The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-11
PATRIOTIC IRISHMEN.
The Ninoty-eIghth Centennial AssocistioD
Has Been Formed.

The Ninety-eIghth Centennial AssociatioD
Has Been Formed.
New York. April I. 1897.
To tho irish People OF America;
Fellow COuntrymen.-lreland VIII next
year celebrate tho centenary OF a memo
rabie struggle for freedom and proclaim
her faith iu the final triumph Of death
less cause. The Irish race throughout
the world VIII turn their eyes once more
10 the oid land with hope renewed, ana
the nations whl be reminded that the
claim maintained through seven centuries
of struggle still demands recognition aud
will be- pressed 10 a final settlement.
Ninety riEe years ago the people OF
ireland rose against intolerable tyranny
and made a gallant effort 10 restore their
country 10 - place amC ng the nations.
Following the example Of the Ihlrteen
Colonies they sought TO obtain by force
the rights denied 10 peacefuf appeals.
ireland WAS held by a foreign govern
ment. which ruled through an alien dig
archy disfranchised and plundered TIRE
majority Of the people, crushed their IN
dustries. sti1ed their intellectual growth
and made such rights OF citizenship aS IL
allowed dependent on religious belief. In
place 0f this odiOus system the united
Irishmen proposed to establish govern
ment of the people, for the people, ana
bv the peOple." under which AL men, ir-
respective of creed or class, should have
equal rights and duties. England foment-
ed religious strife: the united Irishmen
brought the warning sects together ana
buried the feuds OF centuries. ,,
The blood Of 10000 patriots killed IN
battle or slaugt tered after the fighting
was over, attested their faith in the prin-
clples OF civil and religious liberty. while
the loss Of 10000 British soldiers gave
proof of Irish Ialor on the battieheld. NO
more heroic struggle IS recorded In his
tory and Englands success was due more
TO the elements, which deprived Ireland
OF that foreign All which enabled Amer
lea 10 win. than tho prowess Of her SOL
diers or the skill OF her generals.
The leaders Of the United lrishmen
came from everv class and every creed
represented IN the population and were
men OF high character. great attainmen's'
and heroic devotion 10 principle. Their
Ionored names are as dear TO tho hearts
OF the Irish people to-day as are thoSo
OF the fathers OF the republic 20 the peo-
PIE OF the United States. The living
blaze" which they kindled. stll burns
bri@Lfiv The fame is fed by devoted
hands and their principles are stu the
cardinal doctrine OF the national move
ment They and the gallant rank ana
file who followed them, Protestant5 ana
Catholics alive prevented the extinction
OF the Irish cause and handed II down.
a living. burning issue. 10 he brought 70
final victory when that perfect union OF
creeds and classes Of which they laid the
foundation shalf have been fully accom-
To aid the peopls OF Ireland 10 httingly
celebrate that heroic struggle and honor
the men who took part In II the Ninety
eight Centennial Association has been
formed. II will follow IN everything the
lead OF the Irish Committee. which meets
in the City Hall, Dublin. That commit
tee thoroughly representative or the ma
uonal life OF Ireiand. VIII organize
series OF demonstrations at places made
glorious By episodes Of the great strug-
gle and will erect a monument 10 the
heroes who took part I'm H.
We propose 10 aid this committee by
contributing 10 the success Of the demon
STATIONS and in making thu monument 4
Great work OF irish art worthy OF the
men of 'eS. and worthy OF the race. Com
rarafivelv Few Irish men or women IN
America can attend the demonstration I'm
Ireland but all can contribute 10 me
monument We appeal for subscriptions
10 the monument fund, and we are or
ganiztng a pilgrimage TO Ireland when
will enable those who wish 10 attend the
celebrations 20 DO so at very small cost
Full information as to the means OF
securing a olace IN the excursion can be
obtained on application 10 the secretary;
Contributions to the monument fund
should be cent 10 the treasurer through
tho secretary.
with a becoming tribute to the men whose
work enabled US 20 stand together as a
distinct people, so that we may be ready
I'm the early DAYS OF the coming century
among the nations OF the world.
officers: Edward OFlaherty. president.
New York city; John J. Teevens, wee
nresident. Boston Mass: General James
II O'Belrne. grand marshal. New YORK
city: John NJ. Sheedy NJ. D., surgeon.
Altoona. Pa. John y. Kelly. secretary
ca Broadway. New York city. Roderick
]. Kennedy. treasurer. New York city;
John OCallaghan. historian, Boston
Mass: Rev. Patrick O'Brien. chaplain.
Fremont, Ohio: Hon. John w. Goff Hon
Martin J. Kehoe. Counsellor NJ: t. Shar-
kew. legal advisers. New York city. Trus-
tees-Hon. James A. O'Gorman. Hon.
John NJ Digney. Hon. Edward Browne
Hon. James c. Vaughan, Hon, Wauhope
LYNN. Executive Commlttee-Hon. John
~ COT John Devov. 2. O'Mara. Thomas
W. Hil, P. ]. Flatley Thomas j. Re-
veille. Edward Brennan. Hon, Martin ].
Kehoe Patrick McGarry, William eros
sin, John Brennan. Thomas Burke. James
J; GiIreIn. c; J., Mac CURE; N: D. ste ste
j stafford, Terence Cavanagh, Patrick
Lacey, John Revens. James +. Gallagher