The Irish standard., 1888-02-25
Mr. Davitt's Address to the City of
Dublin Working Mems
Club.
ENCOURAGE HOME INDUSTRY,
This is What Mr.. Davitt Says the Work
inggnen Of Ireland
Should Do.
dublin Freeman1.

VI OuUllA1 w VI h1uk INCL 1iuO, uG1lF-
cred an address, in which ne called the
attention of the public OF Dublin to the
advantages to be derived from mem.
bership of tbs club, in the hope that
the membership might be largely in-
creased. The club was founded in 1879,
and its objects were to afford working
men Of Dublin place oftreunion, with
suitable opportunities for mutual inter
course, mental and moral improvement,
and Of rational recreation. These were
admirable objects, to which no possible
objection can be taken, and the club
management has strictly adhered to
this programme; but thu support the
club has obtained was not at ali such as
the advantages to be derived from the
institution deserved (hear, hear). IT
the term s'workingmen" was construed
into prohibitive Or exclusive meaning
If membership of the club were con-
fined to artisans or m ,chanics, there
might be some explanation, though not
sufficient one, why the roll Of mem
bership should not have gone above
300. But, as membership was wisely
and justly extended to all workers,
whether by manual OR clerical labor.
and as there was also an honorary mem
bership provided, which invites and en-
ables mercantile and professional citi-
zens to join the association, it did not
rebound very much to the credit OF the
people Of Dublin to find them giving 80
little practical encouragement to this
club as that represented by the num5er
Of its members. .Tns conditions Of
membership were certainly not difficult
to comply with-2s. 81 a quarter, or g..
if paid yearly is not q very heavy tax
upon the resources of the industrial
community Of the city. With a pop,la.
zion of OVER 900 Dublin should pro-
vide for so admirable an institution at
least membership of 1000. 1t might
be objected that thero were counter ats
fractions in places of public! amuse-
ment, and In the seductive rivalry Of
public houses; and that something akin
to what invites msn after a days labor
to spend a few evening hours in such
places must be provided in clubs like
this before they Can successfully COM
pete with the attractions to wlich l
have referred. But the club does pro-
vide some OF such attractions. and
without any OF the temptations Which
unfortunately make ths publiciou5e a
place of ruin rather than of recreation
for many of oar people (app!ause).
Drinks were provided On the premises
at N odorate cost Billiards and other
such games could be in nlu!gsd in, along
with other rational am I5em ants. Tnen
again, the clue had u pavilion accom-
daJion in Phg llx Park. with an en-
closed cricksb and athletic ground for
summer evening an4 Saturday after
noon recreation. rnes... manly aad
muscle.producing sports ought to bs in
dulged In by every young m:.n who as
pires to have sound mind in sound
body {applauss). With referencet to the
summer months he found 4: that the
membership fell of, and. Of course, the
revenues of the club Also. waile those
who cease to support or frequent tho
club during that portion of:sthe ,yexr
come back for the advantages OF the
club during the long winter nights
(hear, hear) Well this is what he
would Ill natural fault; but like all
the other faults which Il weak hum Ani-
ty caused man to be guilty Of, it would
rebound to the credit of such members
to correct and improve it byare8ular al!
the year round membership and support
The fact was and the public should
note it, unless the membership Of this
club goes up. and rem aims, at least, at
500, the Institution would not flourish
as it ought (hear, hear). Its collapse
would be a misfortune to the workers of
the city, who have stood by it, while it
would be subject of reproach Dub
lin itself. There is nothing connected
with the; club that would deter any citi-
zen from joining it thear, hear). It
was vigorously non-partisan and nen-;
political Many Of its members prob:
ably differed from him upon matters Of
politics as wide as the poles are asund.
er; and if a club in Dublin or elsewhere
In Ireland had no other argument in
its favor than this, that Irishmen.o OF
diverging principles and conflicting
opinions can meet Within its walls to