Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-13
and whatever duties u may pursue
iLorg continued chcers.l
COMPELLED 10 AccErr

The Convention then proceedcd trcgu-
laily) to elect officers for the ensuing
ear, as follows; Prcsidcnt, "A. NJ.
Kelley: First yice-Presidcnt, NJ. I.
wiIhere; Second Vice President, J. J.
Murphy Secretary, NJ. ). J. Griffin;
and Treasurer, Rev. Father Henry.
When the oficers-elect came forwardso
bc installed by taking tue oath sr.
Kelley stood a, the head Of the line and
was Installed as president. which act
was hcsrtily appauded. Mr.. Kelley
then addressed TIE Convention as fol-
lows
"Gentlemen Of the Convention have
made as earnest an appeal to you as 1t
was in my power to make that you
might relieve me from the duties, and
might confer upon some one else the
honors Of this position. But | would
be very much more than a man, or less
than a man, to be insensible TO the
character Of the compliment, the una
nimity Of the compliment, and the en-
thusiasm with which the compliment
has been this day conferred upon me.
When ! said yesterday in your hearing,
} in the brief remarks which it was my
pleasure 10 offer to you, that regarded
the compliment OF the welcome with
which was here greeted as far more
addressed to the person who had
presented YOU than to the individual i
was absolutely sincere. | have felt
strongly felt--during the last four
months, amid the turmoil and excite
mpnt and opposition to which have
been Subjected Of which, if ! did not
think was too much Identifying 1t, |
would say have been the victlm--l
have felt that ] was standing up for
things which are dear to you. Many a
time when could look nowhere else
except in the warm hearts Of my family
for sympathy, | have felt that | had a
larger family, tied TO me by no ligaments
Of blood, but bound to me with hooks
of steel, Of common interest in a
common canse, who, away OIL in the
wilds Of Texas, in the forests of Mis-
souii, in the mines of Western Pennsyl-
yania. in the factories Of New England,
and in my own broad fields OF Virginia
were extending to me earnest, hearty,
generous sympathy. 1t would be,
therefore, a churlishness Of which |
am utterly incapable. no matter what
indisposition | may myself feel, or
what inconvenience it may subject me
to in the future, to refuse to answer
this unanimity, especially considering
the extraordinary compliments which
this Convention for thirteen times in its
history has been pleased to confer upon
me.
Again and again have said TO you,
gentlemen. that | could make no an
swer to a compliment like this, save to
pledge to you in the future what hope
have exhibited in the past, single
eyed devotion to those interests which
are the objects Of this organization a
single-e cd purpose to pursue through
out my career during the next twelve
months faithfully and zealously, if not
efficiently, the forwarding Of those
great aims Of charity and benevolence
which are the cornerstone Of Oui
Union, and if, while | am doing that,
shall turn aside occasionally also to say 6
word Of God-speed to those influences
and interests which are represented
by the first name Of our Union, CathO.
lie though it be not, benevolent though
it be not, union though it be not, ant
Irish though it is, | shall be not less
true to the Catholicism which inspires
and the unionism which fills YOU
hearts, and the benevolcnce which i,
the security of your Convention, feeling
that in the year that is to come, as il
all the years of my past life, ever.
pulse of my heart and every object o
my being is colncident with and i,
bound to that glorious country of on
fathers, whose future | am sure is now
like the sunburst Of its own flag, tC
which alluded yesterday, dawning il
the eastern Sky--a future Of independ
encc and glory and peace" loud ap
plause.l
The Convention then voted to for
ward copy of the resolutions adopted
by il in reference to its president, Mr
Kelley, to the Secretary of State, Mr.
Bayard. after which votes of thank
we've rendered to various societies, t,
the ,ice-president, and to the press
The Convention then adjourned. Tn,
next meeting will be held in Lancaster
Pa.