The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-26
APPEAL TO THE SWORD.
Tremendous Cheering When
War Against England
Was Urged.
READY TO TAKE THE FIELD.
John F. FInerty Proposed for Presi-
dent of Republican
Ireland.

CHICAGO, ILL, Sept. 25. - "Revolu-
ton" written in big, flaming letters, was
the text of to-day's proceedings of the
Irish National Convention, and when the
body adjourned this evening TO await the
reports of the committees on resolutions
and ways and means there did not re-
main a lingering doubt in the minds of q
single delegate regarding the exact pur-
pose and policy of those whose call had
summoned him to Chicago. There was
no beating about the bush, no yelling in
honeyed phrases of the object of the
gathering. 1t was boldly declared by
1rish-Americans from different parts Of
the country-some of them Of National
reputation - that, no matter what the
sentiments of the American Government
or the American people, the time had
arrived for the Irish in America to aban-
don constitutional agitation, to take up
the sword and to seek the independence
OF their isle by the use of weapons rather
than through legislative enactments.
The organization of a standing army,
ready to do battle whenever the oppor-
tunity should present itself, was advo-
Gated amid frantic enthusiasm, and
New York delegate named the chairman,
ex-Congressman John F. Finerty. as the
first President of the Irish Republic of the
near future. Hatred of England and
everything English was expressed in
vehement language in every speech, and
the cheers and yells of approval were
Interlarded with boots, Kisses and groans
for the powers that be across the Atlantic.
AS to the matter of ways and means it
was insisted that the delegates and those
behind them had been instrumental in Sc
curing the greater proportion of the hun
dreds of thousands of dollars that had been
collected and forwarded to the Irish par
iamentary party during the past five years.
and that ten times the total thus collected
would be contributed by the Irish race in
America upon the pledge that the moneys
would be used in preparing for fight in
the open"
Maurice W. Wilhere of Philadelphia and
O'Neil Ryan of st. Louis, the recognized
Irish-American leaders of their respective
States, and O'Donovan Rosa, who was in
troduced as the "worId-renowned and un-
conquerable Irish rebel" and was awarded
the ovation OF the day, were the principal
iourned by the limitation of time two
thirds of the delegates were yelling for the
appearance of P. J. lyman, the mo. u of
the Phoenix Park tragedy. They were paci-
fed only with the promise that he would
appear in the programme of tomorrow.
Chairman Finerty took his place at II
o'clock and rebuked his hearers for their
tardy arrival Secretary Sutton then read
another batch of cable and domestic dis
patches which had accumulated during the
night. Messages from Belfast were to the
effect that the city approved the conven-
tion concluded: "Help US to indepen-
dence."
Tyrone wired: Tyrone approves. Hur-
rah for the Irish volunteers and another
Ballinahinch.
From Antrim County came this: INA
tionalists support convention. Remember
Orr"
Dispatches from Donegal and Derry were
to the same effect. The report of the COM
mittee on credentials simply consisted of
the handing to the chair of the pile of GER
tifcates of eligibility turned in by the
delegates. No figures of the number of
delegates or places represented were sub
mitted.
Immediately upon the presentation of
the report Delegate Lynch of Pittsburg
moved that the names of Madden and
Sheedy be added to the roll of delegates,
and John Flannery of the same city de-
manded to know why the men in question
had been turned down. inasmuch as they
had been selected by the same bodies as
had delegated himself and his associate,
Lynch Brady of Maryland insisted that
Lynch and Madden lacked proven creden-
tials. and John Maroney of Philadelphia,
chairman of the same committee, insisted
it had acted impartiaily. The entire dele
CATION from West Pennsylvania supported
the admission, but the convention, by an
overwhelming majority, refused to amend
the report of the committee and ali inde-
pendent motion to grant the Pittsburg
men the privileges of seats on the floor
met similar fate, delegate in the body
of the hall shouting, They are trouble
some men; we don't want them." After
this the report was adopted.
The report of the committee on perma-
nent organization continuing the tempo
rary organization was adopted with a
shout. An amendment to add the name
OF O'Donovan Rosa to the list Of vice.
presidents was received SO coldly that he
declined to allow it to be voted upon.
In assuming the chair as permanent pre-
siding officer, ex-Congressman Finerty
made fiery speech.
"We are the friends of every enemy OF
he said. "and the enemy of
every friend of England, and we want to
drive it home and nail it to the mast until
the teeth of the lying Wings are loosened
from their sockets and fall from their lying
mouths. To-day Ireland is the kept harlot
of the spoils of the British empire. Some
of our papers seem to be afraid we may
complicate this country with England.
Suppose we do? Let the English dare to
fire the first shot. Let the American Gov
eminent and the British Government un
derstand that we are in this fight to stay
that we are enlisted not for one, two or