The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-02
THE IRISH CONVENTION.
Three or Four Hundred Delegates Dis
cussfng Matters I'm Chicago.


CHICAGO, Oct 1.-The convention of the Irish
National Leagues American societies through
out the United States and Canada, in sympathy
with that organization, met today. Secretary
Sutton, who called the convention TO order,
read the call, expressing regret at the absence
through illness of President Fitzgerald and
Vice President Martin. ONeil Ryan, of St
Louis, was introduced as temporary chairman
OF the convention, and he promptly launched
into an address sforeshadowing the policy of the
gathering. Ryan said they were not there
to uphold any section or faction, but
were there, he hoped, TO say to the people in Ire
land that when they presented a strong and
united front then, and not until then, should
they receive the moral and material support of
the Irish people in America Only an aggres-
siye movement independent of both English
parties could command unstinted aid from
America. The speech was checred throughout.
Five hundred delegates in round numbers were
announced to be duly accredited, ana 800 or 400
were present on the reassembling of the conven-
tion this afternoon. They at once started in to
make things lively.
Moriarity, of Nebraska, set the ball rolling
by motion to substitute NJ. V.Gannon as per-
manent chairman, instead of Temporary Chair
man Ryan. The vote showed, however, that
Ryan had captured the convention, and Cannon
withdrew from the contest. Langdon, of New
York, threw fresh bone of contention among
the delegates by moving that the chair appoint
committees of nine each on resolutions, finance,
rules and order OF business aud constitution.
McGuirk, of Iowa, demanded that the commit
tees each contain representative from every
state. He was warmly seconded by Sharon OF
Iowa After much discussion and an extraordi-
nary preliminary tangle the convention
qniesced in the plan and a recess was taken to
afford the various delegations an opportunity to
select their men, The committee on resoiu-
tions was the one in which the greatest interest
Il he Isuf.u
pleted it disclosed number OF well-known
names including Daniel Conkery, of Chicago; j.
7. Morris, of Baltimore: NJ. " Cannon, of
Omaha: DR.. o'Reilly, OF St Louis; Hugh j. Car
roll, of Providence, X. /.
Cannon was called on for a speech. lie made
one, which was in effect an impassioned APP
peal for renewal of unity and perseVer-
anee. They were all united, he said,
on one idea, that the English government
had no moral right to hold the Irish people in
subsection. Their enemy was not at loss how
to send spirits of disruption and disunion among
them, and had recently cultivated societies in
this country not only hostile to Irish American
influence, but destructive to the spirit of the
constitution of the United States Nevertheless.
the Irish in this country putting behind
them any hatred OF one man or dozen men,
and would yet push forward Ireland's claims TO
independence, Wrestling IL, II not peaceably,
then by other means, helping to preserve
being soiled with the contamination OF British
American societies. Enough of the old guard
were left, and enough of the spirit from which
would yet be gotten an organization that would
carry the flag OF Ireland to glorious victory.
Matthew Z. Brady, of Chicago, eloquently drew
attention to a huge portrait of Robert Emmett
above the stage, and argued that the delegates
by consenting to its retention asseuted TO tho
principles which Emmett promulgated and died
for. County government or any other tempo
rary amelioration of Ireland's condition was an
nothing il ultimately the Irish race were to
be left without status among the nations.
Brady declared that Irish liberty had never
been sold nor so much as tmperiled by priest
of the Catholic church, and he implored that no
matter to what point the deliberations of the
convention might lead, nothing should emanate
which could be ever tortured to a suggestion
that the Irish hierarchy was not worthy OF their
utmost confidence
II was announced that all resolutions should
be referred unread to the COMMITTEES. The yari-
our committees were instructed 10 be ready 10
report tomorrow az 10 a. m, to which time the
convention adjourned