Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-01
Irish Assert the Right to
Fight for Lib
erty
IN NATIONAL GATHERING
Duties of Various States the
Subject of De-
bate.

New York, Sept 1.-The Irish Ma
tional league. which is in session here,
has declared that the patriots i'll Ire
land are justified IN resorting to arms
to secure their liberty if they consider
the step necessary and expedien5.
This sentiment was embodied in the
resolutions adopted by the league.
During yesterdays session a good
deal of feeling was aroused over the
duty of New York toward the Irish
cause. some holding that the state was
not doing its share in proportion to its
population.
The platform adopted by the con-
vention. after renewing the pledge of
the leagues allegiance to the cause of
Irish national independence. the right
of Ireland to have a parliament of her
own, says:
The Right To Independence.
We assert the right of the Irish
people TO procure their independence
by any honorable method. by work or
word. by voice or sword, as circum-
stances may dictate or opportunities
may offer, but we fully admit the right
to choose their weapons in the battle
for liberty, untrammeled by dictation
from any outside source. realizing that
the people on the firing line of the
fight for nationhood are the best
judges of the policy to be adopted in
their struggle with the wealth and
power of England"
Tho convention rppnUni1pS 10 Gin
calculable services rendered by John
e. Redmond. William O'Brien, Michael
Davitt, John Dillon, T. p. O'Connor,
Edward Lake, and their able col
leagues, services which no material
value can represent or recOmpense,"
and earnestly appeals to Irishmen in
America TO sustain them in their strug-
gle with a generosity worthy of the
glorious renown of the Irish race and
of the cause to which they are inalter-
ably devoted"
Election of Officers.
The league unanimously elected the
following officers:
President-John F. Finerty, Chi
cagO.
First vice president-Patrick Egan.
New York.
Second vice Observation-Disclosures S.
Dewey. st. Louis.
Third vice president-MichaeI J.
Redding. Baltimore.
Fourth vice president-John Fitz-
patrick. New Orleans.
National secretary-John O'Calla-
han. Boston.
National treasurer-T. b. Fitzpat-
rick. New York.
\ member of the committee on ways
and means read a report from the com
mittee in which it was stated that it
is the intention of this committee to
raise $4,000 before the first of next
year for the general election fund, to
be used in England and Ireland.
Michael J. Currey, the New York
member of the committee. told the con-
vention that New York will contribute
$4,000 toward the fund.
Chairman Finerty announced that
Charles F. Murphy, the Tammany
leader, had promised to give $1,000 to
the fund.
\ resolution increasing the national
committee from 50 members to 100 was
lost by four votes. During the discus
sion of the resolution the debate grew
exceedingly warm.
Heated Debate.
John F. Ryan. of Philadelphia. speak
| inG for the Pennsylvania delegation,
argued that New York should not
have any more representation on the
national committee than any other
state. He said the New York branch
of the league had not contributed as
much to the common fund as it ought
10 have done considering its size. there
being more Irishmen in New York than
in the city Of Dublin.
During the discussion the conven-
| ton was in an uproar. and it was
some time before Chairman Finerty was
able to restore order.