The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-08
BEFORE THE PENN. NAT1oNAL1srs.
r. j. O'COnnOr's Address at the Phil
adeIphia Academy of Music.

p. j. O'COnnOr's Address at the Phil
adeIphia Academy of Music.
P. ]. O'Connor, Esq, returned yester-
day afternoon from Philadelphia, where
he attended the anniversary celebration
of the Irish Nationalist of that city in
honor of Robert Emmett, the Irish mar
tyr. the address of the occasion was de-
lvered by Mr.. O'Connor, who, as the ma
tional president of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, was also the recipient of con-
siderable attention during his stay in the
City of Brotherly Love.
Mr.. OConnor had the honor of being in
troduced to the assembly by Judge M. L.
Wilhere, his predecessor as national pres
ident of the Ancient Order and his unsuc-
cessful opponent at the last biennial cleo
ton.
The celebration was held in the Academy
Of Music, one of the largest halls in the
city, there being about 5000 people
present. The subject of Mr.. O'Connor's
address, of course, was the life and death
of Emmett, and the cause for which he
suffered. He turned the copy of his speech
over to a representative of one of the
Philadelphia newspapers. In giving
brief sketch of his address Mr.. O'Connor
gave summary of the history of Ireland
leading up to the revolution of 1888, dwell
ing upon the thought that no matter how
gloomy the outlook there would always
be some one to champion the cause of
freedom He gave a sketch of Emmets
life up to the time when he espoused the
cause of Ireland against her oppressor,
recounted the efforts which he made, and
the defeats which he suffered up to the
time of his capture, while attempting to
see his sweetheart, Miss Sarah Curran,
for the last time before leaving the island.
In conclusion, Mr.. OConnor said that
the national idea had pervaded the Irish
heart throughout seven centuries and al
though every effort had been made to crush
it out it had grown stronger with time. In
his Judgment, he declared the Irish peo-
pie would never be conquered, and the time
Wou;u yet come when Ireland would re-
sumo her place among the nations.
Mr.. O'Connor's address was followed by
a presentation of the trial scene of EN-
met, including the speech of the prisoner
from the dock, delivered by young actor
named Maroney.
After the conclusion Of the nationalists
celebration, Mr.. OConnor was entertained
at a banquet by the officers of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians. AS national presi-
dent of the order he was naturally called
upon to make some remarks there. The
occasion was an informal one, however.
On Friday a conference of the national
officers of the Ancient Order of Hber-
mans was held for the transaction of
business of the order. Mr.. O'Connor
brought back with him an interesting
volume presented to him by Judge Will
here, being the history of the Hibernian
Society of Philadelphia. The Philadel-
phia society, it seems. is not only much
older than the Savannah society of the
same name, but claims a more distin-
guished record also. 1t traces its origin
to the Friendly Sons of ST. Patrick, which
society was organized in III, and was
thoroughly friendly to the American
revolution and equally unfriendly to the
British government. Its members rem
dered distinguished service to the rev.
olution, and at a time when the CONT
mental treasury was empty, and the re-
suit of the revolution was trembling in
the balance, contributed a very large
sum of money to the treasury. The dis
tinguished services of the society were
acknowledged by Gen. Washington, who
afterwards became an honorary member.
The Hlbernian Society of Savannah was
organized in 1872.