The Irish standard., 1897-08-14
THE CeLTs OF TENNESSEE.


THE CeLTs OF TENNESSEE.
The h-Americans of Nashville,
that progressive city known as the
Athens of the South" because of the
refinement and literary culture of it's
inhabitants. have effected an organiza-
ton, styled THE Irish-American Cen
tennial Association of Tennessee" for
the purpose OF celebrating the centen-
NAL Of the organization of Tennessee
as a state, and also for perpetuatjng
the deeds of Irish Americans who have
contributed to make the state what it
is during the past one hundred years.
Prominent citizens of Irish lineage
assembled in that city on July q and
resolved to celebrate the centen-
NAL anniversary by designating Sept.
81 as Irsh-American day at the Ten
nessee exposition. President Wrenne
explained the object of the meeting in
an interesting address, saying:
1.-THE object of the organization sha~
be to celebrate the achievements of
Irish-Americans in the affairs Of Ten
nessee, and their part in giving llstre
to her greatness in war and peace, as
we'll as to celebrate the patriotic deeds
and eminent citizenship Of Irish Amari-
cans in securing American independ-
ence, freedom Of civil and religious lib
erty in America and in the establish
~G
publcs. We use the term Irish.
American in the broadcast sense. 1t en-
braces those sons Of Ireland who adopt
ed this country as their home; it en-
braces all citizens of the United States
having Irish blood in their veins VINO
believe in the principle of our govern
ment. and particularly those funda-
mental and constitutional principles
guaranteeing to all citizens the right
to worship God according to the die
tates of their own consciences and the
free expression of political opinions.
| The great characters whose lives we
shall celebrate performed such distin-
guished services for their state and
country that all citizens can with pa
triotic pride do them honor. Therefore
all citizens are invited to join in the
! celebration. 1t will be strictly non
sectarian and non-political."
R. G.. Throne, gentleman whose
name is not of Celtic origin. was enc
of the principal speakers at the meet
ing. and in the course of his address
he aroused considerable enthusiasm by
naming several of the great statesmen
of the South who had Irish blood in
their veins. among them being Andrew
Jackson and John G. Calhoun.
Take away the Irish from this coun-
try" said Mr.. Throne, land you will
not have much left. We can be loyal to
Ireland and yet be loyal to the Stars
and Stripes. The love of country is an
instinct and the man that does not love
his own country will go down to .hc
grave unwept. unhonored and unsung."
lrisll-American day will be observed
IN Nashville by the delivery of adj
dresses by eminent speakers who wiz
present an historical resume of the part
that Irish Americans have taken in The
affairs Of Tennessee and of the country
at large. The following representative
citizens have charge of the prepare
lions for Irish day: Thomas w.
Wrenne, president; DR.. j. NJ Coyle
first vice-president; Christopher Power,
second vice-president; M. NJ. Trecy,.
third vice-president; ]. l.. Drisco],
general secretary: f. B. Martin and
+. f.. Cleary, Jr., assistant secretaries:
M. Mccormack, Jr., financial secretary:
I'll. j. Grimes, treasurer. Sub-commit-
tees. consisting of the most active ana
influential Celts in Nashville. were APP
pointed, one of the best known anu
most highly respected of them being
James Killelea, the Irish Nationalist
who has unselfishly devoted his time
and means to the cause of Ireland dur
ing the last thirty years. He is a.
member Of the committee on pubiica-
ton and publicity. and has been an
pointed to visit the Northwest in The
interest of the association to invite his
countrymen to Nashville to participate
with their kindred of the South in
celebrating Irish day on the s31s1 OF