The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-27
IRISH-AMERICAn CONVENTION
a Declaration of Principles
Adopted by That Body.
Liberty is the Birthrighs OF the irish
People-Erin Was tho Homo of Civil
iEation When England Was Barba-
.ous-The Latter's claim to Authority
Originated In Force and Has Been
maintsined by Corruption.

CHICAGO, Sept. 26.-To-day's session
OF the Irish new movement" conyen-
ton WAS generally regarded as the m ost
important Of all. The principal business
on the programme was the consld era tion
OF the platform submitted by the com :
mttsee on resolutions and the report OF
the committee on ways and means for
national organization. The delega tes
waited with eagerness for these reports
VNeill Ryan, of st. Louis, was greeted
with enthusiastic applause when, as
chairman OF the committee on resolu-
tions, he stepped forward to read the
platform proposed for the siderat ton
OF the convention. His powerful voice
and the impressive silence OF the dele
gates made deep impression as he pro.
ceeded to read, under the title of o "dec.
laration OF principles" the following:
The people of Ireland are q sovereign
people. Ireland is by nature separate
from every other country and liberty Is
the birthright OF her people. Ireland
was known throughout Europe as a ns.
tion long before the dawn of Christianity
and was the home of civilization while
England was still barbarous.
"England's claims to au shority in Ire
land originated in force and have been
maintained by corruption and coer-
cion; they have never ripened into a
right time rule; the title by conquest
mas never been perfected, inasmuch as
the Irish people have continuously. bv
constitutional agitation or revolutionary
movements, resisted highlands power
and endeavored to destroy her awful
supremacy.
'Ireland is deprived of almost every
civil right which the American people
most dearly cherish. Unexampled
cruelty and vindictiveness have been
the distinguishing features OF English
rule in Ireland. England has DESTROYED
Ireland's industries and ruined her
ommerce; she has placed upon her
statute books laws making 1t a crime to
educate an Irish child; she burned
lreiand's schoolhouses and DESTROYED
her churches; she has driven into exile,
or left to perish in her dungeons thous-
ands OF men, whose only crime was love
OF Ireland. Every measure for the last
century looking toward legislative in
dependence of the Irish people has
either suffered defeat in the commons
or been arbitrarily rejected by the lords.
"England has violated every treaty
and broken every pledge, and with al
most every year of the century che shss
imposed upon Ireland brutal laws Of
coercion, and one of the most drastic
character Is now upon her statute books.
TO the pleas OF the people for Justice
and their prayers of mercy, England
has responded with the scourge and the
scaffold, and yet to-day Ireland, en-
thralled, but not enslaved, crushed, but
not conquered, is In spirit nation. 1t
has become evident, after many years
OF earnest endeavor TO obtain measure
of independence from the English gov
ernment by peaceful agitation. that
appeals to reason for justice are futile
1t is left, therefore, for the men OF
the Irish race to proclaim agsinst the
truth recorded by all history that the
liberties of people and independence
ola nation cannot be achieved by de-
base but must be won upon the field OF
battle, and we declare our belief that
into exile or into the graves OF serfs in
their native land by English mlsgov-
eminent are entitled by tie laws of
God and man to use every means in
their power to drive from their country
the tyrant and usurper, and we believe
that Ireland has the right to make
England g difficulty her opportunity, and
to use all possible means to create that
difficulty.
In view of those fac Is, the members
OF this convention appeal with conf
dencs to their American fellow citizens
and sll lovers OF liberty to co operate
with them IN aiding the people Of Ire
lsnd In the achievement OF the same
measure of liberty enjoyed by these
United States"
Distinct from the celebration OF
principles, Chairman Ryan also SUBJ
mitted on behalf of the resolutions c9m
mittee three separate resolutions a.,
follows:
Resolved, That we earnestly protest
against the continued incarceration in
English prisons of Irish patriots:
that we consider 1t inhuman and against
the policy OF civilized nations to keep In
prisons men whose only offense is love
OF country, and that the release OF these
men Is imperatiyely demanded, not
only by the Irish people, but by civili-
cation. .v
Resolved, That this convention ex-
presses the hope that the people of
Cubs who are struggling for political
independence and the establishment of
8 republic will be successiul. and that
we extend to them our heartfelt sym.
psthy.
Resolved, That this convention,
recognizing the importance to the irish
nation of preserving the language, liter
ature and music of the people, COM
mends the work now beirg done by the
Gaelic League, and the National Liter
AIRY Society in Ireland, and the Gaelic
societies of this country, and earnestly
trusts our people will give them hearty
Coz operation and generous support"
The declaration OF principles" was
unanimously adopted by the convention
and the three resolutions were warmly