Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-05-19
The SCOTCH-IRISH SOCIETY
The Origin, Aims and Purposes Of The
Organization.
FIFTH ANNUAL CONGRESS- In SESSION
A Society That Claims Among Its MEMBER
ship Some Of the Most Distinguished
Leaders Of Public Sentiment.


annual congress OF the Scotch Irish soci-
ETY. of America begins here today, and in
the list of delegates are the names re-
splendent in every line Of endeavor. The
present officers are: President, Robert
Bonner, of New York; vice president,
General John s. Mcintosh, Philadelphia,
Pa. first vice president at large, T. 7.
Wright, Nashville, Tennessee second
vice president at large, DR.. j. H. Bryson,
Huntsville, Alabama; secretary, A. @,
Floyd, Columbia, Tennessee; treasurer,
John Mc1lnenny, Philadelphia, Pa.
If there is any one characteristic that
distinguishes more clearly than others
the Scotch-Irish 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 at
Charlotte, in the county Of Mecklen-
burg, North Carolina, in this month in
the year 1875, regardless of whether
their brethren would join them in the
cause, to declare that they "were OF
right, and ought to be, free and indie
pendent people,"
The achievements OF those in whose
veins flowed Scotch-Irish blood were 60
great that their posterity desired to per-
petuate them and to compile something
in the way of a history of the race tc
which they belonged.
To 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 C. A. Floy(
and other gentlemen, the movement wa
started which resulted in the grand ant
successful meeting of the Scotch IriRl
congress at Columbia, Tennessee, fiv'
years ago, and which led to the perma
nent organization of the Scotch-1risl
society of America.
1t does not come within the purpose
scope or object of this society to cult
vate or in any way encourage sectiona
feeling, for people of all denomination
are eligible to membership; nor is it tn
purpose OF the society to stimulate I'm
due pride Of race, although it is impos
sible to ignore the historical fact, so elo
quently stated by William Writ Henry
a grandson of the great Revolutionar
orator, that the Scotch-Irish in Aneric
have given five presidents to the Unite
States.
The membership is composed Target
of the distinguished leaders and molder
of public sentiment in their RESPECTIVE
sections, who come together from a
parts OF the country upon platform {
the broadcast liberality and the highes
patriotism. In this respect the societ
surpasses any other organization in tn
country, perhaps, and its influence
promoting good feeling between the se'
tons is therefore pre-eminent.
, The objects to be attained we're nj
: now; but the Tennessee congress, b
/ means of their accomplishment, was a
D together original. The projectors Of tn
Q gathering fully realized the extent Of til
I work they had undertaken, and desire
that it should be done in the most tho
ough and comprehensive manner poss
BILE. A convention composed of repr
] sentative members Of the race from a
g quarters of the country commended
y self to them as the best means of begil
i ming the work.
The first congress was called and can
o together as mass meeting Of Scotc
9 Irish people, and not as an organize
a body. Before it's adjournment, howeve
l. the Scotch Irish society Of America WI
/. formed, in order to carry out in sy
a tenn attic manner the objects fov which Il
II congress was assembled.
d The second congress was held at Pitt
q burg in 1890, and the third in Louisvill
l. KY, in May last. These meetings ha
attracted attention all over the worl
and have been attended by the mo
notable men of the country, among who
10 have been the president of the Unit,
/. States and his cabinet. Tens Of tho
It sands have crowded to witness the exc
,s cises on these occasions, and wondert
n good has been accomplished. The lea
3 ing newspapers all over the Englis
t, speaking world have given the me
Dr. favorable notices and the greatest CT
lie of the mother country appointed de
le gates to the congress at Louisville. T
70 fourth congress met in Atlanta, and
n fifth meets here today.