The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-25
beginning on the New Movement for
the Overthrow OF English DOM
fnation in the Green Isle.
SPEECH OF JOHN F. FINERTY
ENTHUSIASM OF DELEGATES RAISED
TO THE HIGHEST PITCH.
Opening Session of the Convehtfon at
Chicago Attended by Many Well
Known Workers i'm the Irish Cause.


a great gathering of men of irish blood
from every quarter of the United States
the preliminary steps were taken for
fresh worldwide effort of the race in be-
half of their mother land. The convention
was held in the magnificent new Y. NJ. c..
A building, on La Sale street, and started
with the unique distinction of being the
first assemblage of the kind held in Amer
lea within twenty years not linked with
the idea of main reliance on parliamentary
agitation. A return to what they termed
first principles seemed to be the idea per-
meating the delegates. The "compacts''
and treaties with British statesmen,
through which the forces of Irish revolu-
tion have been held in check for definite
period. are. it was the talk among those
in attendance, now at last at an end by
limitation. with nothing for Ireland to show
in return. Dwelling on this no small por
ton of the delegates were inclined TO dis
cnss anew the possibilities. military and
otherwise, of the famous Fenian maxim,
"England's peril is Irelands' opportunity"
The chief definite purposes of the conven-
tion, as far as could be gathered in adj
vance offthe proceedings were the forma-
tion of a new national organization to be
taking of action of some sort in behalf
of Irish political prisoners still in British
jails-
The spacious association hall, dedicated
TO Peace on earth, good will toward
men, where the sessions were held, took
on quite martial appearance with its
elaborate decorations of the stars and
stripes interviewer with the green and
gold. The most conspicuous decoration
was a full length portrait of Robert En-
nett, the centenary of whose execution in
Dublin may not unlikely be decided on by
the convention for demonstration to be
as historic as the death of Emmett itself.
Among the first arrivals in the convention
hall was Mayor Fitzpatrick, of New Or
leans; General NJ, w. Kerwin. ex-collector
of the port of New York. came in With
William Lyman, of the same city, treasur-
er of the Irish National League. Shortly
afterward followed in the steady stream
of delegates: ONeill Ryan, of st. Louis;
Maurice F. Wilhere, of Philadelphia; Judge
Savage OF California; G. w. Sweeney. of
Cincinnati; James Killilea, of Nashville,
and others equally well known.
ODONOyAN ROSSA WELCOMED.
Every seat in the hall was occupied. The
delegates were seated by States, all States
in the Union being represented, as was also
Canada and Australia. One of the scenes
was the welcome rendered O'Donovan
Rossa when he walked down the aisle and
took seat among the New Workers. Rosa
appeared hale and hearty. and seemed to
feel the effects of time lightly. There was
one woman delegate. Miss Fannie
OGrady, of Chicago. came as a delegate.
<,1c1 oil 10 not
present. This is not Miss O'Grady's first
appearance in Irish conventions. One Of
the most interesting events of the day was
the presentation at the door OF certificate
as a delegate TO the convention of the
Fenian Brotherhood held JAM IL, 1866 in
Cincinnati by Owen McSweeney. MIR. Nc
Sweeney was not elected to the present
convention. but owing to the fact mat ne
to the second annual convention of the
Fenian Brotherhood of America he was ad-
mitted.
marked by enthusiasm. Formal opening of
the proceedings was long delayed by the
reading of kilograms from Irish sympatnlz-
ers from all parts of the world, and the
delay was increased by the great care
taken to prevent other than authorizes
delegates passing the doorkeepers. During
the reading Of the telegrams the only IN
terruption, aside from the applause, was
when member of the Illinois delegation
asked Who signed one of the kilograms.
Never mind who signed, answered the
secretary The men who signed those tele-
grams don't intend TO have themselves
given away and their names made known.
Some OF the messages were as follows:
Limerick, ireland, Sept. "a. = Limerick
men are with you.--P. Murphy"
Z, Galway, Sept 2.-Irishmen of Galway
are wishing every SUCCESSFUL. OSullivan.
Cork. Sept. 24-Munster with you, for
Irish Observation-Disclosures
"Paris. Sept 24.-Irish colony in Paris
join new efforts Irish freedom.-Maud
Cora"
..Dublin, Sept. 24-Mayo men all with you
for Ireland.-Wilson."
New Orleans Sept. 24.--The dawn of the
day of deliverance from English oppression
is at hand God speed your enorts.-D. T.
Hag eerty, President Grattan Club.
There were also telegrams from Peoria,
ST. Louis, Char,estown, Mass; Waterbury,
Conn: Fall River. Mass; Dayton, o.; Phila-
deiphia: GAINESVILLE Wis: New Haven,
Conn: Chicopee, Mass; San Francisco and
The convention was called to order by
John j. OConnell, OF Chicago, chairman OF
the commtte on rnsi arrangemen1sii sia,n napp,ps
causes leading up 10 the calling OF the
conventions; that the people of this country
had lost faith in the irish Parliament par
country. urging that such a convention
should be held that the new movement
shacld get down TO business. In response
to these requests local committees had been
formed who had made ARRANGEMENTS TO Ia
clitate the work of the convention. For
three days the delegates would be called on
to devise 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 distant when an Irish
republic based on the lines Of the greatest
rer,,h,io IN earth would be established To
which end this convention would lend in
valuable aid If its work were fittingly and
properly done.
MR. FiNERTY'S SPEECH.
Mr.. OConnell introduced as temporary
chairman ex-Congressrnan John f. Finer
ty. Of Chicago. Il am as good a citizen as
any man." said Mr.. Flnerty during his
speech, ..but 1 would welcome the sight OF
10000 armed Americans breaking the neu-
trality laws in behalf OF Cuba and doubiy
could / welcome the sight OF 100000 armed
Americans breaking the neutrality laws
with England in behalf Of Ireland"
Mr. Finerty said the extingu.shment of
the nationality of Ireland by fraudulent
means had placed the smaller country at
the mercy of the larger. The act Of the
union was passed by sectarian assem-
blage, and had been cursed by ali true FER
vent Irishmen since the day OF It's birth
The various attempts OF Irishmen to make
the Engiish government listen to reason