The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-20
BY THE FORCE OF ARMS,
How the knights of the Red
Branch Propose to Free
Ireland.
WOLFE TONE ANNIVERSARY.
Patriotic Speeches by Rev. Father
McManE, Ex-Judge Cooney and
Others.

The one hundred and thlrty-first ami
versary of the birth of Wolfe Tone, the
Irish patriot was celebrated by the
Knights of the Red Branch in an enthusi-
astic and patriotic manner last night at
the hall of the order, corner of Mason and
O'Farrell streets. Although all such occa-
sions have in the past been marked by the
display of that warm spirit for which the
sons of Erin are noted, that feeling seemed
to bubble over last evening and the senti-
ments of love for the old country were
unusually ELUSIVE.
The main feature OF the anniversary was
banquet, the tables being spread in the
large hall which had been appropriately
decorated for the occasion. Looking down
upon the festal board was a life-sze oil
painting of the lrishman in honor Of whose
memory the affair was held. It was en-
twined with festoon Of ivy leaves
The banquet tables were loaded with
stands of blossoms and evergreens, making
very pretty effect among the differing
array of cut glass and other adornments.
Each guest wore spray of green in his
buttonbole. There were 200 guests.
The menu cards were dainty affairs, in
green. red ana gOiu
w. B. Hallgan, who is the president of
the Knights of the Red Branch, opened
the Speechmaking by delivering an ad-
dress upon the welfare of the order. He
referred to its principles of devotion to the
interests of Ireland and its fixed determi-
nation to do everything possible toward
freeing the Emerald Isle from the thrall-
dom of England's tyranny.
The order is strong one, and it was
rs int 70 Col
friends OF Ireland. He hoped that the
success of the past would be continued in
the future, and that each and every mem
Der would see to 1t that every friend who
did not belong to the order joined it. In
the new movement that was to be inaugu-
rated everything depended on strength.
Captain j. Sheehy of the knights of the
Red Branch Rifles also spoke, and his patri-
otto sentiments were loudly applauded,
as were also the remarks of Colonel
O'Brien, who not only spoke upon the
career of Wolfe Tone and his service in be-
half of his country. but also dwelt upon
the new movement for the liberation of
Ireland by force of arms.
Father McMann, the chaplain of the K.
r. B. Rifles, made the Grafton of the even
ing. 1t was stirring throughout and
evoked loud applause. He said:
We are banded together in noble and ga
cred cause.-The Liberation of country which
mas Deen under the neet OF oppression tor
years. Everything has been tried to accom-
plish freedoms purposes by parliame ntary ac-
ton and we, as lrlshmen, have waited and
hoped in vain for the desired results.
Such being the case we must now realize the
fact that military department to our organi-
zation is an essential feature. We want no
sounding brass or tinkling cymbals, but earn
est, determined effort.
The day will come when England will be in
volved in dire difficulty. When that day
comes let US be ready to help toward her de-
foot 10h no En obi ~
let us hope for the day when we shall be called
upon to assemble on The green hills of Ireland
and meet face TO face the enemies Of our
country.
1tmay seem strange IN me to express such
sentiments, but know that stand for the
cause OF right, justice and freedom while 1
speak.
War is an evil, it is said, but not when it is
Tor the liberty OF people from the thralldom
OF tyranny. Therefore when we band to.
arms, we are pledged to carry out our vows
and perform that for which We are banded to-
getner.
Is it right for us to thus join together? Isav
emphatically, yes. [Applausel We violate no
laws, national or divine. If Government
violates the rights of its people the latter are
justified in rejecting such Government, even
II 1T necessltates the use of arms. And who can
say the English Government has not grossly
violated those rights which the Irish people
should have as their prerogative?
There is no reason why the Irish people
should be su5servient to England-no, not even
II she is the empress of commerce. That was
her plea in her effort to hold the American
colonies. The world knows the result, and
Ireland must follow the same example. Jap
plause.l
The laws by which England rules Ireland are
not just in any way. They accompanied
by unholy and inhuman prosecutions The
Irish people never consented to her iron rule
but were compelled to bend their heads to the
yoke. This being the case, when they seek to
free themselves they violate no law of God or
OF man. 1t is their right to do it.
Lot nj ir,nrJ 10 vlan, I'll
young men and through our order and send
forth from San Francisco an organization equal
III ardor and enthusiasm to those which will
go from our sister States when the opportunity
comes to assert our country's rights. IAN
plause.l Let us not be lukewarm; let us have
no factions, no divisions. Let all esteem it
their duty to join the Knights of the Red
Branch Rifles, so when the time comes we
will send forth men who will sacrifice eyerv-
thing Tor their old country, and thereby fulfil
the duties both of church and State LAD
plause.l
Ex-Judge NJ. Cooney also made q long
address. In the beginning he spoke in a
feeling manner of those members who had
passed away to where there was freedom
Tor all. The regret was that they had gone
without witnessing the freedom of the
country in whose interests they had been
banded together. But to the living he
wanted to say that he thought they were
at last on the right road to success
In the past they have trusted to parlia-
mentary leaders who, the speaker did not
doubt, acted as faithfully as they could,
but who had accomplished nothing for the
cause, Parliamentary legislation had
proved q failure. 1t now rested with the
Knights of the Red Branch to see that
Ireland was freed, and furthermore they
were going to accomplish it. rApplause.l
Continuing he said:
The fact is Ireland to-day is in worse con-
dition than at any time in the past twenty-five
years. The spirit OF nationalism has dwindled
10 a low ebb. 1t is now the duty of the united
1rishmen OF the world to revive the spirit of
true nationalism, not only in the various coun-
tries, but In Ireland, SO that the new genera
ton will say in tones that will be heard and