Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-08-25

CHICAGO, Ill, Aug. 18.-The scenes
about the Hobbies of heleading down
town hotels, this forenoon, were not
unlike those preceding a national
political convention. The deleoates
to the Irish National League present
in the city, number about 1,40O, and
when not engaged in obtaining their
credentials to admit them to the floor
of the convention hall and in obtain
ing tickets of admission for their
friends, were as actively caucusing in
behalf of favorite leaders for the presi-
dency. DR.. O'Reilly, the treasurer OF
the league, arrived this morning, and,
assisted by the secretary, began to
pass upon the credentials of delegates.
The four Irish members of Parlia-
ment here will be made members OF
the committee on resolutions, so that
the platform adopted may be in har-
mony with Mr.. Parnell's views.
Under g. huge streamer bearing the
words "God Save Ireland" stretched
across the stage at Central Music
Hall, the notables attending the Irish
National League convention began to
gather in small groups about 2 o'clock
this afternoon; good-sized band sat
in one of the galleries, directly oppo-
site the stage, discoursing stirring airs.
Immediately over their heads was an
other Understanding banner, inscribed
in bold letters s"The Man Dies but His
Memory Lives
The throng in and about the conven-
ton hall became very great shortly be-
fore the hour set for the convention to
begin it's work, but it was $50 O'Clock
before anything approaching a SEM
blance of order could be discerned on
the floor of the convention hall. The
balconies, galleries and boxes were
crowded to their utmost capacity,
when the slight figure Of President
Egan rose and raped the assem-
blage to order. just prior to this,
Mrs. Parnell reached the convention
hall, and, her presence being noticed,
she was greeted with tremendous
cheers. An outburst of terrific ap-
plause broke out when Michael Davitt
entered the hall.
President Egan then delivered the
following address:
GENTLEMEN: Once more the elected dele
gates Of the Irish National League of Amer
lea have come together in national conven-
tion to comply with the conditions OF the
constitution. and to adopt such measures
as may seem best for the furtheranCe OF the
great and holy cause in which we are en-
gagged. We shall, l am glad to cay. be in
spired by the presence, and aided by the
counsel of the man who, OF all others-not
even excepting our great leader himself
holds the warmest place in the hearts OF the
Irish exiles, the man whom Charles Stewart
Parnell has called the father of the Land
League-honest, fearless Michael Davitt.
We shall also have the inspiring presence
and aid of the patriotic, brave and faith
full delegation from Ireand-my friend,
William o Brien, who has banished more
snakes and reptiles from Ireland than any
other man since the days of st. Patrick,
John Redmond and John Deasy. In your
name, in the name OF the Irish National
League of America. | welcome these gentle.
men to our convention, with q hearty
Irish American cead mile faHthe.
1t is my privilege and pride to be able to
congratulate you, the faithful members of
the league, upon the glorious progress our
cause has made, and upon the splendid
work you have helped to accomplish for
Irish nationality since we last met in
Fenueil Hall. Then the infamous crimes
IT,
liberty and life were at the mercy
OF the hired and trained per;urers Of Dub
lin Castle. Out OF 103 members OF Parlia-
ment returned from Ireland, less than
thirty could be relied upon to follow Mr..
">rnell, while both English parties were
solidly combined against Home Rule for
Ireland. To even the most sanguine
amongst US the realization of our hopes
for the restoration of our national parlia-
L.,
Such, however, are the strides our cause
has made since then, that but couple Of
months ago victory seemed within our
very grasp. Mr.. Parnell can now count in
stead of a following of twenty-five or thirty,
formidable party Of eighty-fve. Coer-
cion, as q system is, l believe, dead.
Not even the clustering and blum
dering Tories will dare to resort
to it. Three successive governments
have been overthrow within nine
months, on the Irish question. From
Dublin to Eastern India on the one side,
and California on the other; from Norway
to New Zealand, in the centers of dip!o.
macy in Europe-Berhn, Vienna, Paris, in
st. Petersburg as well as in London, the
struggle for Irish liberty is keenly watched.
and English statesmen have come to learn
that the measure of England's influence
amongst the nations will be in proportion
to the peace that reigns in Ireland, and
that there can be no peace with Ireland or
with the irish race until Ireland OBJ
tains Home Rule. The greatest of English
statesmen has made Home Rule cabinet
question, and while Mr.. Gladstone has for
the moment gone down before the force OF
English prejudice and English ignorance,
the banner of Home Rule for Ireland will, in
his own words, ''be borne with the firm
hands of tde rr'Aed people, perhaps not to
an easy but so certain and not far-of
victory" 1 think our friends from the
old land will tell you that in the
achievement of this great progress, the
aid, material and moral, rendered to the
cause by you OF the Irish National League
of America has been an important factor.
Since the Boston convention the national
treasurer, Father O'Reilly, has forwarded
to the National League at home and to the
trustees of the parliamentary fund, the sum
OF over $4,000 OF that SIS, 900 reached
the hands of Mr.. Parnel on the eve of the
election last fall, and we had the
great qualification of receiving Mr.. Par
nells assurance that it enabled him to |
or u1Sco