The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-14

enough present who understood his re-
marks to frequently interrupt him with
applause.
Returning to the English language,
he congratulated the managers OF the
meeting for its grand success, and the
people of Worcester, irrespective OF
race or creed, on having such young,
able, eloquent and apparently so honest
a man for its chief executive as Mayor
O'Connell. This reference to the mayor
was greeted with great applause,
and when 1t cleared, Mr.. O'Donnell
continued his address by saying:
Irish Exiles, you have greeted us
tonight with hearty, enthusiastic re-
ception, worthy of your race, worthy
of the causewe represent, and eloquent
ly expressing the sympathy and love
you feel for the land whose case we
state and whose cause we plead. In
coming to Worcester we are not COM
ing among strangers or enemies, we
are amongst our own kith and kin, to
whom Ireland's condition is familiar
and English tyranny a byword. Indeed
| not alone in Worcester, but everywhere
| we have gone throughout this great,
| prosperous country, we have been Wei
coined and our cause warmly supported
| by all, whether they were Irishmen, or
| sons of this great Republic. Your num-
| bers and your enthusiasm at this meet
| ing attest to the world the strength
| and vitality of your race, and your de-
termination to continue the struggle of
your fathers till Irishmen are allowed
to breathe the free air of liberty in
their own country.
Fellow Countymen, what Is this
Irish difficulty which year after year
and generation after generation is con-
tinually coming before the world and
knocking at Englands door for saliva
ton? Your presence here tonight in
such numbers full of energy and deter
mination for the support of Ireland's
cause and vowing vengeance against
her oppressor, is in itself a proof to
the world, IL indeed further proof were
needed that Irelands cause must be
Just her demands based on freedom and
right, and her continued enslavement
by England contrary to justice, to free
dom and humanity
Zone hundred thirty years ago an
English parliament directed your gov
eminent from London, an English king
was at your head, the Union Jack
hoated over you, and your vast coun-
try. with its untold resources. its Won
drous possibilities, dragged along un-
known to the world. without life, en-
ergy or vigor, till the sword of the i'm
mortal Washington swept the cloud
of foreign and autocratic dominion
from your shores, and showed in the
fun blaze of liberty a new people and
a new land. On that glorious morn
which saw the end of English mis-
government of America, and the birth
of a free republic based on the peo-
pies will, began the growth of that
that wondrous activity. J
that marvellous success. that glorious
Freedom, which has made America, the
first and most powerful nation on earth /
today the sure refuge of every OPP /
pressed people, the living testimony Of |
the possibilities Of true democracy.
Freedom has brought prosperity TO
America. The genius and the energy |
Of your people have been permitted to
develop, unrestricted by foreign neg
ect, or antiquated notions, until today |
you are the envy and admiration of
the world, courted by those who little /
over a hundred years ago, strove to /
keep you in slavery.
shortly after the dawn of liberty on |
your shores. Grattan. whose memory
Is dear to every Irishman demanded /
IN eloquent tones the freedom of the
irish parliament from any English in
the absolute and completes /
of our country. His elo- /
1uent words were backed by the still |
more forceful and effective demands 1
Of $4,000 Irish volunteers trained and /
armed and ready to enforce his de-
mands with the sword. When Grattan I
presented his country's case before the /
enemy he stated This is our demand, /
we give you a month to consider the (
question and decide. Choose between |
our rights peacefully or con-
,eding them to the sword" England (
had ever known the justice Of the /
Irish demand but needed ii not till |
the orator was backed by the soldier. /
England, through fear, conceded what I
she would never yield to Justice, and /
within the month signed the famous
declaration of independence Of the
Irish parliament. What a glorious re-
suit Of unity and national determine
ioni What lesson TO Irishmen on the
way in which their country's freedom
,an only be won. not by whining APP
Deals for mercy but by a resolute de-
nand for justice. backed and enforced
by the united strength Of the Gaelic
ace all over the world.
las such do we come to your shores
.oday to tell you that Ireland has made
up her mind as to the battle which is
10 be waged and the policy with which
L is conducted. We come to tell you
that as a result of the freedom and
given by the Land League
and National League a new and more
determined Ireland has sprung up at
home, and that you who left our I
shores 90 years ago, when the farmer
was a slave afraid to speak his mind.
afraid to vote. cannot realize the
shange that has come over the face Of
he country within that short period.
To-day as a result Of the labors of