The Irish standard., 1894-05-19

=
II .Awayswith bigotry,' exclaimed Mr..
lg' Conner Know Nothlpgism died an
ERnoble death. 80 will this anti-Ameri-
can society or organization. Bigotry or
intolerance will never predominate in
this grand, free country, and I close by
Saying: .Hail to Columbia forever!''
Judge NJ F. Wilhere ofrPhiladelphia,
was the next speaker. When he arose
the whole audience stood up as q mark
Of respect He complimented Omaha,
Nebraska and the citizens in general and
John a.. Creighton in particular. He
was much pleased With the reception
given the delegates and members Of the
order by the citizens, aud thanked them
tor their, kindness. In making brief
mention Of the Hibernians he said that
their first duty was to honor the flag and
government of the most glorious country
that the good God ever let the sun shine
upon, the United States. He spoke Of
the patriotism Of the Irish in the past
and paid magnificent tribute to the
memory of Abraham Lincoln. he
thanked the people IF Omaha for their
kindly greeting and wished God to bless
all of them. "Every one in this beauti-
ful city has treated us with the utmost
klndnesa,' said Mr.. Wilhere, "and in no
other city has the press treated us with
sd much fairness. The papers OF Omaha
are credit to American journalism and
We want to thank them for their court
esy."' .-. ..
"A day partly Of work and partly of
play by the delegates to the Ancient Or
der of Hiberniaps convention was ended
by banquet at the Paxton Thursday
night. a..
|s AT 10 o'clock the invited guests as
Essnbied in the parlors and when the
doors were thrown open to the banquet
hall 400 guests, headed by T. j. Mahoney
and National Delegate Wilhere, filed
down stairs two abreast. Following the
leaders were the national officers and di.
rectors, the clergy, headed by Bishop
Scannell and Father Shahan, state dele
gates, visitors and invited guests. Mr..
Mahoney, who was made toastmaster ow-
ing to the absence Of John Kush, was
seated at the cast end of the hall. On
his left was Mr.. Wilhere and Father
Shahan and on the right was Bishop
Scannell, P. J. O'Connor and other
speakers.
| The tables were adorned with cut
roses. The eastern wall of the room was
decorated with the Rags of Ireland and
America-the red, white, blue and green
blending in harmony. Souvenir menu
cards were placed at every plate, and
when boullion was served there were OK
actly 400 men seated at the tables. AS
the courses progressed the banqueters
became more animated, and when cigars
were lighted at midnight all were in the
best of humor. #...
When Toastmaster Mahoney arose the
guests subsidized and prepared for the in
tellectual feast, which was to follow.
Mr.. Mahoney said that they were assem-
bled there as Irish Americans and An
cient Order of Hibernians and not one Of
them would be willing to yield in patri-
otism to any other class of citizens in
thus country. They we're Americans and
recognized their citizenship as the SYM
bolism Of true liberty. He said that they
loved the stars aud stripes because they
we're the proud emblems Of human hopes
which had struggled forward from serf-
dom to the most glorious prize to brave
men-that Of equal rights and freedom
to all men, regardless of race or. color.
"My country, America tits Of thee; may
she always be right; but right or wrong,
she is always my country" This last
sentiment caused the guests to break
into cheers.
Mr.. Mahoney introduced National Del
egate Judge M. F. Wilhere of Philadel-
phia, and in his Introductory remarks he
complimented the Judge so highly that
the crowd arose when the speaker did.
National Delegate Maurice F. Wilhere
responded to the toast Of the Ancient
Orderof Hiberniansin in an eloquent speech,
promised by the statement that owing TO-
his hard work he had been unable to
suitably prepare for the occasion. In IL
lustration Of his position he told story
which threw the convention into par
oxism Of laughter. He explained that
the Ancient Order Of Hibernians had no
antagonism to any society in America.
He thought that it was decent and proper
for the Irish of Americh to have q society
based On the principles Of the fatherhood
Eof God and the common brotherhood of
He spoke of the tendency.of the
Irisli people toward ld1iissen ensiions md fol5