The Irish standard., 1899-11-25
A SERIES OF RINGING OLUTIONS
Hon. John F. Finerty Introduces
Congressman Foster.
ENGLAND'S ATTITUDE DENOUNCED
Men Of Many Races Take Part in
the Demonstration.

Last Saturday night, in Chicago, a
meeting was held in Central Music
Hall to express sympathy with the
Boers. 1t was under the auspices OF
the United Irish Societies of Cook
county, of which Hon. John F. Finerty
is president. The auditorium, large as
it is, was too small to contain the enthu-
siastic multitude, and hundreds clam
ored for admission in vain. The Clan
Na-Gael guards occupied seats in the
parquct. The flags of Ireland and the
republics of the Transvaal and the
Orange Free State were used in the
draping OF the stage and music gallery,
while the portraits of Kruger, Joubert
and Steyn looked down from prominent
places in the rear of the platform.
Congressman George P. Foster pre-
sided and was given a welcome as cx-
pressive as demonstrative audience
could give, and he replied with bril-
liant speech. 1t was an address rcplete
with brilliant passages and keyed to a
high patriotic ideal. He said he could
not make a distinction between inva-
sions OF natives anywhere on the globe,
and this allusion to the eastern trouble
OF the United States was received will,
a demonstration as marked as his lauda-
ton Of the Bocr's defense of his re-
public.
Other speakers Of the evening were
William Woke, representing the Ger
mans; Herman Van Der Ploeg, repre-
senting the Hollanders; C. ]. Belinski,
for the Poles; Rev. P. Moerdyke, D.
M. Kirton and. Jacob Ingenthron. In
introducing Congressman Foster as
chairman, Mr.. Finerty said in part:
GAS president of the United Irish
Societies OF Cook County welcome
you tonight We are here to enter our
protest against British aggression in
South Africa. We are here to protest
against that country upon whose lands
the sun never sets, because as it has
been we'll said God is afraid to trust an
Englishman in the dark. We represent
that portion OF the American people
who are truly American-the men and
the sons of the men who have felt the
lash of tyranny in other lands, and who
came here with the hope of living under
the flag OF freedom.
"This is no longer the republic that
caused England to cease her outrages
upon the high seas under the leadership
of President Monroe. 1t is no longer
the republic that welcomed with open
arms the Hungarian revoiutionist, Kos
suth, and with equal warmth the Irish
revolutionists, Smyth, Meaghe rand
O'Brien; the German revolutionists,
Schurz and Sigel and Hecker This is
no longer the republic whose proudest
boast it was that it wrung its liberty
from the tyranny of Great Britain. Our
leaders have forgotten their dignity, and
some poor Americans fear to give Of
fense to Britishers, but we are guided
by no such purposes.
"We are here tonight to express Our
sympathy for the men who are fighting
against the English tyrants. We are
here to protest most empfatically
against the degradation of the Amer
lean flag by suggestion OF alliance will,
Great Britain
Jacob Ingcnthron, in the course OF a
spirited address, said: "The snake
changes its skin every year, but Eng
land never changes its colonial policy.
Its policy toward weaker nations is
founded upon piracy. 1t is as red
handed pirate as ever cut throat or
scuttlcd ship"
William Woke said that the colors
OF the Boer flag are the colors of Ger
many and Ireland-rcd, white, black and
green-the two countries whose SYM
pathy is with the fighting Transvaalers.
c. ]. Belinski said that Polish regi-
ment, under the command of Col. Char
linski, is battling to-day for Transvaal
independence. Men of other races
spoke for the Beers and excoriated
England. Letters of regret were read
from John Vanderpoel, Dr.. Tenkin
Lloyd Jones and Senator Mason, the
last named saying: "God pity the man
who rolls up his trousers here when it
is raining in London" The audience
was quick to respond to every utterance
favorable to the Boer. Appeals to Irish
] 0otr;ot;en, xvArA r,raa%ad ~,,;%I, ....,..:.-