The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-19
IRISH NATIONAL LEAGUE.
FIRST DAY OF THE GREAT CON
vRNTION AT CHICAGO.
Fourteen Hundred Delegates in At
tendance Besides Thousands Of
Other Visitors, III
THE OPENING ADDRESS OF PRES.
IDFNT EGAN.
Enthusiastic Reception Of the Irish
Parliamentary Delegates-Scenes
at Music Hall.

scenes ABOUT Tue lOODlo6 OF tue lead
ing down town hotels this afternoon
were not unlike those preceding q
national political convention. The
delegates to the Irish National League
present in ths city number about l400,
and when not engaged in obtaining
their crede1tiale TO admit them TO the
floor OF the invention hall and OBJ
tanning tickets OF admission for their
friends wer- actively caucusiDg in
behalf OF favorr leaders for the pres.
idency. Mr.. 0'Reilly, the treasurer
Of the League, arrived this morning
and, assisted by the secretary, began
to pass upon tho credentials OF del
egates. He completed his labors short
y ter | o'clock, in time for the open
ing OF the convention at 2 o'clock, the
hour named by the National Commit
tee. The four irish Members OF Par
lament will bsmade members OF the
Committee on Resolutions and given
seats in the convention 30 that the
platform adopted may be In harmony
with Mr.. Psrnell's views.
OPENING OF THE CONVENTION.
The scenes presented In Music Hall
shortly after O'Clock this afternoon,
was In msny respects extraordinary.
The beautiful audit rum was crowded
10 the utmost, The delegates &C.
cupied the lobby and The seats on the
lower floor, while the boxes and gal
leries had their full quota of ladies.
There was a tremendous outburst of
applause on The entry Of Michael
Davitt; again, wild cneer ng when
the presercs OF Mrs. Parnell was re-
copnizs ID. She was given seat in the
center of the s'agB in the fret row oil
seats. As ii the appearance OF the
mother OF the great Irish leader was
the signal for the opening Of the con-
vention, delegates and spectators at
once began ctowding into the hall.
None were admitted without ticket.
Only the second gallery and the top
tier OF private boxes were available
for those other than delegates. A
green badge with gold fringe YVES
pinned on the coat lapel Of every dele
gate as he entered. While the men,
bers OF the convention were taking
their places Mrs. Parnell, plainly at
tired In we'll fitting black silk DRESS,
with q handsome white lace hchu
CROSSED over her breast and her
matronly head surmounted with q
small bonnet OF light blue satin, sat
quietly converting with O group OF
ladies at her side. AT 8 o'clock none
/. Of the officers or leaders OF the league
!, bad yet put in 40 Appearance, and The
delegsteswere beginning TO manifest
symptoms OF restlessnses. The band
stationed In the gallery PLAYED with
redoubled energy. The delegates and
male spectators wiped their perspiring
brows while the ladies piled fans and
reporters again and again shsrpened
pencils and arranged great pEds Of
white paper.
CENTRAL MUSIC HALL
can comfortably hold nearly 5000
people, and by 8 o'clock pm. just
about that number were already In
the hall. The entire audience rose 10
their feet like one man and cheered
themselves hoarse when Mr.. Davitt,
leaning on the arm OF Patrick Egan,
and followed Ivy the remaining 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 was spontaneously toward Mrs.
PArnell. Davitt and the others warm.
ly shook hands with her while the
cheering OF the American delegates
and the audiences seemed to have no
bounds. The st &, was occupied OK.
clusively by the oilic ars Of the league,
the lady trends of Mrs, Par
nell and the Hish visitors. After
fully five minutts Of welcoming
cheers aud bandshaking and three
cheers more for the great Irish ambas.
sadors. A wait Of some little time
ensued, then an exquisitely wrought
floral harp was brought in and placed
before the Presidents chair. AS Pres
ident Egan arose, another wild out
burst Of cheering rose from the con.
vention, to be renewed again and
and again, as almost the first words
from his lips were an enthusiastic
reference to Michael Davitt. Mr..
Egan said;
PRESIDENT KaAN's ADDRESS,
Once more the elected delegates OF
the Irish National League of America
have come together IN national con.
vention to comply with the conditions
OF the constitution, aud TO adopt such
measures as may seem best for the
furtherauce OF the great aud holy
cause in which we are engaged. We
shall, am glad TO say, be inspired by
the presence, and aided by the counsel
Of the man who, OF all Others mot
even excepting our great leader him
self-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 Dsvitt. We
shall also have the inspiring presence
and aid Of the patriotic, brave aud
faithful delegation from Irelsud-my
friend, William 0'Brien. who has ban
ished more snakes aud reptiles from
Ireland than any 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 a hearty Irish-
American cead mile failthe.
II is my privilege aud pride TO be
able 10 congratulate you, the faithful
members of the leegue, upon the
glorious progress our cause has made,
aud upon the splendid work you have
helped to accomplish for Irish ma.
tonality since We last met in Fanueil
Hall. Then the infamous crimes act
was 10 force in Ireland. Every mans
liberty and life were at the mercy Of
the hired and trained perjurers OF
Dublin Castle Out OF 1903 members
of Parliament returned from Ireland,
lees than thirty could be relied upon
TO fIllow Mr.. Prnell, while both
English parties were solidly combined
against home rule for Ireland. To
even the most sanguine among us the
realization Of our hopes for the restora-
ton OF our na ional Parliamen seemed
indeed lo1g way of.
Such, however, are the strides our
cause has made since then, that but a
couple Of month"; ago victory seemed
within our very grasp. Mr.. Parnell
raw non rOunt inataa1 NJ q fnliauin0