Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-26
FINERTY AROUsEs HIS HEARERS.
He Outlines the Aims of the Chicago
Meeting.

He Outlines the Aims of the Chicago
Meeting.
Mr.. Ffnerty's address to the Irish-Amer-
lcan convention at Chicago yesterday was
made after he had been chosen perma-
nent chairman. He said:
american papers question the prudence
Of holding this convention, debating to
US a policy and hoping we will do nothing
to offend English sentiment. What do We
care for English sentiment Qaughter)? We
do not want to offend American sentiment,
nor French sentiment, nor Russian senti-
ment, but we want to offend most serious
ly our hereditary and merciless foe
(cheers). We are here today to sound the
death knell of whiggery in Irish politics.
We stand on our rights as race to advo-
cate the absolute independence of the land
that gave us and our fathers life. Our
friends. the editorial writers, may preach
the doctrines Of prudence. We will follow
their advice so long as it may be neces-
sary. 1 will remind my American editor
ial friends that when America had griev-
ance against England they old not stand
on the order on which they threw the Brit
fish tea chests into Boston harbor.
1.-The English press will say that we are
here for other purposes than the accom-
piishment of the liberty of Ireland. 1t Is
physically and morally impossible for the
English press to tell the truth (cheers).
We do, however, desire to tell Britain and
sible enemy of Britain that we are in this
fight to stay (cheers) We are not in for
one year or three but for the war Ctre-
mendous cheering) We do not care If We
are to be beset by whole battalions of Eng
lish spies. We do not care if all Scotland
Yard was Eithin hearing tonight because
we are meeting in public and with an
avowed purpose"
stole our parliament. We have asked 1t
back We have gone out of our way to
humiliate ourselves at the feet of England.
Are we to remain thus forever? We are
not here to be told that we contemplate
murder or swindling. These properties be-
long to England. We are here to attract
the sympathy of the whole world to our
cause. We are here to tell our beloved
Uncle Sam that If he draws the sword in
defense of the Monroe doctrine the Irish
Of America will be behind the stars and
stripes when the struggle comes. We are
here to tell Russia If she desires the con-
are with her. the French. who hate Eng
land, that whenever they get tangled up
in dispute with England ever the colo
MES they can rely upon our support.
I'VE are here to encourage the enlist
ment of young Irishmen, whether in indie
pendent or regular battalons, to be ready
when the time comes" prolonged cheers.)
MIR. Ffnerty having thus outlined the
cause and purpose of the meeting, con-
cluded with ringing peroration that
brought the audience to its feet again and
again.
The close of the speech produced a Won
derful scene in its way the audience stand
, ing and cheering for fully ten minutes.
After this two resolutions were offered
expressing sympathy with the Cuban rev.
olutionsts A communication was present.
ed from the Polish Alliance of the United
States expressing sympathy with the OBJ
Jects of the convention.
Several other resolutions and communi-
cations were then handed in and turned
over to the committee on platform and
resolutions.
number of kilograms and cablegrams
approving the convention and indorsing the
cause were read by Secretary Sutton.
A noticeable fact was that many of the
kilograms from Ireland came from the
northern end of the island, where the
national idea has been supposed to have
but few advocates.
All these cablegrams were received with
great applause.
Z A motion by O'Nein Ryan of Missouri
that committee from each state be ap-
pointed to draft resolutions was adopted.
William Lyman of New York moved the
appointment Of committee OH organiza-
ton and ways and means, which was
adopted.
In the afternoon session the chairman