The record-union., 1895-09-27
Action Taken by the Convention
Which Met at Chicago.
OBJECT. LIBERATION OF IRELAND
FROM ENGLAND'S YOKE
Plan of Organization Presented by
the Committee on Ways and Means
Report of the Resolution Commit
tee Unanimously Adopted.

afternoon to an organization which mas
for its avowed object the liberia tion OF
Ireland from England's yoke by policy
of physical force. The ashes of the Fe-
nian Brotherhood are rekindled; the Ma
tional League, with its trust in legislators
and its reliance upon Parliaments and
enactmerts, is buried from sight, and In
its place rises the Irish National AL
lance. The Irish Parliamentary party
across the Atlantic is repudlated ana
henceforward will be deprived OF the
abundant revenues that have been con-
tributed from this country for its main
tenance and support. For the next two
years at least New York City will be the
seat of operations for the new movement,
n. Linman, wealthy Irish Amerl-
can of that city, having been elected as
President of the alliance, with authority
to appoint a Secretary of his own choice.
The plan of operations adopted pro-
vides for central council, with authority
to issue charters for State organizations.
Membership is limited to people OF Irish
birth or descent and who shall pledge
themselves to aid in the liberation OF
Ireland by any means consistent with
the laws and usages of civilized nations"
Q6 pau CiOS6lN IeS0iHDi0S huat VA hHo
old tenian Brotherhood.
This evening the convention adjourned
sine die. Nothing was done by the con-
vention at the morning session. owing 10
the delay on the part OF the Committee on
Resolutions IN agreeing TO a report.
When the delegates reassembled at
o'clock the Committee on Ways and
Means and Plan OF Organization pre-
sented its report The Introductory was
as follows:
This new movement shall be known
as the Irish National Alliance. 1t shall
have for its subject tue securing OF lnde-
pendence for Ireland by any means with
in its power consistent with the laws and
usages of civilized nations. The qualitica-
tions of membership shall be good moral
character, birth on Irish soil or descent
from Irish parentage on paternal or
maternal side, or both and the taxing of
the following pledge:
~, -, hereby pledge my word OF
honor to aid by every means within my
power in conformity with the constitu-
lion and bylaws of the Irish National
Alliance in securing the independence OF
Ireland"
In subsequent paragraphs it was pro-
vlded that The officers should consist of
President Vice President and Treasurer,
q Secretary to be appointed by the Presi-
dent, and an Executive Council of nine
al So with dues OF % cents per quarter,
and il was provided that 10 per cent. of
the gross receipts of the subordinate
councils should be turned into the ma
tional treasury.
Some sharp criticism was made upon
the report by John Fitzpatrick, a veteran,
who said that he mad tramped Darelooted
while carrying messages in his hat for
the revolutioniSts of 1913, and who con-
tended that the convention should form
a Government then and there, and eslab-
lish provisional Irish Legislature on
American soil. Delegate O'Higgins of
Massachusetts offered an amendment
that the National Secretary be elected by
the convention. but he was ruled out of
order, and the report was adopted with
about half-doZen dissenting votes.
The report of the Committee on Plat
form and Resolutions was presented by
O'Neill Ryan of St. Louis, and was
unanimously adopted amid great cheer
ing. 1t reads thus:
The people of Ireland are a sovereign
people. Ireland is by nature separate
from every ether country. and liberty is
the birthright of ner people. Ireland was
known throughout Europe as a nation
long before the dawn OF Christianity, and
was the home of civilization while
England was still Darbarous.
"England's claims TO authority in Ire
land originated in force, and have been
maintained by corruption and coercion;
they have never ripened into a right to
rule; the title 10 the contest has never
been perfected, lnasmueh as the Irish
people have continuously, by constitu-
tional agitation or revolutionary move
ments, resisted England's power and en-
deavored to destroy her unlawful
supremacy.
Ireland is deprived of almost every
civil right, which the American people
most dearly cherish. Unexampled
cruelty and brutal vindictiveness have
been the Distinguishing features OF Eng
lish rule in Ireland. England has
destroyed Ireland's Industries and ruined
her commerce; she has placed upon her
statute books laws making 1t crime 10
educate an Irish child; she burned Ire
lands schoolhouses and her churches;
she has driven into exile, or left TO perish
In her dungeons, thousands of men W hose
only crime was love of Ireland.
Every measure for the last century
looking toward legislative independence
for Irish people has either suffered de-
feat in the Commons or been arbitrarily
defeated by the Lords. England has vio-
lated every treaty and broken every
pledge, and with almost every year of the
century she has imposed upon Ireland
brutal laws OF coercion, and one OF the
most drastic character is now upon the
statute books.
10 the pleas of the people for justice
and their prayers for mercy, England
has responded with the scourge and the
scaifold, aud yet, to-day, Ireland en-
thralled, but not enslaved; crushed, but
not conquered, is in spirit nation.
''It has become evident after many
years endeavor to obtain a measure OF
independence from the English by peace
ful agitation that appeals TO reason and
for Justice are futile. 1t Is left, therefore
for no nj a " 10
against the truth recorded by all history
Shat the liberties Of people and the in
dependence of nation cannot be
achieved by debate, but must he won
upon the field OF battle; and we declare
our belief that the men of Ireland are en-
Titled by the laws OF God and man to use
every means in their power to drive from
their country the tyrants ana usurpers,
and we believe that Ireland has the right
10 make England's difficulty her oppor-
iunity and 10 use all possible means to
create that difficulty.
"En view OF these facts, the members of
this convention appeal with confidence to
their American iellow-citizens and all
lovers of liberty to cooperate with them
in aiding the people of Ireland in the
achievement of the same measure OF lib
erty enjoyed in these United States.
.'Res0tCed, That we earnestly protest
against the continued incarceration in
English prisons OF Irish patriots; that we
consider il inhuman and against the
policy OF civilized nations to keep in
prison mon who have acted only in the
Interest OF their country and human lib
erty, and that the release of these men is
imperatiyely demanded, not only by the
Irish people, but by civilization.
.'ReSotocd That this convention ex-
presses the hope that the people of Cuba,
who are struggling for political indepenG-
ence and the establishment OF republic,
will be successful, and that we extend TO
them our heartfelt sympathy.
ssrp5e,F..s,f sPha tbfs CON yaDtioD raao,r-