The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-21
IRELAND'S AMERICAN ALLIES
Closing of the Convention of the Irish
National League of America.
Speeches by Hon. Samuel ]. Randall and
Michael Dayitt-Patrick Egan Handsome
ly Remembered by His Admirers.

sympathizers with the league movement had
been unable to hear these gentlemen speak. and
it was afforded by this occasion. An admission
fee was charged, the money to be applied to the
parliamentary fund. Before o'clock there
were between ten and twelve thousand persons
present, with waiting crowd outside. The ap.
pearance of Michael Davitt and the other Irish
nctables was the signal for uproarious cheering
Mr. Alexander Sullivan presided.
The doors were opened at O'Clock, and lie
tie after that hour Messrs. OBrien, Deasy, Red,
mond and Davitt left the Grand Pacific in open
carriages. They were escorted to the place Of
meeting by the Clan-ns-Gael Guards and the
Hibernian Rifles.
When Mrs. Parnell arrived and took seat on
the platform, the great audience greeted hef
with continuous cheering The arrival of Gov
ernor Ogiesby and the Hon. S. ]. Randall wal
recognized in similar manner.
Alexander Sullivan, in opening the meeting
said they were there to remind the people of Ire
land that h-Americans were not tired oi
marching in the rear, and that they would al
ways be ready to march wherever and whenevei
directed. He then introduced Governor Ogles
by The Governor was enthusiastically received.
and spoke briefly.
Mr.. Sullivan then said that, for the purpose OF
showing to their brothers that their welcome
was national one, they had invited the Hon.
Samuel J. Randall. Mr.. Sullivan spoke highly
of Mr.. Randall and his services both to this
country and to Ireland.
Mr. Randall was greeted with tremendous app
plause He said if he consulted his own desirsa
he would remain silent after his long Journeys
but he feared that if he did so he would ba
charged with possessing less ardor in the causd
of Ireland than he possessed when,
in his official capacity as Speaker
of the House of Representatives, it was his doty
to receive Charles S. Parnell Applause Com
tinuing, Mir. Randall sketched at some length
the history of Irish abuses. ami assured Irish-
men that their struggles for freedom were fully
appreciated. The movement now under
control of men in Ireland, and they knew betteE
what was to be done than any one else. They
should receive hearty and united support FROM
this side of the water. He had one word Of adv
vice TO give, and that was, s'Never, never LET
politics creep within your councils" TERRIFIC
applause. They had caught the American
people, and they should assemble together and
present the force of moral effort. and the CAUSE
would never go down. The audience was urged
to send back the Irish representatives to that
grand old man. to assure him that the sympas
thies of the American people were with him.
Mr.. Randall closed by speaking of the svmp athy
the Americans had for the English masses whu
were assisting Mr.. Gladstone to give home rule
to Ireland.
Michael Davitt followed in an eloquent ads
dress, stating the position Of himself and his
colleagues.
The interesting feature of The entertainment
was the presentation to ex-President EgAn
of silver tea service the gift of Mr. RParnell
and other distinguished Irishmen The SET
a. L..
any case. lined with watered silk of the national
color. The topmost piece of the set is highly
ornamented waiter of massive silver. In the
the center is engraved the following legend:
Presented to Patrick Egan, ESQ.,, late treas
urer of the Irish Land League, by few of hia
numerous friends and admirers in Ireland as q
slight mark of their respect and esteem for his de-
votedness and courage and his signal self-denial
during exile for his country's cause"
The large coffee urn is triumph of ART IN
the center of each piece is engraved most curl
ously and artisticaliy designed monogram includ-
ing the entire name OF the recipient
The following address was read from the plat
form Mr. Davitt:
1883: '' ~ A'' - "'s country cause 'uy'
Dear Sir-Upon your return to ireland, last
December after a prolonged political exile.
many of the foremost citizens of Dublin were
DESTROYS of entertaining you at public banquet.
to testify the affectionate cordiality with which
your fellowcitzens were eager to welcome you
home. That intention was laid aside in defer
ence to your emphatic intmation that, scourged
as Ireland was with coercion, and darkened with
the hideously familiar shades of famine the
moment was not one in which You could be
party to festivities in your honor While
yielding to your wishes in this respect,
it was found impossible to re.
press the anxiety of your friends
to take some method of signalling the gratitude
and esteem which you have earned from your
conntrymen by lifelong services, as modestly
given as they were priceless to the Irish cause,
and without any public intimation of the object,
friends from every part of Ireland sought par
ticipation in the compliment. They have made
US the medium OF rendering to you the accom-
panying service of plate. the more valuable in
your eyes because wrought by Irish hands We
beg your acceptance of the gift as pledge Of
your countrymens appreciation of your ster-
ling qualities as an Irishman and FRIEND Of
those sacrifices with which you forsook posi-
ton of ease to take up onerous and thankless
Office IN crisis of singular difficulty and danger.
OF the integrity with which you fulfilled
that great trust, and of the noble and
unbemished reputation which has sustained
you through the storm of obloquy and vitupera.
ton with which you have been honored by tbs
enemies of Ireland all the world knows. La
whatever further sacrifices the future may I'M
pose, you may rest assured of the sympathy,
confidence aud affection OF your feoT-country-
men, and OF their prayers that your great and
devoted services may be rewarded with many
years of happiness and prosperity in an enfran-
chised Ireland
ave remain, dear sir, sincerely yours
s'ALFRED WEBB, w. b. MRAGHER,
"a E. KENNY, nj. d., Treasurers
ssJ II. MoAoNEY, JOHN CLANCY
Honorable Secretaries.
&c S. PARNELL NJ. P. j. 9. BIGGAR, NJ. r.,
sJoHN DILLON M. p, ]. MCCARTHY, NJ. p.
.'CHAs. LAWSON, II. p, e. D. GRAY, NJ. F.,
"MIoHAEL DAvITT. VIM O'BRfEN. NJ. p,
'HoN. JUDGE LITTLE, REV FATHER SHEEHY,
'aTKos. SEXTON. NJ F.. Rev. NJ. ToosEY,
"REv. p NJ FURLoNG.
"And about go other leading Irishmen'
Mr.. Egan replied
ITO Michael Dayitt
my Dear Friend-It is with feelings OF prids
and pleasure that receive this very hatterins
address and accept the beautiful service OF plala