The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-01
IRISH DAY At THE FAIR.

CHICAGO. Sept. 30.-A more disagreeable
day for a celebration could not be inn
agined. The sky was heavy; there was a
drZZling rain: the air WAS cool, and the
ground was sticky and flooded 1t must
have had a discouraging effect on the
great crowds that were expected for Irish
gay. The parade was big one. The
Gaelic athletic associations, and all the
we'll drilled Irish military organizations
gave the necessary military dignity to the
leading column of the procession. The
Irish Seventh of Chicago, crack reg-
ment. lead the first division. Behind
them came distinctive Irish military Or
PLANTATIONS from different parts of the
country.
In the divisions that followed the mill
fary were various Catholic civic societies.
including the Catholic Order of Foresters,
church societies and literary organiza-
lions. Behind them all, fin great tally-ho
coaches, with streamers and banners Of
green flying to the breeze and uniformed
buglers wearing the Irish colors, were the
distinguished guests of the day. Among
them were the lord mayor of Dublin,
James Shanks, and the lady mayoress, his
wife. They were particular guests of
honor, though Edward Blake of Canada
and Mr.. Fitzgerald of Boston received
the marked attention due to visitors from
beyond state and national boundaries.
marched through the principal avenues of
The fair grounds There was flow of ora
tory in Festival hall later seldom eQualled,
and seldom has that great structure been
more crowded. The seats were filled long
before the meeting was called to order.
and the enthusiasm the audience displayed
before the opening showed that it was ripe
Tor the heroic and eulogistic words that
were spoken by such smooth-tongued men
rs John F. Finerty, Edward Blake and
Dublln's own lord mayor who is in touch
with the Irish cause. The applause that
followed each speakers eloquent and we'll
rounded sentences rocked the building
Lord Mayor Shanks. in the course of his
remarks, said: THAT millions of my
countrymen should have found home
In America suitable to their vigorous
natures will always appear to me to have
been a dispensation of Providence. That
my cOuntrynen should have shown them
selves SO adaptable to the conditions of
American life is a testimony to their fit
ness as a seii-governing race, and look
with confidence to the future in store for
them
Archbishop Feehan, referring to the
Irish flag, said that there was not one in
The audience who did not pray that it
would soon represent Ireland as free
CT untry.
Fdward Blake, member of parliament
Ioi ID onIo. spoke on irish nome rule.
h. maintained that the Irish were capa-
BILE of self government He read letter |
from Premier Gladstone, sent to him just |
before he started for Chicago. The letter |
Was dated on the 10th inst. and in it Mr.. |
Gladstone, referring to the anticipated |
of the bill by the lords, says:
1T will be a great struggle, and it will |
demand the friendly efforts Of all !
7 hose, however placed, who, under
Tod, have lifted the cause from
this great abyss, and set it on an
eminence from which there remains but IA
single step into the promised land. l
Cherish the most sanguine hope that the
of the Irish nation, when their
great object has been attained. will full
M every reasonable hope cherished by |
hose who have aided it, and will convert |
lis present enemies into friends
Arthur OConnor, NJ. p, Hon. J.. E.
Fitzgerald, and others. made addresses.