The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-20
MANCHESTER MARTYRS.
Big Preparations For Cele-
bration Of the Ami
versary in Worcester.

Preparations for the coming of Lord
Mayor Daniel Talon of Dublin and
Hon. John E. Redmond, NJ. P, to Wor-
cester OH Thursday evening, have been
completed.
Hon. George F. Hoar has consented
to preside at Mechanics hall, and will
Introduce Mr. Redmond, who is to
make the speech of the evening. He will
probably touch on the history of the
Manchester martyrs, as the date is the
anniversary of the hanging of Allen,
Larkin and OBrien.
The sale of tickets has been way
beyond the expectations of the com
mittee, and there Is little doubt but
what a large crowd will hear the lee
ture, which is for the purpose of raising
funds to preserve the Parnell home
stead at Avondale, and also to erect
a suitable monument to the memory of
the great Irish leader.
Since the Norman king of England
in the 18th century gave the charter
which created Dublin a burgh, and gave
the burghers right to elect a mayor,
no more remarkable circumstances eff
fecting the length of the tenure of Of
flee of lord mayor has occurred than
the prolonged period Of the present oc-
cupant, whom the people of Worcester
will have a chance to see Thursday.
The usual duration of a lord mayor
term of office is one year, from Jan. l
to Dec 81. In notable but exceptional
cases this period has been prolonged
into a second year, but in the present
instance Lord Mayor Talon assumed
office Dec. 1, 1897, and will resign the
gold collar on Jan. %, 1900, so that his
rule Of the city of Dublin extends into
four years, a period without example
or precedent in the eight centuries Of
the municipal history of the city.
1t is well remembered how universal
were the preparations among the Irish
people OF America in connection with
hopes were dashed to pieces at the out
break of the Spanish war. Lord Mayor
Talon had both the will and intention
and made the preparations to royalty
receive his American fellow country
men. He is a very successful business
man, skillful and accomplished orga-
nicer of his trade, lifelong friend Of
the poor.
AS a member of the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul and also a jealous
member of the Oldest of Dublin chart
ties, the Roomkeepers' Society, he has
done much good.
He at once signalized his advent to
the civic chair of Dublin by instituting
a Mansion house coal and poor fund
which was largely subscribed to, and
was Of immense benefit to the poorer
people of the city.
But circumstances of greater national
Importance were soon to claim larger
share of his energies. The autumn OF
1897 was wet, and as consequence, the
potato crop suffered. The harvest was
the worst for many years, and severe
distress resulted. In the congesteC
districts of Donegal, Mayo, Galway
Cork and Kerry, some 100000 people
lived, eking out an existence and dec.
mated by famine and fever when the
harvest failed.
Lord Mayor Talon appealed to the
charitable public at this time, anG
on seed food, clothing, feeding schoo
children and in the construction of use
full and necessary works in the dis
tressed districts
On the 18th of August, last year, the
streets Of Dublin We're the scene of 6
memorable demonstration, to common
crate the efforts and sufferings of the
United Irishmen. Lord Mayor Tailor
gave a magnificent banquet in the eve
ming to the representative men of tht
race from ireland, England, America
South Africa and Australia, who were
in the city. On his right was John e
Redmond, who will be in this city will
him Thursday evening, and on his lef
John Dillon.
Of his companion of the trip, Mr.
Redmond, there Is no need of going int
any extended detail, as he has beer
heard in Worcester before. 1t was OF
his suggestion that the memorial t.
Parnell was inaugurated.
The clash of party strife which has
been inseparable from his life for the
past six years, has tended to make
his spirit less buoyant than in the ear
ly days of the United Irish party.
Both men will be escorted to Mechan.
les hall by a large delegation, and the
committee feels certain that they will
both remember their visit to Worces-
ter