The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-26
READY TO FIGHT FOR |RELAND'S FREEDOM.

time comes. What do we care for English
sentimentP We don't want to offend
America; we don't want to offend the
French sentiment or Russian sentiment,
but we do want to offend most seriously
our hereditary foe. We sound to-day the
death knell of Whigery in Irish politics;
we sound the keynote of the absolute in
dependence Of the land that gave US birth;
we are here to renew the work that Wolf
Tone started in France a hundred years
ago. We will mete out to England the
same measure England has meted out to
US. We will devote our efforts, means, and
If necessary our lives for the accomplish
ment Of Irish independence.
There are people who hope we will not
offend English sentiment. Our forefathers
did not stand upon the order of sentiment
when they threw overheard the chests of
tea in Boston harbor. The British Min
lister may send here battalion of spies if
he is so inclined; he is welcome. We care
not if the whole of Scotland Yard is in
hearing. Let the movement inaugurated
here to-day never come to an end until the
flag floats above free and independent
Irish Senate"
The applause was frequent. In order to
afford the State delegations chance to
caucus for members OF the committee on
resolutions and ways and means the con-
vention at 1920 took a recess till 2:30
o'clock. When the convention reassem bled
at 3 o'clock the names of the members of
the committee selected by the State dele
cations were announced.
After the reading of a cablegram from
Liverpool, England, signed "Dunham"
and reading, Liverpool Irishmen with
you for Irish freedom and independence"
introduction of delegates was made the
special order, and Maurice W. Wilhere of
Philadelphia was introduced amid pro-
longed applause. After reviewing the
achievements of Irish soldiers who fought
under Washington and in the War OF the
Rebellion, he went on to say:
I'VE are here to declare in the open for
Irish independence AMI entire Sc paration;
to express our purpose and determination,
with Gods help, to free our mother coun-
try. We proclaim our devotion to Ameri-
can citizenship and to the stars and stripes,
but never wish to turn our back upon the
land of our birth. From the birth of this
new move will Irish manhood and Ameri-
can integrity work increasingly until Ire
land is once more nation, free and in
dependent"
NJ. J. Lagan of New York, the next
speaker, said that the Empire State would
be second to none on the list in doing its
utmost to make Ireland a republic In
concluding his remarks he named Chair
man Finerty as the first president of the
new Ireland, and scene of great enthu-
fnll LII !
ing again and again. When at last he
could make himself heard, the chairman
humorously declined the nomination, on
the ground that the first president of the
Irish republic should be one who had been
born and bred on Erin's soil and had never
left it. This evoked renewed applause
J. j. Keating of Illinois spoke briefly,
and rousing reception was accorded to
ONeill Ryan of st. Louis, who was pre-
sented as the representative OF the young
guard OF the new movement. In the course
OF fervid Grafton he said:
Upon the young men will fall the bur-
den of the work that we are to plan. What
is that work? This gathering, the most
momentuous of our race within the pres
ent century, answers. 1t means, not con-
stitution, but revolution. Great cheering
1t means turning from Parliaments and
statute-books to pixies and swords. PRO
longed applause, with shouts of That's
right and God save Ireland 1t means
that the Irish race at home, having given
petitions to legislation, and to amnesty
long and earnest trial, has proven each
farce, and now turns to the teachings of
O'Neill and O'Donnell; to the same spirit
that aroused the men OF long ago; that
animated Mitchell in '4S.
For fifteen years the Irish of America
followed the leadership of Charles Stewart
Parnell loud cheers and gave it strength.
1t was the men here, the men who believed
in revolution and separation, that ma de the
National League power. They were will
ing to give chance, but again came failure
and dissension until the cause has sunk
into oblivion. And to-day once again
there goes out from this hall the voice OF
revolution. 1t goes out for the third time
in hundred years, and if there is luck in
odd numbers, let the god of battle bless
the work and the swords to be unsheathed
in this movement.
There is no half way. Our destination
is Ireland-a republic. Why wait for ex-
Why wait for the opportunity? Let US
make it.
But we do not propose to fling the Irish
people into dungeons or place them on the
scaffold. We propose to organize our
young men throughout the world-in
America, in Canada, in Australia, in
France, in Ireland, aye, in England, SO
that when the time comes they shall be in
line of battle and ready to strike the foe we
hate and would destroy. Let US make a
platform broad enough and strong enough
for Catholic and Protestant alike to stand
upon, and when the time comes for our
young men to strike the blow for Irish
liberation. may the God that nerved the
sword OF Washington that inhamed that
OF Lafayette and who blessed Lincoln and
his work, give us the victory
Tumultuous applause lasting for several
minutes marked the speakers retirement.
Then Major Timothy O'Leary of Montana,
General O'Neill's right-hand man in the
famous expedition into Canada, spoke in
the same strain, and urged the appoint
ment by the convention of an "enlisting
agent" to rally the Irishmen of every
country, and to tender their services