Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-09-03


which of us would not be glad to see it.
when in the complications of the world
Ireland would once again have an oppcr-
tunity Of striking a blow for liberty
cient and long-oppressed nationality in
the world. What lessons are we to bring
home from this demonstration AT any
time for the last hundred years in my be-
lief and long before even the limits of a
hundred years, if Ireland, Catholic and
Protestant, were united it would have
been possible to achieve Irish freedom.
Let this '9S movement in this year create
great broad national platform; let us
not tolerate any man who raises his voice
against a brother Irishman because of his
creed. Let us remember that while we
Catholics-I am speaking now to the
Catholics present, who are in the ma
jority-let us never forget that some of
the best and bravest of our race were fol-
lowers of the newer creed, which gave to
Ireland Tone. Emmett and Lord Edward
Fitzgerald. Let us, If we can, for this
year announce new era of federation
and brotherly love; let us endeavor to
weld Catholic and Protestant, North of
Ireland and South of Ireland, into one
united nation. When we do, believe the
day will be near at hand when you will
be able 20 assemble here in Dublin to
celebrate the realization of the dream for
which Tone died and bled, to erect here
flag of freedom over self-governed
and respected nation.
Mr.. Rogers, of Worcester, Mass,
said it was his pleasing duty to move the
Lord Mayor to the second chair, and to
propose a vote of thanks to Mr.. John
O'Leary for presiding at that meeting.
He joined with the other speakers in ask
ing them to unite again, and if they did
they would have the support of
the States. Then they would never cease
until that dark cloud, which has for so
long hung over their country's destinies,
sinks beneath the gorgeous sunburst Of
freedom and independence.
Father Coppin, of Philadelphia, in
seconding the vote, said he was proud to
see such a great assembly, and he took
an especial pleasure in having his name
associated with those of Wolfe Tone and
of John O'Leary, whose name will live
in history as long as that of Wolfe Tone.
Father Coppin came there stranger,
and they took him in. He had no inten.
ton of speaking; he came simply to lis
ten and to see the demonstration, but
when he found that Philadelphia-the
cradle of American independence-was
not represented, he thought it right to
step forward and represent the city of his
adoption. The priests in America don't
mix in politics, and if they told any of
their parishioners to vote for any ticket
they would tell them to mind their own
business. Pennsylvania was called the
keystone of the States; the keystone OF
that beautiful arch of States and glorious
Union, the motto of which was ''E Pluri-
bus Unum." Would to God Irishmen al
home and abroad would adopt that motto.
Irishmen were the backbone of Pennsyl.
vania and a half dozen other States,
which they controlled and dominated
Their illustrious President, W liam Nc.
Kinley, was tile descehda,st of Irish
man. Would to God they were laying
another monument today, monument
to union and brotherhood, without which
liberty is impossible. The Irish at home
and abroad wanted unity and an Ireland
free, united and immortal. He felt proud
of being among them today and to CLASP
The hand of his friend John O'Leary.
The sign-manual of the United Irishmen
was the clasped hand. Let them make
their leaders clasp hands across the grave
of the martyr Tone, and If they did moi
they should be sent flying about Their
business. In seconding the vote of thank:
to John O'Leary he hoped he would be
preserved for many years to guide hi:
countrymen in the true path. Like Theo
bald Wolfe Tone, he had the courage o.
his convictions.
The Lord Mayor said It was his duty
how as Chief Magistrate of the city tC
ask them to pass the vote of thank.
which was so ably proposed and seconded
to Mr.. John O'Leary for the action h'
had taken during the past year i'll for
warding the movement for the erection
of statue to one of Irelands creates
sons Right worthily was he placed il
the position he occupied today, because
like his predecessor, the true Irishmai
Wolfe Tone, he was patriot who haC
suffered for his country. He therefor
had the greatest pleasure and was prouc
to be in the position of doing so in asking
them to respond to the vote with heart,
cheer. They should from this day for
ward read the life of Wolfe Tone, an,
when they did they would learn lessor
that would teach them to bury their dit
ferences, whatever they might be. and t
unite as one man and to have but on
principle, the principle of the independ
ence of their native land. He hoped tina
with the laying of the foundation ston
of the statue of the great patriot Ton
there would also be laid every differenc
between Irishmen, and that their mem
bers would unite as one man and deman
I