The Irish standard., 1908-12-12
JOHN F. FINERTY.

JOHN F. FINERTY.
Touching Tribute to His Memory by
6ourke Cochran.
During his stay in Chicago while at
tending the Missionary Congress. Hon.
Bourke Cochran was the chief speaker
at memorial meeting in the Seventh
Regiment Armory which gathered to
honor the memory of the late Col. John
f. Finerty, the Irish patriot, the Amer
lean soldier and the brilliant journal
ist. The meeting was held under the
auspices of the Finerty Memorial COM
nilttee. which was in charge of the
raising Of a fund for monument to
his memory in Calvary cemetery. As
president of the United Irish League
of America, and president of the Unit
ed Irish Societies in Chicago, Mr. Fin
erty earned a place in the affections of
millions of his countrymen. P. T.
Barry, lifelong friend Of the deceased
patriot presided. The speakers were
ex- Mayor Dunno, Brother Adjutor Of
the Christian Brothers, and w. Bourke
Cochran.
AS a result of the meeting over $4,000
was raised to which will be added
amounts from the Ancient Order Of
H:bernians. the Irish Fellowship Club,
the Irish Athletic Clubs and the Gaelic
Societies. The Irish Choral Society
sang the songs which John Finerty
loved, such as Believe Me-" THE Min
strel Boy" 'rhe Harp That Once
Through Tara's Hail." etc. l3ourke
Cochran was cheered vigorously when
he stepped forward to pay tribute to
the memory of his friend. He said In
part:
Il feel that great life has gone out.
watchman upon the tower Of liberty
has been relieved who never sl,,m-
bered. The embodiment of manly vir-
tue. manly beauty and manly courage
returns to the breast of the earth
Colonel John F. Finerty lies in a Chi
cago cemetery.
Colonel Finertys death was mourned
by millions Of his countrymen whose
cause he had served and millions more
of his countrymen who knew and ad-
mfred his virtues in this land of his
adoption
Mr.. Cochran then traced the life of
Colonel Finerty from the time Of his
birth in 1876 in Galway, until his death
in Chicago.
The speaker told h5w Colonel Fin
erty had left Ireland at the age Of II,
after joining the Fenian Brotherhood
and after he had been threatened will,
imprisonment by the English authori-
ties because he had already made him
self prominent as an orator. Mr.. Cock
ran described how Colonel rinerty
fought in the Union army in the Civil
War, how he entered journalism, and
how he acted both as war correspond
ent and combatant with General Crook
General Miles and General Merritt in
Indiana campaigns. The career Of COL
onel Finerty in Congress was traced,
his abilities as an orator and writer
were described and the warmest praise
paid to his memory as far-seeing
Irish y,otpinf 1p.H,o
in the cause Of ireland.
Colonel Finerty was essentially a
constructive statesman" said Mr..
Cochran. mo man ever had u keener
appreciation Of 1reland's necessities
than the man whose memory We honor
tonight
Colonel Finerty always declared
that Ireland's rights must be conceded
some time or other He always took
the position that the course of civiliza-
ton could not be checked, and as Ire
lands wrongs were incompatible witt,
the progress of civilization they must
Inevitably be corrected in time. He
used to argue that. If the Irish peo-
pie once got control of the soil of Ire
land. Ireland would have prosperity
such az had never been edualcd. and he
proved the position by history. Time
ard again has Ireland. in the course
Of the centuries. risen to prosperity
as soon as she was afforded the
chance"
Mr.. Cochran closed his address with
a tribute to Colonel Finerty's personal
characteristics as q man.