The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-09-25
THE irish PATRONS
Full Of Enthusiasm at the Chicago
Convention.
THE SPEECH OF HON. !. ]. FIHERTY.

The Ex-ceaEressrnan Dsoinrss THAT our
Nation sheaid Disregard the Neutrality
Laws In the Intsrsst Of Oppressed cuba
and EnsiAved ireland.
CHICAGO, Sept s5--In the spacious a,,-
ditorium of the Young Mems Christian
association, a structure dedic to Peace
on Earth aud Good Will Towards Men
there were inAuguratcd yesterday tho pre-
liminarlos Of d movement that may be
fraught with pregnant results 10 England
and her little possession across the Irish
channel, the progress Of which will be
watched with intense interest by sons OF
Erin throughout the civilized world The
delegates were slow in assembling nnd Il
was not until noon that J. r. O'Connell,
chairman of the local COMMITTEES. called
the convention TO order and introduced cx-
Congressman j. ]. Finerty as temporary
chairman.
Every seat in the hall was occupied The
delegates were seated by states, all the
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
York delegation. Rosa appeared hale and
eSfhtsi Hho octihs1 W itel bDb euGCiS Oh
time very lightly There was one lady
delegate Miss Fannie OGrady, Of Chi
cago, came as q delegate, but her sister,
also a delegate. was not present.
One OF the most interesting events OF the
day WINS the presentation at the door o. q
certificate Of delegate to the convention
OF the Fenian Brotherhood held jan II,
1865 In Cincinnati, by Owen Insolvency..
Mr.: McSweeney was not elected to the
present convention, but owing to the fact
that be held in his hand q certificate of
eligibility to the second annual convention
OF the Fenian brotherhood of America he
was admitted.
A feature Of Chairman Finerty's ad-
dress which evoked special enthusiasm
was his reference to Cuba.
II am as good a citizen as any man.
said Mr.. Finerty during his speech, but
would welcome the sight Of 100000 armed
Americans breaking the neutrality laws
In behalf Of Cuba, and doubly could
welcome the sight OF 500, 600 armed Amer
leans breaking the neutrality laws with
England in behalf Of Ireland.
There are those who fear that we NAV
do something here against the laws of the
United States. Our loyalty to the United
States is shown In the Stars and Stripes
on our platform here, but our Loyalty Is a
matter entirely independent OF and separ-
ate from the neutrality laws When has
England paid any attention to neutrality
lawsP Certainly not in ireland, where her
very presence is standing memorial of
her breach Of neutrality laws Though
there be comparatively few Irishmen left
In Ireland to bear the blows Of the op-
pressor, there are twenty millions of Irish.
men in every part OF the world ready and
anxious to strike the blow that shall make
the old country free"
In conclusion Mr.. Finerty said: 1--WE
are here to proclaim to the world that the
Irish raoe Is by no means defeated or dis.
heartencd. There are more Irishmen to-
day than were ever on the face of the earth
before. Wen circle England with n wall
OF fire which shall never be extinguished
until Ireland is free"
Chairman Finerty' spirited address was
frequently interrupted by the cheering Of
the enthusiastic delegates. No attempt
was made to transact business at the open.
ing session, and at the conclusion of Mr..
Finerty's speech the convention adjourned
for luncheon