The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-21
UNITED IRISH LEAGUE
PROMINENT SONS OF ERIN ATTEND
ING THE CONVENTION.
Address by John Finerty, i'm Which
He Recited Woes of the Green Isle
and Denounced Great Britain.

BOSTON. Oct. 2O.-A notable gathering
of leaders of international reputation made
remarkable the opening of the first con-
vention of the United Irish League in this
city to-day. John E. Redmond, VI. p,
Michael Davitt and John Dillon. NJ. p.
ENJOYS from Ireland; Hon. John Blake,
Irish NJ. p. United States Senator Smith,
of New Jersey; Patrick Egan. former
United States minister TO Chill, and Pat
rick Ford, of the Irish World, were among
the delegates. The convention was opened
at Has by National President John Fin
nerty, who read an address, in which he
said:
English rule stands self-condemnedb by the
official reports of it's servants, which
show that Ireland to-day has a smaller
population than she had in 1901, and that
within the last sixty years 1000 of her
people starved TO death; more than 100000
were eyicted from their homes ard 100000
al least sought refuge from British tyran-
ny in this and other free countries. A
government, whether native or foreign
that could and find remedy for
this wholesale destruction of an ancient
and highly endowed people, has no right
to exist. 1t has sinned against the benefi-
cence of the God and inherent rights of
Under more favorable conditions the
Irish people would be entirely justified in
resorting to arms TO end this huge iniquity.
Right and justice are on their siue and
present opportunity alone is wanting. With
a powerful ally to furnish her with the
neucleus of an army, and with the muni-
tions of war, Ireland, by putting every
able bodied man in the field, could win her
independence. but without such an ally
nothing short of a miracle could render
her victorious. The men upon Irish
ground are the men to decide the policy
of their country. So long as they keep
the green flag flying and make no COM
promise of their rights to be free and in
dependent their American kinsmen are,
and will be, their allies and auxiliaries.
Ireland must fight England with such
weapons as she has ready. She must not
submit to be extinguished while waiting
an opportunity to strike.'
''The best lands of Ireland are held by
alien and absentee landlords. The worst
are occupied by the tillers of the soil. Be-
tween these two classes there is an IRE
pressible conflict The Irish landlords are
offered a settlement tantamount to forty
years rental for the lands they hold in gen.
eral by the law of conquest or the process
of confiscation. These lands belong by
hereditary right to the Irish people, but
the Irish people do not ask for a new con-
fiscation, but for condemnation and pur-
chase by loan on terms of easy repayment.
When instead of $4,000 Coz, ,000 heads of Irish
tenant families become proprietOrs tour
niquet will have been applied to the bleed
ing arteries of Ireland. The young people,
the pride and flower of their country, will
remain at home and beneath the genial
skies of their native land make her fertile
soil blossom as a rose. And with pros
England herself must be growing tired of
the cruel Irish landlords. whom she upholds
by her sheriffs and her soldiers. Balfour
and Wyndham are making last effort in
behalf of their clients, the landlords. They
have dug up the gaunt and CHASTITY remains
of old Edward l. the hammer of the
Scotch and with this rusty old hammer
they are trying to put down the United
Irish League. They have hammered a
dozen Irish members of Parliament and
about three hundred local leaders into JAIL "
Hon. Bourke Cochran was chosen tenn
porary chairman of the convention. Ad-
dressing the convention Mr.. Cochran said
that an appeal to arms by the Irish people
would be folly rather than patriotism, but
that when the truth of the Irish question
had become apparent to the world an ad-
justment of the difficulty would be possible
The committee credentials reported 5s:
delegates present, including 127 delegates
at large. representing twenty-one States
the District of Columbia and Canada; The
convention then organized with John +.
Finerty, Of Chicago, as permanent chair.
man.
The evening session was wildly enthusi
astic. especially during the speeches of Johr
which were adopted at the close of the ses
sion were adopted amid cheers. The res0
lutions pledge the convention to undyine
allegiance in the cause of Ireland's inde
pendence, assert the right Of the Irish race
to carry on the war against England by
means OF honorable weapons, the belief
| that the leaders in Ireland are best fitted tC
direct and carry on this content, demand
| public opinion through the dissemination
| of the facts Of her rule. that the United
| Irish League is the only menace to Eng
| lands rule in Ireland and finally urginf
upon the members of this country to con
| tribute literally to the cause. The conven
! ton adjourned sine die.