Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-09-03
Irishmen Gather in Dublin From All
Parts of the World to Participate
in the Tone Centenary.
The Greatest Procession Ever Seen in
ireland Addresses by Redmond,
Dillon and Others.
UNITED STATES WELL REPRESENTED

One of the finest demonstrations that
ever manifested nations feelings of
honor for an illustrious son took place in
the streets of Dublin. From all parts of
the land came admirers of Wolfe Tones
character and his lifelong efforts for his
native country to pay their reverence to
his memory. Tone never stood so high
in the estimation of Irishmen as he stands
today. A hundred years have rolled by
since his mortal remains were placed be-
meath the turf by the side of the ruined
church in the little Gods acre at Bodens-
town. His name has passed into history,
and to gain knowledge of what he was
and what he strove to do involves an
amount of historical research not open
to every one. And when, in spite of this
necessary investigation into the records
of the past, which has to be undertaken
ere we can pass judgment on Tone, one
finds a magic in his name greater than
that Of the most popular of present-day
politicians, it shows that the '9S centen
airy movement has not been organized in
vain. For at length it is plain that the
people are beginning to read something
of their own history, and it needs but a
continuance of this process to insure that
what Tone aimed at shall at length be
accomplished. After century of COM
parative neglect, justice is now being
done to the memory of the founder of the
United Irishmen's Association. 1t is at
last realized that he was a wonderful
combination of brains-carrier and man
of action, that his objects were of the
highest, that he had in him all the essen
tial qualities requisite for success and
that If failure attended his efforts he, at
) any rate. was not TO blame. He was a
military Parnell. In his biggest and ap-
parentiy most visionary projects he was
intensely practical, and if he had been
but generally representative of the men
tai mold of Irishmen in 1889 the annals
of the century that has passed over this
country since then would not form such
sad reading. When one finds such wide
spread appreciation of Wolfe Tone as was
made evident recently it is time for the
most respondent Irishman to take heart
of grace and admit that there is still some
reason to hope for the future.
1t is easy to talk of tens of thousands,
but impossible to know whether one is
very near the truth when he ventures
into the region of figures in estimating
the size of popular demonstrations. 1t is
useless to attempt to say how many peo-
pie looked ON the procession or how
many took part in it. In both cases the
number was very large. The day was
generally observed as a holiday in the
city. Nearly all the leading business es-
adjustments closed for the day and the
employees went to swell the crowds of on
lockers in the streets. The muster of
country people, always fairly large in
Dublin on August 10, was unprecedent-
eddy large. Thousands arrived at all the
railway termini. All the provinces were
we'll represented, but what was particu-
1arly remarkable was the extraordinary
large number of Northerns who were in
evidence. There probably never before
was such big array of natives of Ulster
in the city on any given day. Wolfe
Tones intimate association with the
North, where the United Irishmen's or
ganization was founded, probably ac-
counts for the dimensions Of this whole
sale friendly invasion.
The appearance of the procession was
inspiriting in the highest degree. BAN
ners, many of them richly ornamented
and artistically finished, everywhere
\ abounded. The display of banners was
finer than anything that has been seen
in the city for many years. Bands were
almost as numerous as the banners, and
there was constant succession of mel
ody. For the procession to pass given
point occupied about two hours, and
when it is added that the various CON
tingents were compactly marshalled and
followed at brisk pace close on one an
other without any interval between, a
better idea has been given of its size than
could be conveyed by any random state
meuts as to so many thousands. The
backbone of the procession was, as might
be imagined, formed of the different Dub
lin trades bodies. These were all ade
quately represented and made mos'
creditable display. The provinces also
we're we'll to the fore. Belfast is deserv
ing of special mention. The twelve hun
bred men who represented the National
lists of the Northern capital bore will
them nine big banners, all resplendenI
in the glories of youthful freshness thai
contrasted advantageously with the wea
ther-beaten appearance of some of the
older Dublin banners. AT the head O
the Northern contingent rode Miss Nc
Sorley. Of Belfast, arrayed in green vel
vet, as on the day of the Hsnnahstowl
demonstration some n'onths age. corl