Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-10
CATHOLICS IN CONVENTION.
MR.. KELLEY IN ATTENDANCE.
MS eerdisl gscsption--iie Refers to His Re-
cen, TrcubIss- Rsselu'ious Condo inning che
Action Of the Iniian and Austrian Gsvera-

Ills Cordial Rscsptien-Iis Refers 10 His Re-
cent Tfcubiss- resolutions Csnde mining the
Action Of the Imilan and Austrian Gsvern-
ments.
lBy telegraph to the Dispafch.l
NEW York, September 9.--The del
egatcs to the seventeenth annual Con-
yention Of the Irish Catholic National
Benevolent Union attended mass in St.
James Cathedral Brooklyn, to-day.
Bishop Loughlin made an address well
coming the delegates and invoking the
Divine blessing on them and their work.
The delegates then marched to their hall,
when Mr.. Wilken, Of Philadelphia, was
chosen chairman, and Martin j. Grit
I'm secretary Of the Convention, and va
nous committees were appointed and
recess taken. tits proposed to appoint
committee to confer with the German
Catholic Benevolent Association, now
in session in the eastern district, with a
view TO eiiecting a union Of the two be-
nevolent organizations.
In the afternoon Hon. A. NJ. Kelley
was present and made brief address.
He was received heartily, and his re.
marks were freely punctuated with ap-
plause. He referred TO the goodwill
shown to him and the warmth Of the
greeting given him. lie had been as
sailed with petty spite at home and
with vile maiignity abroad in the last
four months, but it all vanished before
this enthusiastic reception. lie would
not believe that it was all personal to
himself. The papers of the two CONT
nents had much to say about him, but
the real cause Of his rejection was be-
cause his republican principles were
too high to be acceptable to foreign ma
tons.
After Mr.. Keiley's departure the fol-
loving resolution was unanimously
adopted:
Whereas the pnblic press Of Austria
and of the United States, with singular
unanimity, announced the causes Of the
rejection by the former State Of Hon.
A. NJ. Kelley, our former president, as
United States Minister, as being based
in part upon the religious creed Of his
wife and partly upon the offence
he gave to the King Of Italy
by his denunciation of the spo-
liation of the Holy See by Victor
Emmanuel, this Union, in convention AS
sembled, desires to enter its protest
against the insult to the American prin-
ciples Of liberty involved in each and
both of the alleged causes. While this
Convention proposes and is deter
mined to avoid all connection with par
ty politics, it regards this action Of
Austria as touching matters far above
party and an infringement Of the COM
mon rights Of the American citizen and
the independence of the American Gov
eminent.
This affront, which is matter Of
concern to all citizens, is especially re-
scented by this Union, which for twelve
successive years, and up to his depart
ure Tor his post, conferred upon Mr.
Kelley its highest Office. and which ex-
tends to him its undated confidence
to-day.
This Convention, for itself and for
the great body of the Catholic people
of the Union, assure the Administra-
ton that in the maintenance of the dig
nifty and honor Of the United States in
all appropriate forms it will have their
constant and patriotic support, indie
pendent of party; nor do We doubt that
our felIow-citizens Of all creeds will,
with the liberality and justice charac-
teristic Of American citizens, equally
resent the bigotry to which the rejec-
ton Of Mr.. Kelley is ascribed.