Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-11-19
President Kruger and Irish Ma
tiOnality Toasted, Praised
and Cheered.
Sentiments and Applause That
Once Meant the GallOWs
or Transportation.
LONDON IRISH NATIONALISTS ACTIVE.

A banquet was given at the Holborn
Restaurant November 3 to Mr.. Gilling-
ham by the Irish Nationalist in London.
Among those present were: Messrs. John
O'Leary, Lionel Johnson, DR.. MacDon-
nell, DIR. Mcbride. Mr.. Nolan (ex-M. P. },
DIR. Clarke, Mr.. O'Donnell, DIR. O'Brien,
Mr.. Lavelle, and other gentlemen. DIR.
Mark f. Ryan was chairman.
After the cloth was removed the chair
man gave first the toast of "Ireland a
Nation" saying that it was the toast
which had precedence wherever Irish Ma
tionalists met. He asked Mr.. Lionel
Johnson to support the toast.
Mr.. Lionel Johnson said that wherever
Irishmen, who were Irishmen indeed, met
in fellowship, all the world over, the
pledge ireland a Nation" was first in
their hearts and first on their lips. Po-
litical combinations might form and dis
appear; political shibboleths might rise
and be forgotten; the programmes of pol
iticians might vary with the seasons, and
the promises of statesmen might fall like
rotten reeds. The purpose of the Irish
race, like the history of their land, had
but one centre and one issue, the free
nationhood of an ancient and immortal
people. From Malin Head to Pretoria,
from Holborn to San Francisco, the toast
of the Irish race, the policy of the Irish
race, was ireland Nation" CheeIs.
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm
The chairman said that after the re-
membrance of their own native land he
would ask them to drink toast which
was honored in the adopted land of their
patriotic guest, and which all good Irish
men honored also. Mr.. Gillingham was
local South African Burgher as well as
an Irish Nationalist, and, in his name as
we'll as in their own, he would give next
the toast of President Kruger" Long
may he wear with honor and good fortune
the dignity he holds from the brave Re-
publicans he has so often guided to vic
tory. [Cheers.] He would ask Mr.. F.
Hugh O'Donnell, who had defended the
rights of the Transvaal in the good old
times to support the toast.
Mr.. Frank Hugh O'Donnell said it was
now twenty-one years since he had met
the illustrious President of the South At
rican Republic. On the suggestions of
the venerable Professor of International
Law at the University of Utrecht he had
gone to present his respectful sympathies
to President Kruger and Attorney-Gen-
eral Jorissen, who were then staying at
the Albemarle Hotel, on a mission of pro-
test against the recent seizure of the
Transvaal by the English Government.
Ha had never forgotten the simple dignity
and stern resolution with which the Pres.
ident had then said: "We are Beers
They want to make us English. We will
die first" In that spirit President Kru-
ger had fought. In that spirit he had
conquered. 1t was only nations that SCI
honor above life who deserved the glory
, of freedom and the rewards of prosperity
, In reply to the general wish of the
company Mr.. John O'Leary arose, amid
: great applause, to support the toast tc
. the South African President He said thai
President Kruger was popular with true
! freshmen everywhere. He was a quiet
: resolute patriot whose deeds were Away:
in keeping with his words. The Boeri
i were a small community, but they hat
faced mighty empire with steady cour
i age, and they had known how to wiz
their rights. He hoped every Irishmar
in South Africa would always honor tn,
/ spirit of national independence shown b,
President Kruger He supported tn,
toast with the warmest admiration for tn,
wise and brave President of the Trans
vaal Loud cheers.
The health of President Kruger wa
: drunk with enthusiasm.
The chairman then said he had to pro
/ pose the toast of the banquet, and in ask
{ ing them to pledge their honored guest
8 Mr.. Gillingham. he knew they meant t.
greet him in his double capacity of Ma
, tionalist comrade and true and tried anC
patriotic citizen of the Transvaal. Mr.
, Gillingham had come to them bearing
7 the message of the thousands of Irisl
: Nationalist in South Africa never t,
. lower the green flag, but, like Presiden
Kruger, ito die first" Loud cheers.
!. The Ifishmen at home parted from Mr.
. Gillingham with regret, for he had de
], served their esteem and affection by hi
! patriotism. They sent by him the greet
a ing of Nationalist, the watchword c
: "Ireland Nation, to the Irishmen o
a the broad veldt and in the rising towns c
= South Africa. [cheers.] He would as
them to drink the health of their hor
4 ored guest with a three times tire,
n Loud cheers.
Mr.. ]. Nolan, ex-M. p, being asked I
4 support the toast, said that it was wit
the greatest pleasure that he did so. NJ
: Dillingham; had brought to their '98 Gel
tenary the assurances of National frate