The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-09
The Beautiful City Alive With the
Descendants Of the Sturdy Race
And the Convention Begins Under
Most Delightful Auspices.
President Edward Q. Mcdowell
Calls the Body to Order,
And Proctor Knott Delivers the Grafton
OF the Day and Delights His Audi
ence- Wallace Bruce's Charming
Poem Read to the Congress.

loneliness, in which n warm sun and re-
freshing breezes stroye for the mastery
The city, in holiday attire, has thrown
open her gates to welcome the clans rally
ing at the sound OF the pibroch. Nearly all
OF the business portions OF the city
are artistically decorated. and also
many Of the residences. The American
flag. bunting, Ireland's green banner and
the Scotch plaid are the chief ingredients
in all the displays. Visitors from a dis
lance are arriving in large numbers, and
are having places assigned them by Capt.
ii. A. seavy, chairman Of the Reception
Committee, while from all over the coun-
try and State great concourse OF people
is in attendance. The success Of the
meeting is now assured, both as regards
numbers and prominence OF the partci-
pants.
Long before the appointed hour crowds
began TO wend their way TO the
Athenpum grounds, famed for its slopes,
carpeted with natures green and shaded
by oaks of towering grandeur, where a
large tent had been stretched. The plat
form within the tent had been literally
beautiied with bunting and arches OF
roses, interviewer with daisies, and held
portrait OF james X. Polk, one OF Tennes-
sees noblest sons, aud the harp Of Thomas
Moore the Irish poet and patriot which
was kindly forwarded TO the congress by
the Hon. Geo. w. Childs, OF Philadelphia
At II o'clock the mammoth pavilion was
like Irelands cup Of sorrow, filled TO
overlooking, but not yet full, for still the
stream Of humanity pressed in. Soon
after, the orator OF the day, Ex-Governor
Proctor Knott OF Kentucky, DR.. John
Hall OF New York, Hon. James i. John
son OF Alabama, Judge Scott, formerly
Chief Justice OF Illinois, aud other dis
tinguished visitors. preceded by the Goshen
Cornet Band, which played the "Blue
Bells Of Scotland" and followed by the
harp OF Thomas Moore, borne aloft and
having MS its escort the military Of Column
bia, arrived and took their places upon the
platform.
Then the president, Col. L. G. Mellow
ell, OF Columbia, introduced 90 the audi
cnce Rev. John Hall, who offered the
opening prayer, invoking Gods blessing
upon the convention. Next came the adj
dress Of welcome, delivered by Col Nc
Dowell in few well selected sentences, at
the close Of which the Hon. J. +. John
son, OF Alabama, was nominated and
chosen temporary chairman OF the con-
gress, which position he accepted in n
happy speech OF n few minutes in which
hc discoursed upon the yalor Of the
Scolch-Irish on both sides OF the late strug.
gle between the North and South, men
tioning particularly regiment from North
Carolina and one from Pennsylvania, both
composed largely OF Scotch-lrish, which
met in deadly combat at the battle of Get
tysburg, when the tonacity and bravery OF
the Sco,ch-lrish was illustrated by the
enormous loss suffered by each OF these
regiments.
Ii was then moved aud carried that a.
c. Floyd, 10 whose activity tho success OF
the present gathering Is to n great extent
due, be elected temporary secretary. A
committee on organization and one upon
bylaws aud constitution was then left 10
the appointment OF the chairman.
by request Mrs Margaret Smith, OF the
! AthenWnm, rociied the following poem
upon the Hap OF Thomas Moore, written
for the occasion by the poet, Wallace
Bruce:
TmE HARP or TON MOORE.
Aihs Scoicl. Iriih Congrsa. Nag s iss9 ColiH',a
Tain.
Tie top Of the morning ta INLAND
| Aud the scotch Irish Cunrrcss todayi
All heart. respond al the banquet
When the Harp oi Tom Moon leads the way
The bclls 81 The shandon arr ringing
| Their music from over the sea.
But swccior the Harp Of her poet
| Ia The mountains OF old tennessee.
Zoe sous Of the shamrock and Thistle
SIN cherish the visions oi yorc.
And the Harp oi old Iam awakcus
Again the voice Of Tom Moore.
| Zach string. with memories sacred,
| Il tuned 10 iihcrtys key
And the songs that hoai down the ages
Are always the songs OF tnc free.
Hsings Of the Exile Of Erin"
hut her cNilcs are cxilcs no NOR,
Torthc Isle of old Ern has dnitcd
| Close under ColumhiaIH shore.
"whcw lilcuy i, l. my county
| llns guided her over the way.
/ Aud Columbia holds IN her burlCu
The heart Of old Ireland today.
Manhattan aud Plymouth aud Jamestown
Can boast Vt their heritage true.
But Mcokicnburg's hmc j. immortal
When We numtcr the stan Ia the blue
The scuich.irish.Puhtanf Fathers
| firi drafted the wurls ~ the ire,
And the speech VI NiVinias Henry
l. the crown OF our lihcriy's plea.
The sons aud gmndsons of hcrucs
| Who fought iur lnrcdom aud right
With Joy hail the dawn Of the morning,
| "MuVuufnrrulN Awake o. the liEhN
| The mnidens oi iurno and Killarney
Ar swelling the chorus today.
For the castles Of ohan and harucy
Are only iusi over The way
Then welcome. a thrice hearty welcome
| 10 legend. lyric aud lurg,
with pledge and could illclan' welcome"
10 tie voice aud the linfp Of TON NoOfV
A toast 70 the shamrock aud Thistle
| Aud sunshine both sdcs 81 the tca,
A. Ern CLASPS hands DER The ofcan
With Columbia IN fair Tennessee.
e Hatdcf huoc
Immediately following this recitation,
which was well received aud applaudcd,
came a song by some Of the lovely pupils
OF the Athacaeum.
A motion was then carried returning the
thanks Of the Sco,ch.lrish citiEcns Of the
! United States 10 the Hon. T. I. wright
who originated aud pushed 10 success tho
movement which is reaching nov us cul-
| minaiiOn.
The band then played a medley Of
Scotch aud Irish ballads. ihrillingly appro'
| pirate 10 the occasion.
Announcement oi the following program
was next made. Tonight, address by
/ Prof. McCloskey, OF Princeton, y. u to-
morrow morning. address from llr. Jonn
| Hall. and tomorrow night, address Oy
/ William Writ Henry, Of Virginia.
! Proctor Knott OF Kentucky, having
/ been introduced by the chairman WIN
oloquonce and learning gave a history OF
the origin OF the scoich-liish race, ,n ,,
I development In character and THOUGHT,
tracing with q master hand 'nc aus