The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-01-03
MISS MacSWINEY
 THRILLS HUNDREDS

The visit of Miss Mary MacSwiney to Bridgeport yesterday in the inter- est of American recognition of the Irish Republic set a high water mark here for enthusiasm for the cause of the country for which her brother, Mayor Terence MacSwiney of Cork, laid down his life.
 In the evening the doors of the Park theatre were closed long before the scheduled hour, and an overflow meeting was arranged which was ad- dressed by Catherine Gilmore and John Martin of New York, who also followed Miss MacSw1ney at the main gathering.
 Past and present officials of na- tional, state and city and representa- tives of many organizations filled the platform.
 Miss MacSwiney addressed her plea to Americans whose allegiance to America s undivided, and drew a striking historic parallel between the American revolution and that in Ire- land. She asse .ted America had en- tered the war pledged to champion liberty everywhere, and expressed wonder that America could remain happy until the pledge was fulfilled by recognition of the Irish republic. Cajolery and platform tricks are ab- sent from Miss MacSwineys reper> toire, and the keynote of her approach to the subject m ay be found in one sentence of her aidress:- "I would rather risk your anger and tell the plain truth than f1atter you" This attitude made an impression with the big audience and her telling points were punctuated with vigorous ap- plause.
 The meeting was opened by Dr. Daniel J. Griffin, who introduced Fa- thcr M. T. Lynch, assistant pastor or St. Mary's church, as permanent chair man. After "The Star Spangled Ban- ner" had been sung. Father Lynch introduced Miss MacSwiney in a graceful speech in which he said in part:
 There Is one here tonight who can speak with authority and from experience in regard to the wrongs perpetrated on Ireland. It is nor within the gift of tongue to express the happiness we have in greeting this lady who typifies the tragic but the glorious story of the women of Ireland today, teacher by profes- Terence MacSwiney, that fearless martyr whose memory shall forever live in the hearts of democracy with the bravest of the brave'
 Pledge to World.
 Read and read again the noble and then come down to three years ago and think of the renewal of those ideals with which you entered the world war. Think of the noble WOTQS WHICH were pidSCu pCIoAC yoo in the spring of 1917. Think how all through those early months and all the two years in which you fought, youy hearts were uplifted with noble enthusiasm, and you felt. again as your forefathers had felt. your hearts beating high for freedom and for every land, You responded loy- ally to the words of your president when he called on you to enter the war in the name of liberty.
 Inc for which your forefathers fought he pointed out to you that Amerlca was the champion of liberty every where, and he pledged his word, ana he pledged your word to the world that you were going into that world war for a high and noble purpose that you were going into that war tc make the world safe for democracy that you were going into that war tc see to it that no small nation would light of liberty should be granted te the weak as well as to the strong.
 Boston Massacre.
 "Forty per cent. of the American army or revolution were Of Irish de scent Irishmen have fought in al your wars and Irishmen and womeI have helped to build up this might! nation which stands foremost in thf world today, but again say do no sneak to YOU of your debt of grati tude to Ireland. I come to speak tt you tonight of Americas honor. Yo, are a mighty nation. Less than got years ago you were a small Eng1sf colony in America, and because Eng land treated you with injustice, vol decided to throw off her yoke. 4ol tried first every means by which vol could to remain attached to Eng land, and get justice from her, bu she would not listen to justice. A VOL left her shores because of perse thpra decided tna in this new land to which you came you would suffer no persecution t. enter, and though poor, weak coun try at the time you dared to ente dom. You had long and a har' fight You fought from 1775 on wards for years against the very sam enemy Ireland is fighting today. Eng land called you rebels, England sho down your men in the streets of Bos ton. You call that the Boston mass acre still. When English soldier were shot also in the streets of ,Bos tom your forefathers were called mur derers, but the English soldiers tha shot you down were called loyal off cers of the crown shooting down ras cally rebels.
 American Revolution Parallel. .'I have but to go to the records C today to see the American revolutio fought over again with the~ sam weaponv only that we. as we ar nearer. ere more easily attacked. an as the world has advanced so as make engines of war more deStrut tive, our sufferings are greater tha yours ask you as American cltl zens to cast your thought back to tn history of that revolution of yours 2 you have learned of it in your school to remember the glorious fight put u by your forefathers. for they Wef your adopted forefathers, no ma ter what the land of your birth ( ancestry, to think over again tn thoughts and the ideais which ena1 ated from them as they went out fight against the England of their >da to remember the ideals laid betol you by Washington, by Jeerson. | Lincoln, to think of all you ha learned about the constitution of yot country, to read again the Declaratlo of Independence which was signed 1 your- forefathers on the Fourth M July, 1776.
 Miss MacSwiney's Message Miss MacSwiney said:
 ! "I have come to you tonight as a | Jrishwoman bringing to the men ar 1 xop,en of An1prira a neSS1 and