Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-20
HELP FOR IRELAND
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING HELD
AT CARROLL HALL.
Branch of United Irish League Formed
Patriotic Addresses by Mr..
Devlin and Others.

oosepH levin, member OF parilame
from Ireland, addressed large and en-
thusiastic audience, at Carroll Institute
Hall last night, after which the Washing
ton branch of the United Irish League
was organized with 100 members, and Mr..
William F. Downey a prominent livery
stable proprietor of the city, was chosen
as president About 800 persons were pres
ent, among them being a large number OF
ladies, who offered material as well as
moral support to the movement.
When the signatures OF members of the
local organization were called for the name
Of Mrs. Edwin B. Hay was the first to be
placed on the roll, and she subscribed the
first dollar toward the cause by the pay
ment Of membership dues. Mrs. Hay was
not present, but she had authorized Cap
tam y Farrell to enter her name as men,
Der and to offer her subscription.
Mr.. Devlin presented the purposes Of the
United Irish League and told what it had
accomplished since it's organization in 1897.
he spoke favorably of his efforts for the
cause in America and said he was pleased
tnat the people Of Washington, the capital
/ OF the greatest country on earth, have
pledged themselves to assist in the work
begun by the league.
ne declared that the league is not antago-
n1stc TO other organizations working to
benent the Irish, and that it would rather
assist than obstruct movements by other
socletleS which have for their object the
good Of Ireland.
Not Parliamentary Movement.
The ork of the league, he said, is not a
parliamentary movement, but one instituted
by the people who have declared themselves
for Ireland This being the case, he said,
1t Is now time for the people to decide
whether or not the Irish are able to govern
themselves. III we say they are not, then
1t is an Endorsement of England's conten-
ton that they are not fit to rule themselves"
He described Ireland as a beautiful is
land. and instead of it's being "a pasture
for focks and herds as an English states
man once said, Mr.. Devlin declared that
COO made 1T beautiful home for brave,
intelligent men and fair women.
The league, he said is opposed to reyo-
lutlonary methods, because revolutionsts
seldom accomplish much, and England is
waiting for just such a movement, so that
she would have ground for wiping the is
land from the face of the earth
He told of the hardships Irish members
OF parliament have to endure, and said they
devote their energies in the interests Of the
country for five months without nav and
then are put in prison for about two mont his
for doing so. He said he had frequently
refused to stand for election and 1t was
wnle ne was visiting in America that he
was elected to parliament, and he had
visions of prison staring him in the face.
Spirit of Unity.
Mr.. Devlin spoke In regard to the
spirit of unity noticed In Ireland, favoring
the cause Of a free country, and to the
hopeful outlook for nationalism, which. he
said, was never brighter than at present
Not only was this true of the situation In
ireland, he said. but also OF conditions
outside the emeral isle where the interest
was intense and strong. Over three mil
lion voters in England land Scotland, Mr..
DeVlin said, had subscribed to their fund
last year, and others had contributed with
equal liberalty. He closed with a fervent
appeal for cooperation and action.
Mr.. Michael Redding OF Baltimore ma
tional vice president Of the league, was
the next speaker, and he told of the move
ments for nationalism for Ireland He
said the principal thing was to free Ire
land first and the question of methods was
a secondary matter.
Other addresses were given by Capt. Pat
rick OFarrell. Mr.. William F. Downey
and Mr.. Charles Slater.
The local branch organized last night Is
intended to be parent of other branches in
the District and the officers elected are
as follows: President. Mr. VIM. F. Down
ey; vice president, Mr.. Michael J. Kane;
secretary, Miss Ella Blaine Gleason; treas
urer, Mr.. Lawrence Mangan.