The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-19
Patrick Egan Delivers Short but Forcible
Address. Which Is Received with an Al
most Continuous Round of Cheers.
He Favors Physical Force if Home Rule
Can Be Secured in No Other Way.
Judge Fitzgerald. of Cincinnati, Unanimously
Chosen as Presiding 0fficer-A Stormy
Time Over Credentials of Delegates.


bies of the leading downtown hotels, this after
noon, were not unlike those preceding national
political convention. The delegates to the irish
National League present in the city number
about 1.400, and when not engaged in obtaining
their credentials to admit them to the floor of
the convention hall and obtaining tickets of adj
mission for their friends were actively caucus
ing in behalf of favorite leaders for the presi
dency. DR.. OReilly, the treasurer of the league.
arrived this morning, and, assisted by the secre
tary, began to pass upon the credentials of dele
gates He completed his labors shortly after
o'clock, in time for the opening of the convention
at o'clock, the hour named by the national
committee. The four Irish members of Parlia-
ment were made members of the committee on
resolutions and given seats in the convention, SO
that the platform adopted may be in harmony
with Mr.. Parnell's views Under huge streamer
bearing the words God save Ireland stretched
across the stage at Central Music Hall, the nota-
bles attending the convention began to gather in
small groups about o'clock. A good-sized band
sat in one Of the galleries, directly opposite the
stage discoursing stirring airs. Immediately
over their heads was another widestretching
banner. inscribed in bold letters, "The man
dies but his memory lives" The throng in and
about the convention hall became very great
shortly before the hour set for the convention to
begin the work, but it was 200 o'clock before
anything approaching a semblance of order
could be discerned on the floor ofthe convention
hall
The scene presented in the hail shortly after
3 o'clock was in many respects extraordinary.
The beautiful auditorium was crowded to the
utmost The delegates occupied the lobby and
the seats on the lower floor, while the boxes and
galleries had their full quota of ladies. There
was tremendous outburst of applause on the
entry of Michael Davitt and again wild cheer
ing when the presence of Mrs Parnell was recog
nized. She was given a seat in the center of
the stage, in the first row of seats. AS If the
appearance of the mother of the great Irish
leader was the signal for the opening
OF the convention, delegates and spectators
at once began crowding into the hall None
were admitted without ticket Only the sec
ond gallery and the top tier of private boxes
were available for others than delegates. A
green badge with gold fringe was pinned
the coat lapel of every delegate asvhe .entered.
While the members of the convention were TAX
ing their places Mrs. Parnell, plainly attired in
well-fttins black silk dress, with handsome
white lace fchu passed over her breast, and her
matronly head surmounted by a small bonnet of
light-blue satin, sat quietly conversing with
group of ladies at her side At o'clock none of
the officers or leaders of the League had yet put
in an appearance, and the delegates We're begin
ming to manifest symptoms of restlessness. The
band, stationed in the gallery, played with re-
doubled energy, the delegates and male specta-
tors wiped their perspiring brows while the
ladies piled fans, and the reporters again and
again sharpened pencils and arranged great pads
of white paper. Central Music Hall can com
fcrtably hold nearly 1900 people, and
by 3 P. NJ. just about that number
already In the hall. The entire audience rose
to their feet like one man and cheered them
selves hoarse, when Mr.. Davitt leaning on the
arm of Patrick Egan and followed by the re-
naming Irish delegates and other officers of the
National League, entered the hall. The visitors
and officers made their way to the stage amid
the shouts and plaudits of the crowd, and the
first move spontaneously toward Mrs. Par
nell. Davitt and the others warmly shook hands
with her, while the cheering of the American
delegates and the audience seemed to know no
bounds The stage was occupied almost exclu-
sively by the officers of the League, the lady
friends of Mrs. Parnel, and the Irish visitors
After fully FIVE minutes of welcoming, cheers
and Misunderstanding, and three cheers more for the
great Irish ambassadors a wait of some little
time ensued. Then an exqusitely wrought floral
harp was brought in and placed before the presi-
dents chair AS President Egan arose, another
wild outburst of cheering burst from the conven
ton, to be renewed again and again as almost
the first words from his lips were an enthusiastic
reference to Michael Dayitt Mr. Egan said
"Once more the elected delegates of the Irish
National League of America have come together
in national convention to comply with the condi-
tons of the Constitution, and to adopt such
measures may seem best for tie furtherance
of the great and holy cause in which we are en-
gagged. We shall, am glad to say be 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 Parnell has called the father of
the Land League-honest fearless Michael
Davitt. We shall also have the inspiring pres
ence and aid of the patriotic. brave and faithful
delegation from Ireland-my friend William
OBrien, who has banished more snakes and
reptiles from Ireland than my 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 gentlemen to our convention with hearty
Irish American cead mile failthe.
"It 10 my privilege and pride to be able to con-
graduate 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 Faneuil Hail. Then the infamous
Crimes Act was in force in Ireland. Every
mans liberty and life we're at the mercy of the
hired and trained perjurers of Dublin Castle.
Ont Of the 103 members 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