Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-26
PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION
Called to Order by Alexander suli.
van-His Speech.
Congressman FOran Elected Per.
manent President.


that delegates from the various Irish
societies shall be called to order By
Alexander Sullivan, of Chicago; Rev.
Maurice j. Daruey will be nominated
as temporary presiding officer, and
Congressman elect NJ. A. Foran, of
Cleveland, will be permanent Presi,
dent.
Delegates to the Irish National
Convention gathered slowly this morn
ing and showed marks of fatigue from
yesterdays long session. 1t was be-
lieved by those in confidence with the
leaders that the organization of to
days convention was agreed upon yes.
terday, yet speculation as to the pers
sonnet of the officers who would pre.
side over the second American con-
vention Of the Irish National League
occupied eager groups at the doors, in
the corridors and on the side walk.
The arrangement Of the hall was Sims
lar to that OF yesterday, new feature
being large Irish banner in the rear
of the stage with the motto: Com
memorative Of the Irish National
Convention" Delegates from all re.
putable Irish organizations in the
United States and Canada, which are
in accord with the Dublin platform,
were entitled to seats on the fOer, as
result of which the delegates seats
were full, as also the galleries, to day
being evidently considered the great
day Of the convention,
Shortly before II o'clock ex-Mayor
I. V. PowderlY, Of Scranton, Penn,
a noted Labor lerder, stated that as
soon as the Committee Of Seven arriy-
ed the Convention would be called to
order, A few minutes later Mrs.
Della Parlell entered, escorted by
Alexander Gulleran. of Chicago, who
introduced her amid tremendous ap.
plause. as a greater than the mother
of the Gracchi.
AT IL o'clock Sullivan, at the
request Of the Committee of Seven,
and in pursuance of an official call,
called the body together and spoke as
follows:
The duty of formally opening this con-
yention has been assigned to me by the
distinguished gentlemen whose names are
appended to the call. When we behold
the personal magnitude of this assem-
blage, when we consider the geographical
area from which it has been drawn, when
we contemplate the intensity of passion
which animates for the sole object we have
in view and the diversity of opinion con-
corning the methods by which that object
may be accomplished, it is meet that we
should on the very threshold ofour debates
invoke aid from him inswhose hands are
destinies of nations, that our proceedings
may be characterized by wisdom, federation
and prudence,th that they may result in that
actual unity which alone will insure sub
stantial progress insecuring Justice for our
motherland. We hold the anamolous
position of being the only fairly and free
~ chosen parliament which may assem-
Die to consider the welfare of wretch
eddy oppressed, plundered and misgoy-
erned people, and we are restrained at
the same from stepping outside the func-
tons of the auxiiaries to the patriots who
are heroically struggling at home and in
alien hostile legislature in the vain hope
of awakening the long suspended con-
science Of the powerful and brutal foe.
How great are the possibilities, how great
the responsibilities ofthis condition. We
have met neither on one hand to dictate
TO our brethren in Ireland in anything.
nor on the other hand to apologize to
them and our common enemy for any,
thing. We have met TO organize and
concentrate all the forces of our race that
their united strength shall be made DO.
tential in our national struggle. We have
met to solidily all elements o. our author
ized body; to speak not for party, not for
men, but for united, exiled ireland. We
have met TO tell our brethren in Ireland
that it is theirs to choose the road which
will lead to liberty and ours to march
with them on it. The racial blood which
flows in our veins shall feel the same
pulse-beat as theirs, and that beat
shall be as firm and as steady as
the tap Of the drum or the morning of
battle IL is eminently proper that we
should assemble around the cradle of !
American independence, for in its |
achievements the Irish race has won the |
first enduring Triumph Against tyranny, |
which 1t shall continue TO resist until It's |
clutch is loosened from civilization. In |
these precincts it is Just that we should |
declare, IN the words of the organic in. i
strpment of the Republic, that all men are
created free aad equal, and that the polit-
ical Liberty we enjoy belongs equally to
our friends in Ireland. In these precincts
the fathers of the Republic entered upon
the, DISCUSSION gf grave questions with a
VIDE diversity IF opinion, bit with
slDgleRess oil aim they contemplated
ma1v methods, but all tended to a COM
mon purpos9. Their debates we're protrac-
ted and free, but they were conducted with
dignity and deoorum. BY neither their
silence nor their speech did they afford
aid or comfort 70 the enemy. Grateful
for their example, Let Us spiGr IN our
duties with an oyermsstering sense Of
high and holy responsibility. 1t was the
noble boast Of a young patriot as he was
about 10 ascend tlo scafiold that he had
wished TO procure for bis country the
guarantee that Washington had procured
for America In the spirit in which
Robert Emmett died We live. In his
words we are determined on delivering
our native country from the yoke Of
foreign and unrelenting tyranny and to
place her independence beyond the reach
of any power on earth. That we may
have ppop our deliberations the approval |
Of Almighty GOD and OF all Just meA who
love liberty, we must show in this
the parliament of our race, assembled in
the City of Brotherly Love- that every
party is less than the cause; that every in
dividual is esteemed below our country,
and that every Irishman is q brother.