The semi-weekly miner., 1883-05-09
A MEETING OF IRISH-AMERI.
CANS.
Sullivan's Address.

CHICAGO, May 0.-AC the meeting
to ratify the action of the Philadel-
phia convention, Alexander Sulli-
J van, president of the Irish National
League Of America, was met by a
storm of applause. In his address,
referring to the matters of his per-
sOnal character, which has been COM
| mented on since he was raised to the
head of the new national organiza-
ton Of Irishmen said: II have
known what it was to have enemies.
It is just, however, that should say
that many who became so on mis-
taken impression of circumstances,
have since becorie, on hearing the
truth, my walmest friends. For
those who remain my enemies in
spite of the truth, and who would be
enemies of any man of my race, 1
have only that indifference which
becomes self respecting man." Pro-
ceeding to other subjects he said :
"The great convention which assem-
bled at Philadelphia was the largest
representative body which ever came
together in America to deliberate
upon the condition of Ireland, and to
take such action as would in its
judgment best promote its welfare.
1t was essentially an American body;
American in simplicity and in the
straightforwardness of its proceed
ings; American in its quiet and stur-
dy behavior; American in the wide
view it took of political ideas; Amer
ican in that it owed and probably
bOasted that its first allegiance was to
the constitution and laws of this Re
public, and American in its desire to
extend the principles of that consti-
tuition and blessings of those institu-
tions to its enslaved motherland."
He contended that the Philadelphia
platform had secured the enthusiastic
approval of the American press with
out a notable exception, and that it
has won for Ireland, to a degree hith-
erto unattained, the sympathy of
mankind yet" said the speak
land to day. if such platform
were put forth by similarly consti-
tuted body in Dublin the entire
assemblage would have been march
ed under military escort from, the
cannon's mouth to themost illustrious
abodes which the English govern
ment has ever conferred upon Irish
patriots-the jail.
The platform declares in word that
henceforth the Irish race in exile is
a unit in its determination to aid our
countrymen in their struggle for
self:government by whatever method
they think best for the achievement
of that end" Continuing, he de-
clared his purpose in carrying out
the wishes of the Convention to
make the masses of the American
people informed of the truth about
Ireland. When they understood
the reasOnableness of their claim they |
would be united in their support
and their will properly expressed,
the power of the British Empire
could not withstand. He contended
that the method England had most |
successfully practiced against Ireland
was by misrepresentation in asserting
that the land was Overpopulated
and emigration necessity, and yet
the population is only 1852 to the |
square mile, while Germany had 2l3 !
and England and Wales AS. 1t is
said," continued the speaker, "that
Ireland being only an agricu 'tural
country, cannot support herself. 1t |
IS true, comparatively speaking. She !
has no manufactures, but who de-
stroyed them? The English govern
ment so that Ireland might lie the
market for English manu-
facture. It has been said that Ireland
is without capital, and that a country
without capital cannot maintain self
government, but we shall tell the
people how the capital OF
Ireland is drained from her teeming
soil, and they can see for themselves
that is only by self-government that
she can keep her capital at home and
invest it in industries which will Gre
ate domestic exchanges" In con-
he said: when she has
self-government she will use her
own .capital to create tnat which
She will then export
only Ter surplus foods and what
articles her people
need, they will import from America
or from some other friendly people.
we are tOlO ner people are ~ Aolan',
but who destroyed her schools? Who
made learning a crime? Who by
force reduced an entire people to illit-
eracy in the name Of religion and
law, that they might be more easily
kept in subjection? It's representa-
tives have never proposed definite
plan of self-government. Much in;
deed their candor would have availed
in a foreign legislature from which
they have been repeatedly expelled
whenever thew attempted to compel
its attention to the wants of their
But we shall print record
Of bills eminently just, wise and
necessary, which irish
members have offered in that body,
only to see them contemptuously
thrown out, generally without the
poor compliment of a second readi ng
Miscellaneous.
INDIANAPOLIS. May "A fire IN
Union City at seven O'Clock tonight