The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-20

.IRELAND'S HERO HON0RED
Irishmen Fittingly Observe
Wolfe Tones l35th
Birthday.
MAYOR HOOS' ELOQUENT TRIBUTE
Ex-Assistant Secretary Nc
Adoo's Eulogy of Irish
American Patriotism.


st. Michaed's Hall was crowded TO its
utmost capacity last night by an au-
dience Of Irishmen that q cred to honor
the memory of Theobald Wolfe Tone.
The occasion was the celebration of the
sdry of tfit III ia stf1s 17ish pa e
was also celebration Of the centennial
anniversary Of the Irish revolution of '9s
in the cause of which the honored patriot
lost his life. The celebration was held
under the joint auspices of the Wolfe
Tone and Sarsfield's associations of this
city. Company A of the Irish Volunteers
of Paterson, in full uniform, and the La
dies Auxiliary Corps of that organiza-
tion, were the guests Of the two associa-
tions. Many of the visiting lady volun-
teers occupied seats upon the stage
Mayor Hoos presided and made an adj
dress. The orator of the occasion, how
ever, was ex-Assistant Secretary of the
Navy William McAdoo, VINO, besides pay
ing glowing tribute to the Irish patriot.
Wolfe Tone, preluded it with tribute to
Irish-American bravery, heroism and pa
triotism in all our country's wars, in
Guiding that of the present conflict with
Spain.
The meeting was called to order by j
H. Sullivan, President of the Sarsfield
Club. Besides the Mayor who presided,
and Mr.. McAdoo, there were seated upon
the stage John p. Feeney, P. j. Ken
nedy, F. Connolly. F. Murphy, w. Sulli-
van, P. Reardon, J. H. Sullivan. NJ B.
Holmes, William Lyman of New York.
J. W. Donnegan. Cornelius Reilly Of New
York, Prof. Mackey, Thomas F. Meers,
James Golden. James G. Fitzgerald, Jas.
Blem, John j. Kelly, John Curtin Kent,
Patrick Smith, Frank Murphy, William
Lyman, John Bannon. joan F. Kearney
and Joseph F. Flood.
Mayor Hoos was introduced as the pre-
siding officer by President James Sullivan
of the Sarsfield Club. The Mayor was
warmly greeted. He said
Among the grand galaxy of names that
adorn the pages of Irish history during
that stormy period which eliminated in
the Rebellion of 1885, there are few that
deserve to be emblazoned on brighter
scroll than the name of him whom we
have met here tonight to honor, the great
organizer of the United Irishmen, the
friend of civil and religious liberty and
the unflinching patriot Theobald Wolfe
Tone. We who. live in the declining years
of the nineteenth century, when freedom
| of speech is not curtailed and a free
press guards the peoples rights and
curbs the tyrant's power can hardly inn
agine the conditions under which Wolfe
Tone labored for the freedom of ireland.
The man who had the courage, one hun
dred years ago, tos advocate the peoples
rights and denounce the oppressive laws
which reduced them to a condition of
slavery was not sure but the morrow
sun might see his lifeless body swinging
from the end of the hangman's rope.
'eThese were the conditions under which
Wolfe Tone a graduate of Trinity Col
lege, who had been admitted to the Eng
eish Bar, a Protestant, took up the cause
of his oppressed countrymen and deter
mined to unite them, Protestant and
Catholic, in one grand constitutional ef-
fort to redeem their country from the
downtrodden condition to which centuries
of misrule had reduced it. This was the
task which the patriot-martyr whom we
have assembled here tonight to honor de-
voted his brilliant talents and freely
yielded up his life to accomplish. That
he failed then, we admit but the prin-
ciples which he advocated. for which he
labored and for which he died. still live,
and this meeting of the scattered chill
dren of his race assembled here on the
soil of this free land, consecrated to lib
erty proves that the principles for which
Wolfe Tone died shall never die. Had he
accomplished the freedom Of his country,
as the father of this glorious Republic.
the immortal Washington did, his name
and fame would be handed down to the
ages for the admiration of children yet
unborn; but for what he did and at
tempted to do he is entitled to the last
ing gratitude of his race, for we are told
that no greater love can man show than
when he dies for man., and this was the
love that animated Theobald Wolfe
Tone
The Mayor introduced Mr.. McAdoo, who
was roundly cheered.. He preluded the
address with the following:
ssAt every considerable gathering of
American citizens it is right and proper
that so long as the Republic is actually
engaged at war with a foreign enemy. we
should proclaim our loyalty and devotion
to the flag With American citizens of
Irish birth or descent this is as natural
and spontaneous as the act of living it,
VI.
in the blood of Irishmen has been writ
ten the devotion and fidelity of the race
to the Republic, and their enthusiasm
for it's Institutions its imperial progress
ana manifest destiny.
ssWhen this war has gloriously ended.
by the success of our arms, and the
American flag. whose starry constellation.
beams the light of liberty for the whole
human race. has made itself regpant and
invincible on every land and sea, from the
Antilles to the far Orient. then will come
up for settlement in the form of reason,
grave and far reaching questions affect
ing our foreign policy, which will inter-
est all nations and affect for centuries
the destiny and progress of humanity.
Trust me, fmy fellow citizens, a broad
minded, just and generous American
people, composed of many bloods and
races will readily accord to the citizens
Of Irish birth or extraction, a free and
fun voice in the settlement of these great
policies. BY the shades of the Irish
heroes, who have died and are now ready
to die under the Eagle of the great Re-
public, by the glorious virtue, industry
and civic fidelity of the race, you will
have claim to be heard in the calm.
deliberative councils Of the nation, which
you have done SO much to create and
preserve.
q For me ,,7nsfY,f the TInitedS States ii a