Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-19
PRESIDENT EGAN's ADDRESS.
To the Irish National Convention at Chi
caGO Yesterday,

caGo Yesterday,
CHICAGO, August 1S.-Patrick Egan,
President of the League, called the con-
yention to order, and delivered the follow
ing address:
Once more the elected delegates of the
Irish National League of America have
come together in national convention to
comply with the conditions of the Con-
stitution, 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 glade to say, he
inspired 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 ParnCll 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 faithful delegation from lrcland-my
friend, William O'Brien, who has banished
more snakes and reptiles from Ireland than
any other man since the days OfSt. Patrick,
John Redmond and John DeaSy. In your
name, in the name of the Irish National
League of America, welcome these gen
tlemen to our convention, with hearty
!rish-American cead mile failthe.
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 Tor
Irish nationality since we last met III
Fanueil Hall. Then the infamous Crimes
Act was in force in Ireland. Every mans
liberty and life were at the mercy OF the
hired and trained perjurcrs Of Dublin
Castle. Out of 103members Of Parliament
returned from Ireland, less than thirty
could be relied upon to follow Mr.. Parnell,
while both English parties were sOlidly
combined against Home Rule for Ireland.
TO even the most sanguine amongst MS the
,calization of our hopes for the restoration
of our national parliament, seemed indeed
4 long way off.
Such, however, are the strides our cause
mas made since then, that but 4 couple oil
months ago victory seemed within our very
rasp. Mr.. Parnell can now count instead
If following of twenty-five or thirty,
formidable party of eighty-iiye. Coercion,
Is a system is. | believe, dead. Not even
The clustering and laundering Tories VIII
lare to resort to it. Three successive gov
.rnments have been overthrow within
nine months on the Irish question. From
Dublin to Eastern India on the one SHE,
md California on the other; from Norway
/ 10 New Zealand, in the centerS OF dlpio-
mocy in EurOpe-Berlin, Vienna, ParlS, IN
Il, Petersburg Us well rs in London, the
,trurgIe for Irish liberty is keenly watched,
and ENGLISH statesmen have come to learn
that the measure of Englands influence
,uonOst the nations will be in proportion
IN the peace that reignS in Ireland, ana
hat there can be no peace with Ireland OF
,vitb the Irish race until Ireland obtains
Home Rule. The greatest OF Engilsh
statesmen has made Home Rule cabinet
,nestion. and while Mr.. Gladstone has Tor
The moment gone down before the force OF
English prejudice and English ignorance
| the hammer of Home Rule for Ireland WILL
| in his own words, 'be borne with the llrhl
hands of the united people, perhaps not 10
an easy but to a certain and not hr-oh
yictory.D I 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
C.-,,Se NV Won of the Irish National League
| - America. has been an important factor.
Since the Boston convention the ha'ioii",
treasurer, Father .OReily, has torWarueu
To the National League at home, ana 10 tne
Trustees of the Parliamentary funu, tne
sum of over $500, OO1. Ot that S'o'uVo
| reached the hands of Mr.. Parnell on the
eve of the election of last fall, ana we ntu
the great qualification of receiving MI.
porneIl's assurance that it enabled INN 10
Vim victories he could not otherwise nave
sacnred One hundred thousand dollars
we're RENTED by cable within ten days
Jnrino the campaign of last month, ana
SGO 900 but a few days ago. Your eNecn-
| rive appreciating the great value oil puohc
oninion, adopted various methods 10 en-
Iip,btan the American public on the irish
60 and the warm and vigorous out
hnrsts of purely American endorsement,
] ,,,bicb from one end to the other OF TINS
oreat country greeted the introduction Dy
Mr. Gladstone of his Home Rule ana i4anu
biII-indorsemen so highly appraiser Oy
| NJ Gladstone himself-attests the success
| Of our efforts. 1t is not too much 10 clalih
for this league of ours, that not only has II
dome its part in aiding and supporting the
struggle at home but that 1t mas Inilue o tlls
cause of Ireland respectable ana reSPec ttat
amongst Americans, and tnrGusn . orr
means has helped largely 10 elevate Jul
neople as q race on this continent
Our action at this convention VIII p NC
watched from across the Atlantic with tn Is
Wsrv closest interest; from Ireland with
S veg and nride and Joy; from England.or
n.y. Ipra csc section of its OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
sb ~ most blind, with hatred the most IN
tense o and with the bitter hope that our
SaI;bsrotions NAV end in discussions ana