The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-16
AN IRISH CELEBRATION
AT WHICH MICHAEL DAVITT AND
O.DONOvAN ROSA SPOKE.
Thousands of Addressed
by Two Noted Agitators-Erin's
Contribution to America.

CHICAGO, Aug. 15.-Four thousand Chi
cago Irish-Americans gathered at Sunny
side Park this afternoon on the twenty
sixth annual demonstration of the United
Irish Societies. concentrating the three
hundred and second anniversary OF the vic
tory Of Yellow Pass and the three hundred
and third anniversary of IIugh O'Neilrs
victory over the English at Yellow Ford.
a meeting nearly equal in strength TO that
at Sunnyside Park was held at Oswald's
grove under the auspices of the Irish Ma
tionalists. At the former meeting Michael
Davitt was the chief speaker, at the latter
O'Donovan Rosa.
Except Michael Davitt, who came from
Ireland to attend the Sunnyside gathering,
all the speakers at the demonstration of
the United Irish Societies were prominent
Chicago Irish-Americans. Prominent New
York Irishmen and one resident of Dublin
were speakers at the Nationalist meeting
in Oswald's grove. O-Donovan Rosa ar
rived in Chicago yesterday. James +. Ea-
gan, of Dublin. the swordbearer of the lord
mayor, arr. ed early to-day. He made a
speech which dealt with present conditions
III Ireland.
Sunnyside was crowded with Irishmen
when President John Finerty called the
meeting to order. In his speech, Mr..
Davitt, after contrasting the conditions in
Ireland to-day with conditions as they ex-
listed in the early part of the nineteenth
century, said:
II was in this city addressing the Irish
societies of Chicago fifteen years ago to-
day. Within that time fully 100000 young
women and young men have crossed from
Ireland to the United States, not TO return.
Allowing half of these to have been men,
the loss to Ireland and the gain to the Re
public would be a quarter of a million OF
the younger and brawnier of our manhood;
that is. eight times the number of men of
another race who. for the last two years.
have for "a time beaten one OF the greatest
empires in the world in the field, and who
are still unconquered and / believe uncon-
able by the same power which has been
mainly instrumental in forcing our people
from their own to other countries.
THE notion obtains in many minds here
In America that nothing would ave been
or could have been done at home during the
last twenty years were it not for the un-
stinted monetary support that has flowed
across the Atlantic. That is a ridiculous
delusion. l venture to say that our people
| at home, poor as they are, nave subscribed
80 for every 81 given by our friends and
kindred mere. 1t is not America that has
been pouring its treasures out to Ireland; 1t
is the other way. Forty thousand of our
young people come here from the old land
every year to add TO the wealth-producine
power of the States. Economically valued
these emigrants are worth $1,000 each, to the
industrial assets of Uncle Sam
A second meeting was held in the evening
at NiiNu NIL. DdNltl ltpcdltu ulo duulCSs
and speeches were made by a number oi
local 1rishmen. Resolutions were adopted
announcing faith in the patriotism and
ability OF the men who are directing the
Irish cause in Ireland, declaring admiration
Tor and sympathy with the Beers and re-
GREETING that the United States had with
held its active aid from them.
AT Oswald's grove O'Donovan Rosa, ir
his addres S., agreed with Michael Davitt
that emigration is drawing the hearts
blood out Of Ireland. but the worst thing
for the country, declared the speaker, is
the fact that there is really no DISPOSE.
ton among the Irishmen to really do any.
thing. The idea of obtaining anything
from England" declared Mr.. Rosa, save
by the sword, is nonsense. The policy OF
England is to drive every Irishman from
Ireland, and at present she is meeting with
fair success in this work. Her policy OF
forcing the Irish out of Ireland dates back
for fully twenty years, and it will continue
until all Irishmen shall be driven from the
Island" Nothing but force. declared the
speaker, will avail to make England change
that policy. Nothing will ever be accom-
plished by parliamentary agitation.