The San Francisco call., 1895-10-09
INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE,
Military Organization to Follow
the Return of Captain
Sheehy.
OPINIONS OF LOCAL IRIsHMEN
Pacific Coast Delegate Now ir
New York Absorbing Eastern
Enthusiasm.

Captain sheehy of the Knights of the
Red Branch Rifles, who was the San Fran
cisco delegate at the Chicago convention
which organized the International Irish
Alliance, is in New York.
The captain wanted to come directly
home and begin localizing the work of
State and county organization asinstructed
by the convention. But the president of
the Chicago convention insisted on his
visiting the East and absorbing little of
the Irish enthusiasm bred and inbred
there before buckling down to the work OF
military organization in his own State.
So he wrote in letter to his close friend,
DR.. P. ]. O'Neill, prominent member of
the knights of the Red Branch.
Captain Sheehy will spend several days
in New York and visit some of the larger
Eastern cities before returning to the
coast. On his return, however, he will
make up for lost time and proceed at once
with the organization of military branches
of the several Irish societies on the coast.
The rifles" of the Knights of the Red
Branch was the first independent military
organization to take the oath of allegiance
and receive permit from the Governor to
carry arms on parade. When Captain
Sheehy returns the loyal Irishmen of the
City expect to receive inside and authentic
information from the Chicago convention,
and they will then be in a position to pro-
ceed with the organization of the military
companies and carry out in full the plan of
campaign as formulated by the convention.
In speaking of the organization of mill
tarv companies DR.. O'Neill said yesterday {:
Al - ~ Dol
Branch took the oath of allegiance with
such alacrity shows that there is nothing
antagonistic to American ideas in the for
nation of these companies as recon-
mended by the Chicago convention.
While we are all united in the effort to
secure Ireland's independence we are first,
last and all the time loyal Americans, and
the standing army which will thus be
formed by the establishing of military
companies all over the country would be
as ready as the regular army or National
Guard to go to the front in time of
trouble. AS I have said before,
the standing army would be constant
menace to England and the same
might be said with regard to any other
country. We organize for a purpose-a
definite and clearly understood purpose
but If there should be trouble between the
United States and any of the foreign pow
ers the Irish military companies would be
as willing to use these firearms and tactical
skill as though England were the offend
ing power. 1 hope and predict the work
of organization will be carried on with
alacrity."
Jeremiah Deasy of Deasy Bros, s75
- of
bernians, heartily indorsed the stand
taken by the Chicago convention. He
thinks, also, that the natural course to
pursue under the order OF that convention
is to organize military companies through
out the United States.
81 am an American citizen first" he
said, land an Irishman afterward, and
feel justified in saying that all those inter
ested in Ireland cause feel the same as l
do. There is nothing in this movement to
which any American should take objec-
ton. The Irishmen fought for the inde
peudence of this country. They were fore
most among the American soldiery, and,
again, when the Union had to be pre-
served, the Irishmen were among those in
the first ranks. do not see anything in
this scheme that should not be indorsed
and encouraged by our best citizens. We
would like to see Ireland free, and will do
anything to encourage our poor, down.
trodden countrymen at home in their
struggle for freedom, but the Irishmen
of this country are Americans first.
As to this military organization, I
can but repeat what l have said
before. 1t is very good idea,
and such an army as will be formed there
by cannot be regarded in an unfaYorable
light by any thinking man. All these
companies will be in sworn allegiance to
the United States; and think for minute
what reserve they would form in time OF
trouble 1t would be a standing army vir-
tually and constant menace to English
encroachment. In fact, as l understand
it, this military aggregation will be ready
to meet England at all times and on any
field. Ny personal opinion is that the or,
ganization of Independent military com.
panies throughout the country is one o.
the best things that could be done. Lei
the pood work 90 on -