The Irish standard., 1904-12-24
MANCHESTER MARTYRS
Anniversary Demonstration
Held in English tity.
Stirring Scenes of Memorable
Event Recalled.

/ The annual anniversary demonstra-
{ ton in honor of the Manchester mar
tyrs was held in Manchester on Sun
day. says the Dublin Freeman of De-
! crnbcr 3. \ large crowd took part.
notable feature being the unusually
large number of women and children
who marched in the procession. The
morning was cold and dreary. 1t was
such another morning as that Hateful
23d of November, thirty-seven years
ago. when a merciful Manchester fog
clrtained the dark tragedy of judicial
murder from the face of morning. Yet
large crowds massed in funeral order
ut the New Cross in front of the rooms
of the John Mitchell branch of the U.
|. l.. Delegations of Foresters attend
=, ed from Liverpool (Which sent so
members), leeds Farnworth, Norwich,
TNldesley, Leigh, Warrington, Affirm
cham. Oldham. Bolton, Ashton, etc. \
start was made mt 1880 for ST. Pat
rck's church, Mersey street, which
welcomed the funeral procession in the
old days, when honorin" the mrmory
Of Tie martyrs was questionable and
disloyal. \ better feeling now pro
walls. but the demonstration yearly
continues to attend the church which
first opened its doors to the commcm-
Grafton of the martyrdom of Allen,
I.arkin and O'Brien. Headed by the
Collyhurst brass band and the Liver
pool "Harp Of Erin" drum and fife
band, the procession marched via Old
ham road to Livesey street and then
to the church, where II o'clock mass
! was celebrated by Rev. Father Ca
han for the martyred men. Very Rev.
, Canon Mussely, M. r., has generally
celebrated mass, but OH this occasion
illness prevented him from doing so.
Tie church was crowded to the DOORS
Father Gahan, preaching to the con-
%regation, paid an eloquent tribute to
the memories of Allen, Larkin and
OBrcn.
Subsequently a public meeting was
held in st. Patrick's parochial hall,
which was again denscly packed. Mr.
T.. j. Farley occupied the chair, and
there were also present Rev. Father
tiahan, Rev. Father Dunleary, Messrs.
J. Nolan, M. p; J. Doyle, Dalton, Mo-
ran, Dalunty, Cusack, Cuddy, Thomas,
/ Woods, McLeavey, etc, etc.
| The chairman, in opening the pro-
ceedings, said they were assembled
once again to celebrate the anniversary
of the legal murder of Allen, Larkin
and O'Brien. Thirty-seyen years after
the day of their death, the Irishmen
and women of Manchester We're there
to represent the sentiments and the
spirit for which they died Gpplause).
The spirit for which they died, the
work for which they gave up their
lives was for the liberation of Ireland,
to make it free and independent
country. During those years which had
passed since their great sacrifice much
had been done for Ireland, but much
more remained yet to be done. But
how had the progress made in Ireland
been accomplished? lie claimed for
the men who gave up their lives out
side Stafford Jail thirty-seven years
ago, that it was because of their eff
forts and sacrifice that the Irish people
enjoyed such little freedom rs they
had today (applauscl. Their sacrifice
and the spirit contained in it had made
it possible for the Irish people to ell
JOY the little opportunities now afforded
them The spirit of the people was
still unconqucred, and still unconquer-
able (appause). When their race was
scattered. and their people driven from
Holy Ireland they carried with them
the national spirit, and kept it alive in
the homes which they made in other
lands. AS Father Gahan had said
!; that day in the church, ST Patrick had
given the light of Christianity to the
: Irish people, and they had given il
to the world. The Irish people had
given the first light of the Faith that
illuminated its Pagan soul to England.
. lad ireland been Protestant coun-
: inv it would have been a free nation.
but they had kept the shamrock, the
: emblem of st. Patrick, and they were
proud to say that they had kept it
unstaincd (applause) 1t was for that
pride and that spirit that Allen Larkin
. and O'Brien had died. They had gone
, | to their reward. but it was the duty of
, the Irish people to keep alive the spirit
l for which their lives were offered up
: They were not called upon to make
such sacrifices as those of Allen, Lar
kin and O'Brien. but they were called
upon to stand by the men who repro
sent the spirit of their sacrifice, and
, Give help to the Irish Parliamentary!
, ,,lrtv (applnusc). The chairman then
: Introduced Mr.. Joseph Nolan. NJ. T.. as
enc of the men who took part in this
: struggle of 81. and Il personal fricnt
Il one of the Martyred Three, Michae
G'Brien (applause).
!, Mr.. Nolan Nj. F.. on coming forward
: was received with vigorous applause
In the course of an eloquent speech he
c said: In this life there WAS so much il
S tnpir surroundings so MANY things