Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-07-02
The CIan-Na-GaelM Meeting.


The address OF welcome by judge John
Chambers at "The Wolf Tone Celebra-
ton" on the 18th inst, in Frostburg
Opera House is given here i'll full:
"Dear Friends:
This is the first time within my
recollection a meeting of this nature has
ever been held in Frostburs, and. no
doubt, many of you will wonder why
you have been invited to celebration
of Wolf Tone under the auspices of the
"Clan- Ma Gael Society.
Il imagine | hear many OF you ask
who is wolf Tone" and what is
"Clan- Ma Gael?'
IL will endeavor to explain briefly as
possible.
"First-Wolf Tone was an Irish pa
triot, born in Dublin in the year 1864.
He was of noble birth, a scholar, states
man, and editor, and founder of what is
known as The United Irishmen"-in
existence to-day in every English-speak-
ing country.
His associates were Robert Emmett,
Henry Grattan, Sarstield and others
all men OF learning, who cast their lot
with the common people, asking for
republican form of government by and
for the people of Ireland.
when the officials of the English
government learned that this movement
was in progress they felt it their duty to
suppress it, and a price was put on Wolf
Tones head as the leader.
ITO avoid arrest he went to France,
and there joined the French army, and
remained i'll that service about four
years, during which time he earned the
rank of Colonel.
He was not idle during this period.
He kept in touch with his people, and
through friends, about the year 1898, he
induced the French government, through
the good offices of the United States
ambassador at Paris, to fit out Naval
fleet to invade Ireland and aid the RevO-
lutionists-there at that time. The ma
jority manning this fleet was French
men under the direction of Wolf Tone.
This effort was failure, as the Brit
ish We're appraised of the coming of the
French fleet, and the historian tells us
that for six hours Wolf Tone, with his
little fleet, fought one of the most des-
perate naval battles ever known, end
ing with the capture of wolf Tone"
who was condemned to be hung within
twenty-four hours after his capture.
at that time he was an officer, in the
service of the French government, and
he asked to be treated as such. That
claim was denied, and he was branded
as traitor. which we claim was unjust.
CAS- to the "Clan-N Ma Gael" l will say
that it Is not generally known that Wolf
Tone, Emmett, Grattan and others of
our Irish Patriots We're non-Catholic,
who gave their time and sacrificed their
lives, along with our Catholic agitators,
for the freedom of Ireland.
Therefore, you will understand that
the "Glan Ma Gael is an organization
of Irishmen and of friends who believe
and sympathize with them in securing
the freedom of Ireland.
Again, you need not be surprised at
being invited to be with us to-day to
listen to an appeal from the descendants
and followers OF Wolf Tone to our
American citizens to assist us i'll every
honorable way to obtain a Free and In
dependent Government for the People of
Ireland, the same as we enjoy under
this glorious government of our own.
1--WE have some distinguished gentle
men here to-day, who will give you some
very good reasons why we should be
friendly and insist on the freedom for
which our people are struggling.
Il, therefore, in behalf of our society
extend to you hearty welcome to one
and all and in behalf of the good people
of Frostburg here assembled | extend to
our visiting friends most hearty well
come"
The address of John Dewey. of New
York. was one of the best ever delivered
in Frostburg. 1t was an entertaining
recital of Irish conditions and claims at
once interesting aud convincing, and the
large audience was stirred deeply by his
eloquent conclusions of what should be
and eventually will be accomplished by
and for the people of Ireland.
Altogether, it was a memorable
meeting.