Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1895-09-28
AN ARMY OF RISHMEN.
Mr.. Finerty Would Have One
Ready to Strike When
the Time Comes.
His Warlike Speech Heartily
Approved by the Chi
cago Convention.
O'Donovan Rosa and Others
Declare Themselves in
the Same Vein.

ShiSANO, OCpV. Wv ltA IOhSWOo
vigor the delegates to the Irish conven-
ton began their second days work.
Any doubts as to the earnestness of
the new movement" towards freedom
for Ireland were set at rest when Chair
man John f. Finerty, in an address to
the convention, declared for an Irish
American standing army, which shall
be ready to do battle for Ireland when
ever an opportunity may present itself.
The boldness of the plan outlined by the
ardent speaker created sensation. That
the chairman's views met with the ap-
proval of the delegates was proved by
the hearty enthusiasm with which his
speech was received. He outlined
plan by which young Irish Americans
throughout the country shall be organ
lied into military companies which will
as whole, constitute standing army
that may, at proper time, strike fol
Irish liberty. Continuing Mr.. Finerty
said:
Advocates Absolute Independence.
American papers question the pru-
dence Of holding this convention and
debating to us policy and hoping we
will do nothing to offend English senti.
ment. What do we care for English
sentiment? We don't want to offend
American sentiment, nor French senti-
ment, nor Russian sentiment, but we
want to offend most seriously our hered'
itary and merciless foe. We are here
today to sound the death knell of whig.
gerry in Irish politics. We stand on om
independence of the land that gave us
and our fathers life. Our friends, the
editorial writers, may preach the doc
trines of prudence. We will follow
their advice so long as it may be neces.
sary. would remind my American
editorial friends of the time when
America had grievance against the
English, they did not stand upon the
order on which they threw the British
tea chest into Boston horbor."
sympathy for Cubans.
Mr.. Finerty concluded with a ringing
peroration that brought the audience to
its feet again and again. The close OF
the speech produced wonderful scene
in its way, the audience standing and
cheering for fully 10 minutes. After
this two resolutions were offered ex.
pressing sympathy with the Cuban rev.
olutionists. A communication was pre-.
sented from the Polish Alliance of the
United States, expressing sympathy
with the objects of the convention.
A motion by O'Neill Ryan of Missou1i
that a committee of one from each state
be appointed to draft resolutions was
adopted. William Lyman of New
York moved the appointment of a com.
mittee on organization and ways and
means, which was adopted.
ODonovan Rossa Speaks.
At the afternoon session, after ap-
pointment of committees, calls were
made for speeches and O'Donovan
Rosa, O'Nel Ryan of st. Louis, and
Delegates O'Leary of Montana, Lang.
don of New York and Wildhere of
Pennsylvania responded.
Rosa was given an ovation when he
arose. He said, in part: 81 ann not in
favor of waiting. In my judgment the
time to strike is when you are ready
and the place to strike is England. All
this talk Of organizing to fight the Eng
lish out of England is very well, but il
has no terror for England. She is more
afraid OF the Irish in England than in
any other place. Now is the time for u.
to strike and the quicker the better
,o'Neil Ryan of st. Louis said he
spoke for the young men of the Irish
nation who would take up the fight
whea some of the old men before him
were ready to lay down. This move
means" he said, revolution, 1t means
the turning point from parliamentary
tactics
To the Ifke and Sword.
We have given q patient trial to peace.
full agitation and we now turn to the
teachings of O'Neil and O'Donnell."
The other speeches were in the same
vein and all were heartily applauded.
The real work of the convention viii
begin in the morning and all commit.
tees were instructed to be ready to re-
port at that time.
Many kilograms of sympathy for the
cause were received. and, TO the sur