Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-03
IRISH-AMERICANS
The National League COnven-
tiOt at Chicago.
An Independent Plan Of Action
Adopted.
Neither of the Factions in Ireland
Recognized.
DIsapprovaI Of 8fcCarthy's Leadership
Indirectly Indioated-M. ". Cannon
Elected to Succeed Eitzger-
aid as President.
Associated Press Disp&tches-

Associated Press DisD&tches-
CHICAGO, October IN. v. Cannon,
of Omaha, tonight succeeded John
Fitzgerald as president of the Irish
National League of America. The
convention, Notwithstanding spirited
struggle, adopted an attitude of absolute
independence from any Of the factions
in Ireland or their auxiliary bodies.
Secretary John 2. Sutton was reelected
by acclamation, and William Lyman, of
New York, was unanimously chosen
treasurer. w. j. Gleason, of Cleveland,
stitution. submitted plan which made
no mention of the parent body in Ire
land, thus divesting the American body
from subjection, control or responsibility
to the divided organization now ex-
isting in Ireland. The plan was adopted
without question, and the salaries of
the president, secretary and treasurer
were fixed at$1000 each per year. A
hubbub was raised by Dennis Ryan, OF
st. Louis. obiecting to the clause in the
constitution virtually making one of the
objects of the League the boycotting in
America of impertations of goods OF
English manufacture. He thought such
action looked like taking hand in
American politics, but the convention
failed to see it,. and clanorously yelled
for Ryan to sit down, while it declared
itself unmistakabIy for the boycott.
The real fight of the day occurred when
the report of the committee on platform
was read, some portions Of which were as
follows:
"The Irish National League OF Amer
lea, in convention assembled, testities
its devotion to the flag of the Union and
the unquenchable love of its members
for the laws and institutions of our
glorious country. Recognizing as we do,
gladly and proudly, that our primary
allegiance is due to that flag and to those
institutions, we affirm that our over
mastering desire is to see extended to
our metherland the benefits accruing
from equal laws such as have blessed
America, made her the hope oftuffering
mankind and model for nations strug-
Cling for. free institutions.
awe regret the conditions now exist
ing in Ireland, and attribute their possi-
bili6v to an unfortunate tendency to-
ward hero worship and one-man domi-
nation, which we hope to see obliterated
from the public life of Ireland. We have
no desire, nor do we deem itwise. neces-
sary or patriotic, to pass judgmnnt upon
the questions now unhappily separating
our brethren in the old land. We have
heretofore rendered our good Offices in
the adjustment of those differences, and
I.,+ %oo 10 kne NJ Jo1
by tie condoning elements, but we may
and must speak out the opinions and
wishes of the people whom we repre-
sent, and say 1T is the duty of the Irish
and all other oppressed people to seek
freedom by peaceable methods, and only
when such methods have been fully
tried and found wanting are nations and
people justified in resorting to force.
But we strongly and emphatically assert
that it is equally duty to prepare for
every emergency and stand ready to aid
our kindred in every manner recognized
and commended by usage and civiliza-
tion in obtaining freemen's privileges in
a land consecrated to freedom by the
heroic sacrifices of centuries.
eve call upon those who are respons-
ible for locking up over 5000, 900, mainly
contributed by the people of this country
for the support of evicted tenants, to
release the same and distribute it as
originally intended, and we pledge
ourselves that until this request is
complied with, we are resolved not to
contribute another dollar to aid those
who have withheld this money from its
legitimate benefciaries.
eve hereby resolve to maintain oui
organization for the purpose OF being
in readiness for the performance of such
duties as the exlgencies of the future
shall show to be fit and proper, and we
humbly invoke the guidance of Almighty
God for our brothers and ourselves to
the end that with His blessings oui
reunited efforts may result in securing
for the Irish people the land in which
He planted them. and a government
whose personnel shall be so clean anc
pure, and whose principles shall be SC
broad, humane and free as to make it {
model among the free nations of the
earth.
"We call the attention of America to
the cause of American citizens suffering
horrors in British dungeons because Of
evidence plainly manufactured, and the
fact that they dared to express them
selves in favor of free Ireland, and We
ask our representatives in congress tc
press the matter upon the attention o
the state department"
The platform further extends heart
felt sympathy to President Fitzgerald
of Lincoln, and Vice-President Martin
of Baltimore; eulogizes them, and ten
ders sincere thanks to all the executive
officers.
Before the motion for the adoption o
the platform could be put Judge Don
nelly, of Wisconsin, arose and announced
that there was minority report. Hi
argued that the minority did not dis
agree with anything in the majority
report, except that it did not go ia
enough, ain the language of our dis
tinguiahed fellow citizen, ex-Presiden
Cleveland, ,''
An uproarious outburst of applaus
and laughter instantly interrupted Don
nelly. With some embarrassment HI
proceeded:
ut is a condition, not theory, tina
Confronts us and Ireland"
MCfuirk OF Iowa demanded on