The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-09-27
THE IRISH IN EARNEST
The Chicago Convention Mark
ed by Intense Enthusiasm.
IRELAND,S FREEDOM IN VIEW.
Chairman Finerty Makes Bitter and
Sensational Speech Twenty Million
Irishmen Ready to strike and Circle
England With a Wall of Fire.

CHICAGO. Sept. 25.-The convention
of Irish societies in the y. NJ e. A
building is now in full blast and stern
earuestness marks the new movement
for Irish independence.
The opening of the convention was
marked by intense enthusiasm The
formal opening of proceedings was
long delayed by the reading OF tele-
grams from Irish sympathlzers from
all parts of the world and the delay
was increased by the great care taken
to prevent other than authorized dele
gates passing the dOorkeepers. Chalr-
man Finerty's spirited address Gaining
for prompt and efficient action on be-
half of Ireland was frequently inter
rupted by the cheering of the enthu-
siastic delegates.
The convention was called 70 order
by John !. O'COnnell of Chicago, CHAIR
man of the committee of arrangements.
Rapping for order, Mr.. O'ConnelI eN-
planned the causes leading up to the
calling of the convention; that the
people of the country had lost faith IN
the Irish parliamentary party Re-
quests came from all over the country,
urging that such a convention should
be held so that the new movement
should get down to business. IN re-
sponse to these requests local commit
tees had been formed who had made
arrangements to facilitate the work OF
the convention. For three days the
delegates would be called upon to de-
wise means for the furthering OF the
object for which the gathering had
been called IN the wishes OF the
speaker, the day would not be far dis
tant when an Irish republic, based on
the lines of the greatest republic on
earth, would be established, to which
end this convention would lend invalu-
able aid if its work were fittlngly and
properly done.
Mr.. O'Connen introduced as tempo
rary chairman exCOngressman John
F. Finertv of Chicago
Mr. Finerty said the extinguishment
of the nationality of Ireland by fraud-
ulent means, which had placed the
smaller country at the mercy Of the
larger. The act of union was passed
by:a sectarian assemblage, and had been
cursed by all true fervent Irishmen
since the day of its birth. The vanous
attempts of Irishmen TO make the En-
glish government listen to reason We're
recapitulated by the speaker, the trst
and only one that accomplished the de-
sired result being, IN his opinion, the
Fenian movement.
The speaker confined. There are
those who fear that we may do some
thing here against the laws OF the
United States. Our loyalty 10 the
United States is shown in the stars and
stripes on our platform here; but cur
loyalty is matter entirely independ-
ent Of and separate from the neutrality
| laws. Whenever has England paid any
attention TO neutrality laws. Certainly
not IN Ireland. where her very presence
j. standing memorial Of her breach Of
the neutrality laws Though there be
comparatively few lrishmeu lett IN Ire
land 70 bear the blows Of the CppTes soT,
there are 20, ,utO, ,OOJ of n shmeu IL every
part Of the world ready and ANXIOUS TO
/ strike the blow that shall make the old
! country free
Mr.. Finerty condemned the foreign
/ policy Of the United States. and III con-
/ clusi0n said. I'VE are here to pro
| claim 70 the world that the Irish race
| l. by no means defeated or disEeaTJ-
ened. There are more lrishmen today
| than were ever on the face of the earth
before. Wen circle England with a
wall of fire which shall never be OK
tinguished until Ireland Is free