Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-06

The meeting Of Irish-American Demo
crats in the Academy of Music last night
about swamped that big auditorium. Be-
fore the hour announced for the opening
of the meeting every seat in the parquet
was filed. and when the officers and
speakers stepped upon the stage there
was neither sitting nor standing room in
parquet, the boxes, or the f.n,ily circle
or on the stage. Several thousand peo-
pie who could not get into the hall,
looked at the fireworks outside. There
wers many politicians 10 the house, but
the audience was mainly composed OF
the voters, whom the cali for the meet
ing had invited. Among the gentlemen
who sat on the stage or occupied pro-
scenium boxes were Eugene Kelly, John
Il. Devlin, General Martin 7. Mcmahon,
Cornelius O'Rielly, Patrick Fl. Power.
DR.. Martin Burke, Colonel James Cava-
nagh, Senator James DAILY, James Lynch,
and Major P. M. Haverty.
0It was an attentive and at The same
time enthusiastic audience. Every
references to the Democrscy's friendship
for foreign born citizens was loudly Ap.
plauded, and when Senator Jones FIRST
spoke Gov. Cleveland's name the audi
ence arose and cheered and shouted for
fully five minutes. The mention Of MIR.
Blaine ELECTED misses and tremendous
groaning.
The Academy was gsyly decorated
with United States and Irish flags, and
streamers of red, white and blue bunt.
ing hung from the ceiling. Over the
front Of the stage were life-size portraits
Of Cleveland and Hendricks. Before the
meeting was opened the band Of the
Sixty.ninth Regiment kept the audience
in good humor with Irish melodies and
American patriotic airs,
Commissioner James s. Coleman called
the meeting to order promptly at s
o'clock, and presented Mr.. Eugene Kelly
as the Chairman. Mr.. Kelly made no
speech other than to introduce United
States Senator Charles w. Jones, Of
Florida.
Senator Jones came forward in tight
fitting Prince Albert coat, beneath the
breast Of which he kept his right hand
concealed. The audience cheered him
to the echo. His voice was hardly
strong enough, but the people had not
been worked up much ut this period,
and listened intcntly. He sal in part:
1t is gratifying for me to know and
| feel that the party to which l belong is
not responsible for giving our citizens Of
Irish birth and blood the special promin-
ence assigned them in this campaign.
| Az man who has never been ashamed
Of his soil and blood, l sec nothing to
be proud of, but much that is danger.
| Gus to the cause OF Ireland, in that
| prominence. The country has been told
by many Of its leading journals and
| politicians that the time has arrived
| when every citizen Of Irish vote should
leave the Democratic party and 60 over
to the Republican. l am well aware
that the long years Of oppression. the
base misrepresentation Of Great
Britian and its press have done much to
put the Irish people in false light be-
fore large party Of the American pub.
lie; but, Notwithstanding oil OF
| this, all must admit that no
people ON earth have greater natural
sagacity or stronger love for truth and
principles than the Irish. Why, then,
should they leave their old well-tried
friends and go over to their enemiess
| What has the Democratic party done to
forfeit Irish confidencel What has the
Republican party done to merit it:
| Cries Of don't let that bother you, but
| 10 on" and "we'll show the haythens
n November" The latter has been in
| power for over trenty years, and during
that tims the great body of The men Of
| Irish blood on this continent have stood
where their fathers did, steadfast in
their devotion, enthusiastic in their sup.
port, upswsrving in their fidelity to
Democratic principles; whether on the
battlefield yielding up their life blood in
| defence Of the Union, or in the strug-
giles Of ordinary life by sweat and toll
adding to the wealth and growth of the
republic, they have never deserted the
pnrty which was ever true to than.
A voice cried, s'Three cheers for Cleve.
land and Hendricks" and the vnst crowd
stood up and hats were waved so that
gale Of wind appeared to have struck
the house. Then Mr.. Jones went on:
Some people will tell you that the
Irish are incapable of self-government,
but their steadfast faith and loyalty to
one party Ia known to all. The other
foreign born citizens are much indebted
to the Democratic party. There Is this
difference between them, however. The
Irish are the only foreign-born citizens
who come TO this country from Europe
who have no political allegiance to bind
them to . foreign power, They have no
Bisnarcks. Napoleons, or Wellingtons,
to infiame their pride or weaken their
fidelity TO Democratic principles and in.
stitutions. [Cheers.l Those who know
anything of the history Of politics In this
country must know that from the time
we entered the family Of nations until
the present hour political parties have
separated here, just as they have In
Europe, by the iines Of liberty and
power.