest sentiment of America was
lrresistably with Ireland in her struggle
for liberty, but warned his hearers
that any attempt to organize - re.
bellion this side Of the ocean, to be
carried on by indirect methods, would
ALLEVIATE the sympathiea Of this peo.
pie.
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN,
president Of the Irish national league
of America, was greeted by storm oi
applause, and began his ADDRESS by re-
ferring to matters In his personal
career, which have been commented
upon since being raised to the head oi
the new national organization oi
Irishment. II have known what 1t II
to have enemies" said the speaker
"It Is just, however, that I should say
that many who became 30 on the NILS
taken impression Of circumstances
have since became, on heariug the
truth, my warmest friends" Pro
ceeding to other subjects he said: "Tht
great convention which assembled
at Philadelphia was the largest repro
sentative body which ever came to
gether In America to deliberate or
the condition of Ireland and to taks
such action AZ wovld, In Its judgment
best promote her Welfare. 1t was es
sentially an American body. Ameri
can In simplicity and straightforward
ness of Its proceedings; American In
its quiet and sturdy behavior; Amer
ioan In the wide view 1t took of poltt
ical Ideas; American In that 1t owed
and proudly boasted Its first allegiance
to the constitution and laws Of thil
republic, and American In Its desir,
to extend the principles of that con
stltution and the blessings of thos'
institutions to It's enslaved mother
land. He contended that the Phila
delphia platform had secured an en-
thu,isstic approval f;om the enttr,
American press without nota
exception, and that 1t ha
won for Ireland to o dc.
gree hitherto unattsined the sympathy
Of mankind. yet" said the speaker
"for such Is the condition of Irelap
to-day, If such a platform were pu
forth by similarly constituted bod.
Ia Ddblin the entire assemblage woul'
have been marched under militar'
escort from the convention hall to tn
most illustrous abodes the Epglisl
government has, the jsilr." The plat
form declares In word that hence
forth the Irish race In exile Is a uni
In Its determination to aid our coun
trymen in their struggle for self-gov
ernment by Whatever methods the
think best for the achievement G
that end Continuing he declared
is the purpose In carrying out tn
wishes of the convention, to make tn
masses Of the American people In
formed of the truth about IRELAND
When they understood the reasonable
ness of her claim they would be unite
In its support, and their will properl
expressed, the British governmen
could not Withstand. He contende
that the method England had MOI
| successfully practioed against Irelsn
was by Misrepresentation In ssssrtin
that the land was over populated an
emigration necessity, yet the pop'
lation Is only 162 to the square mill
while Germany has 2l3 and Englan
and Wales 445.
1T Is ssid," continued the speske
ireland, being an agricultural cour
try, csnnot support herself 1t Is tru
/ comparatively speaking, she has Il
manufactures, but who destroye
t them2 The English government, th
Ireland might be an exclusive mark
, for the English manufacturers. It h
bsen said Iteland Is without capita
| and that country without capital Cal