The Portland daily press., 1895-09-25
LOYAL TO IRELAND.
The Big Celtic Convention In
Chicago.
INTENSE ENTHUSIASM DISPLAYED
FOR THE CAUSE.

A Dramatic and Interesting Session-Irish
EIoquence Thrills-Suggestive TeIe-
grams of sympathy-Finnerty's PERTH
u nent Speech.
Chicago, September 24.-While waiting
for the de legates to arrive at the Irish
convention, fully hundred cablegrams
and domestic dispatches were received
wishing success to the new movement.
Some of the..more significant were subse-
quently read to the convention. In calling
the convention to order j. ]. O'Connell,
chairman of the local committee, said it
was spontaneous congress of people of
the Irish born race. Irish h-Americans
were dissatisfied with the parliamentary
campaign on the other side and of the
further fact that the Parliamentary party
had betrayed it's supporters and proved
faithless to it's trust This was greeted
with loud applause, which was renewed
when the speaker concluded by prophesy-
ing that out Of this convention would be
born and established an Irish republic
built on the plans of this great republic.
Ex- Congressman John B. Einnerty, OF
this city, was greeted with prolonged ap-
plause on being presented as temporary
chairman. The original calls were read
by John P. Sutton of New York, secretary
of the Irish National League of America,
together with a resume of the telegraphlc
dispatches. AS secretary MIR. Sutton read
the oablegrams he omitted the names OF
signers A delegate from New York
demanded to know who signed the
messages. The secretary brusquely re-
sponded: "None of your business. The
men who signed these messages are not
going to expose themselves to the British
government" This was applauded by a
portion of the convention and there were
no further Interruptions i
The reading of dispatches finished,
Cha irman Finerty delivered the opening
address, briefly reviewing the successive
efforts for centuries of the advocates of
Irish independence. He said whenever
the--Irish fought the. British on sthe open
field they lost less people than they have
lost since the passage of the union act.
The Fen1ans were the first body that ever
made the English government listen to
reason. (Greau applause.) England
passed sort of home rule bill. Between
it and the House of Commons stood an
immoyable carrier of terror and tyranny
in the shape of the House of Lords While
that barrier stood, there was no chance
for the Irish to obtain even modicum
of Justice Should the great Irish race
<
Lords said it should remain enslaved?
There were cries of "No.'' The speaker
said the ssnoes'' came from legions of
Irish hearts on this continent and fifty
millions more of all nationalities whose
hearts beat in sympathy with Ireland's
struggle. There were some who thought
the convention might do something to
implicate the government of the United
States with England. Did the display of
stars and stripes before them, did the
showing of national colors all about them
intimate they intended to do anything
that would harrasS the American govern
ment?
in the United States bore the name of
Lafayette, who broke the neutrality laws
to aid in the struggle for American in
dependence What neutrality laws did
England observe when in civil war she
gave colors and ships under false pre-
fences to sweep American vessels from
the scar What neutrality laws did she
observe when she enlisted men IN TINS
counJryEto help her beat the Czar in the
Crimea? Neutrality laws stand as
nothing against a nations freedom" :"
continued the speaker, while the audience
cheered and shouted in turn. Else what
mean these overwhelming manifestations
of sympathy for Cuba throughout our
country? am about as loyal as any man
TO Uno AuofiCitu lag, aiu 4SanIoopoouo1 VI
American laws, but I would not be
ashamed to stand on the platform with
Lafayette. with Dekalb, with Pulaski,
and hail, the superb vision of a hundred
thousand armed men breaking neutrality
laws to liberate Cuba, or half million
breaking them in in behalf of Ireland's
independence. (Great cheering.) We are
Irish race is neither dead nor dis
heartened. We are not Of a breed that
runs out. There are more of us now then
ever before. We are wall of fire that can
never be extinguished. We will never
give up the struggle we are here to con-
solidate all our forces for an aggressive
move against England whenever We can
strike her under the law Of nations.
She is surrounded by enemies. France,
Germany, Russia all hate her. For 20
years the foreign policy Of America had
not been what it should be. II the
government had been as patriotic as it is
American to be, the day that the British
marines landed in Corinto we'd have had
a hard broadside of the American feet.
From today, continued the speaker, let
us inauguarate new movement. Let us
work for the establishment of the Irish
republic, free and independent.
The chairman resumed his seat amid
great applause that continued several
minutes and then the committees were
appointed and the convention TOOK a
recess of an hour. When it reasssembled
the committee on permanent organization
reported in favor Of continuing the tenn
porary officers; John 7. Finerty resumed
the chair. A large number Of tagging
delegates appeared at the afternoon
session and the auditorium was crowded.
The afternoon session was of less than
one hours duration, devoted TO routine
business. Several additional greetings
were read. Some pledged funds without
limit, for any earnest effort to free
Ireland. Others urged the convention to
ask for nothing more than complete inde-
pendence and accept nothing less.
Others voiced the sentiment "Complete
separation, no matter by what means its
accomplished. About 700 delegates,
Territory are in attic ndanoe.
Anxiety for steamer Alberta.
Sault Ste. Marie, September 24,-Ad-
vices from Fort William at 1890 this
afternoon says that the Canadian Pacific