San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-05-11
THE SCOTCH-IRISH.
Assemble in Their Fifth Annual
Convention.

nun dllludI SOliSIcSS VI lIlt INCOlCu-
Irish society of America begins
here today, and in the list of dele
gates are names Respondent in
every line of endeavOr. The present
officers are: President, Bobert Bon
ner, of New York; Vice-president.
General DR.. John 5. Mcintosh, of
Philadelphia; first vice-president-
at-large, L. 7. Wright, Nashville,
Tenn; second vice-president-at-
large, DIR. j. H. Bryson, Hunts
vile, Ala; secretary, a. c. Floyd,
Columbia, Tenn; treasurer, John
McIlhenny, Philadelphia,
If there is any one characteristic
that distinguishes more clearly
than another the ScOtch-lriSh race,
it Is their disregard of odds Of
power and influence in the pursuit
of liberty and right. 1t was this
sentiment that led the Scotch
Irish of Charlotte, in the county of
Mecklenburg, \. C,'in this month,
in the year 1I15, regardless of
whether their brethren would join
them in the cause, to declare that
they "were of right, and ought to
be free and independent people"
The achievements of those in
whose veins flowed ScOtch-lrish
blood were so great that their pos
terity desired to perpetuate them
and to compile something in the
way of a history of the race to
which they belonged.
To Mr.. Thomas r. Wright, of
Tennessee, belongs the credit of
having suggested the formation of
an organization with this end in
view.
Owing to the efforts OF Mr..
Wright, who was ably assisted by
Mr.. {. \. Floyd and other gentle
men, the movement was started
which resulted in the grand and
successful meeting of the Scotch
Irish congress at Columbia, Tenn,
five years ago, and which led to the
permanent organization of the
ScOtch-Irish society of America.
1t does not come within the pur-
pose, scope or object of this
society to cultivate or in any way
encourage sectional feeling, for
people of all denominations are
eligible to membership; nor is it
the purpose of the society to slim
ulate undue pride of race, although
1t is impossible to ignore the his
torical fact, so elOquently stated by
Mr.. William Writ Henry, Esq,
grandson of the great revolution
AIRY orator, that the Scotch-lrish i'll
America have given five presi-
dents to the United States.
The membership is composed
largely of the distinguished lead
ers and mOlders of public senti-
ment in their respective sections,
who come together from all parts
of the country upon platform OF
the broadcast liberality and the
highest patriotism. In this respect
the society surpasses any other or
ganization in the country, perhaps,
and its influence in promoting
good feeling between the sections
is therefore pre-eminent.
The objects to be attained were
not new, but the Tennessee con-
greSs, by means of their accom-
DliShment, was altogether original.
The projectors of this gathering
fully realized the extent Of the
work they had undertaken, and
desired that it should be done in
the most thorough and COmpre-
hensiVe manner possible. n con-
ventiOn composed of representa-
tive members of the race from all
quarters of the country commend
ed itself to them as the best means
of beginning the work.
The first congress was called and
came together as a mass meeting
of ScOtch-Irish people, and not as
an organized body. Before its
adjournment, however, the Scotch
Irish Society of America was
formed, in order to carry out in a
systematic manner the objects for
which the congress was assembled.
The second congress was held at
Pittsburg, in 1890; and the third
in Louisville, KY, in May last.
These meetings have attracted at
tention all over the world, and
have been attended by the most
notable men of the country, among
whom have been the president of
the United States and his cabinet.
Thousands have crowded to wit
ness the exercises on these Occa-
sions. and wonderful good has been
accomplished. The leading news
papers all over the English speak
inc world have given the most ia
vorablc notices, and the greatest
CITY of the mother country appoint