Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-19
FREEDOM5".0f IRELAND
Text Of Addresses at Lafay-
cite Theater.
g
MEETING LAST NIGHT
--%-
81
SENATOR HoAR. fREsIDEs AND
MAKES OPENING SPEECH.
Ireland's Condition. Portrayed by Two
of Erin's Representatives in the
English Parliament.

A campaign for the cause of Free Ire
land which has been in progress for four
months in this country, was brought to
most suspicious close last night at the La
fayette Square Theater in this city. Ire
lands cause was voiced by her own sons
those whom she has honored by the high
est places in her elective choice, and Who,
after their election have become the lead
ers of the Irish party in the British pa Ria
ment-Wiliam F. Redmond, NJ. P, and
Joseph Devlin, M. P. Adding to the
strength of these Jealous patriots was the
presence of Senator Hoar of Massachusetts,,
who presided at the meeting and threw the
weight of his voice and personality for the
Irish cause. Then, too, there were other
members Of both the Senate and House OF
Representatives in attendance, and hun
dred more of the members of Irish
American societies, who, from seats on the
stage of the theater, faced an audience
which for size and enthusiasm left nothing
whatever to be desired from the standpoint
of a successful demonstration. When all
the seats had been filed and all OF the
standing room occupied there were stun
1850 people who sought admittance but
who were turned away without opportunity
to participate.
1t was IRISH night from every point of
view Every phase of her long struggle for
freedom was pictured, as well as every
phase of her poverty and distress. Some
times the speeches limited that rebellion by
the sword would be the ultimate means or
relief, but the period would always end
with the more calm counsel that moral
suason was not yet to be departed from
Senator Hoar pronounced the text OF the
occasion when in his, opening remarks ne
declared that the American instinct for
freedom could not help being aroused by
the condition of Ireland. That, although
he was English in ancestry for 300 years,
he was, above all, American, and being
that, he was for freedom. Following this
came the fiery oratory of the irish leader
Redmond. For an hour he hurled forth in
burning words an appeal which found ready
response in the hearts of his hearers. Then
came the sivery, Irish tongue Of Devlin,
who told what he and his colleague had
found in this country for the good OF Ire
land. Rev. DR.. Stafford of this city leaven-
ed the lump by conservative counsel for
continued moral pressure on England. Be
hind such course, he said America would
stand no matter what. blood was in the
veins of her individual citizens.
Rev. DR.. Rankin added some verses on
Ireand's condition, and the meeting closed
with a mighty cheer for Ireland and for
Senator Hoar, 1.-The, American Gladstone.
Irish and American Emblems.
The theater was tastefully decorated with
Irish and Americanhflags. In the center Of
the stage, over the heads of the speakers.
was a huge flag of the emerald hue, flanked
on either side by the stars and stripes.
while the speakers desk was draped with
red. white and bite flowers and ferns
added to the artistic features.
AS the audience was assembling the regu-
lar theater orchestra played, alternately,
Irish and American airs.
A hundred more chairs the stage
were filled with members of Congress and
prominent personages of the local Irish
societies. Gaily dressed ladies, with their
escorts, filled the mezanine row of boxes,
while pit and galleries were packed with
an audience which in appearance and appre-
citation left no doubt to where Ireland
stands in the heart of Westinghouse.
Mr.. w. F. Downey of this city announced
the purpose of the assembly to be to give
expression to the principles of liberty. When
he introduced Senator Hoar, as chairman
of the meeting, ovation followed, lasting
for some minutes. Senator Hoar in brief
speech, welcomed the members of the Brit
ish parliament as the representatives of
that great legislative body which has been
the representative sometimes of liberty and
sometimes the representative Of tyranny
for more than 500 years.
II am here, and you are here he con-
tinued Ito express our sympathy with
great principle, the principle that govern
ment rests it's authority on the consent Of
the governed"
This brought more applause. and when
the venerable senator declared that this
has been the American doctrine for over a
century, and, trust God it will continue to
be So, the house rang with shouts of
hear, hear"
I'VE cannot help expressing our sympathy
for those across the water continued Sen
ator Hoar. THE more the love of freedom
burns in our hearts the better American
citizens are.
England, he said, had never failed to crit
icse us in the days of slavery in this coun-
try She had then sent George Thompson
and Daniel O'Connell over here to counsel
us to let the erring sisters go. But we
didn't take that advice" continued Mr..
Hoar, amid applause. Senator Hoar said
he was English in every line Of descent for
over 300 years. He might, he said, be con-
sidered a hereto among heretics in his
present situation, but he was with the Irish
cause at heart.
Mr.. Redmond Introduced.
He then introduced Mr.. Redmond, who
was greeted with a splendid ovation. Mr..
Redmond's accent was decidedly foreign.
He began by thanking the audience for
the ovation. 1t showed the great sympathy
for the cause Of Ireland, he said The men,
Der from Kilkenny and himself had not
come across the water to speak for them
selves, he declared, hut as the representa-
Of Irish rpep Of