The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-25
FINERTY is CHEERED.
His Strong Language Suits the
Irish at Chicago.
The Irish Are by No Means
Disheartened.
MORE NOW THAN EVER.
They Will Never Desist Until
Ireland is Free.
MORE NOW THAN EVER.

leading Irish Americans from all parts
of the country are gathered this morn
ing in Y. NJ. C. A. hall for the first of
the three days conferences of the
friends of Ireland.
The convention was called to order
by John T. Heating, state president of
the Ancient Order of Hibernians of
Illinois. He introduced as temporary
chairman, ex- Congressman John f.
Finerty o. Chicago. Then kilograms
from Irish sympathizers in all parts of
the world were read.
Chairman Finerty, in his address,
called for prompt and efficient action
in behalf Of Ireland. He was frequent
" interrupted by the cheering of the
delegates. No attempt was made to
transact business during the opening
session. and at the conclusion of Mr..
Finerty's address, the convention adj
journed for luncheon
All of the states in the union were
represented, as were also Canada and
Australia. When O'Donovan Rosa
walked down the aisle and took a seat
among t he New Workers he was cheer
ed. He appeared hale and hearty and
seemed to feel the effects of time very
lightly.
A feature of Chairman Finnerty's
address which evoked special enthu-
siasrn, was his reference to Cuba.
Il am as good a citizen as any man."
said he, ''but I would welcome
the sight of loo, 900 armed Americans
breaking the neutrality laws in be-
half Of Cuba, and doubly would well
come the sight of 100000 armed Amer
leans breaking the neutrality laws
with England in behalf Of Ireland
Mr.. Finerty said the extinguishment
of the neutrality of Ireland by fraud
ulent means had placed the smaller
country at the mercy of the latter.
The act of the union was passed by a
sectarian assemblage, and had been
cursed by ali true fervent Irishmen
since the day of it's birth. The vari-
GUS attempts OF Irishmen to make the
English government lisoen to reason
were reeapitulated by the speaker. the
first and only one that accomplished
the desired result being, in his opin-
ion, the Fenian movement.
Where Isaac Butt, Charles Stewart
Parne1 and other leaders had failed,
the Fenian movement has succeeded.
When the Fenian movement was killed
the ears of, the English government
were closed to reason. The speaker
con tinued: 'sThere are those who fear
that we may do something here
against the laws of the United States.
Our loyalty to the United States is
shown in the stars and stripes on our
platform here; but our loyalty is a
matter entirely independent of and
separate from the neutrality laws.
Whenever has England paid any
attention to neutrality lawsP Ger
tainly not in Ireland, where her very
presence is a standing memorial of her
breach of the neutrality laws. If
France had said to Washington, as is
frequently said to US nowadays, OBJ
serve the neutrality laws then you
and I, gentlemen. would still be serfs
and dependents of the British, as are
our unfor tunate brethren in Ireland.
Although there be comparatively few
Irishment left in Ireland to bear the
blows of the oppression there are 30
000, 600 Irishmen in every part of the
world, ready and anxious to strike the
blow that shall make the old country
free.
For twenty-five years the foreign
policy of the United States has not
been what it should have bees. When
the English gunboats landed their
men at Corinto, it should have evoked
a reply from the mouths of American
cannon that would make the Monroe
doctrine far more verile and effective
than the negative, pusilanimous neu-
trality laws. When Cuba raised the
flag of freedom, it should have been
the duty of Americans to hasten to
her deliverance, neutrality or no neu-
trality.
''And when the power of England
is used against the United States it
would be our duty as citizens of this
great Republic and our pleasure as
children of old Ireland to bear arms
for our country against the oppressor.
We wanu to hear the rebel yell at the
gates of England-that rebel yell
which, while it was confined to Amer
lean soil, England did so much to en-
courage and foster, despite all the
neutrality laws.
''Thus far all agitation has seemed
to be hopeless against the treachery
and deceit of England. It is time now
now that we try some other course,
some course that we can pursue SEN
sibly, some course that will have a
legitimate and permanent ending, and
which, at the same time, will meet the
oppression of mankind This is the
purpose of this new movement. We
aim to consider the Irish race in a
sensible, aggressive movement against
the British empire wherever we can
strike her. In the formation of plans
for this work, gentl = en- of the con
vention, the eyes OF The children of
Ireland are upon us from every part
of the world"
In conclusion Mr. Finnerty said:
''We are here to proclaim to the world
that the Irish race is by no means de-
feated or disheartened. There are
more Irishmen to-day than were ever
on the face of the earth before. Well
circle England with a wall of fire
which shall never be extinguished
until Ireland is free"
The opening of the convention was
marked by intense enthusiasm. No
attempt was made to transact bust
ness at the opening session, and at the
conclusion of Mr.. Finnertv's speech
the convention adjourned for lunch
con.
Much PaRtinE