The Warwickshire Herald. — 1887-04-28 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE "PHCENIX PARK MARTYRS." A BANQUET OF BLOOD.  THE 7iairs reproduces from the Irish World of May 16th, 188:), a report of a meeting held in New York on the evening of May 6th to celebrate the anniversary of the Phenix Park murders. The report was published under the heading of "The Pheenix Park Martyrs. Their Anniversary Patriotically and Practically Kept in New York." and in an introductory paragraph the Irish World says : "The assemblage was composed of well-known Irish Nationali-ts, and the celebration took the form of a testimonial dinner to one who was an important though most unpretending actor in the event that is marked by the 6th of May." Mr. Austin E. Ford presided, and among those present were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Byrne, and Messrs. E. J. Rowe, Professor P. E. Tarpey, Colonel J. P. O'Flynn, P. Egan, J. H. 111‘Carthy, Miles Gibbons, and many others. The chairman, in opening the proceedings, said they had gathered there to give practical testimony of their love for the men who died for Ireland's liberty. "We are assembled here." said be, "on the third anniversary of a battle which was won in Dublin by Irishmen over two of the English faction who came to prolong the oppressive tortures which have been inflicted on the Irish people. (Applause.) Gentlemen, we come to do honour to the memory of noble and fearless men, who unselfishly offered up their lives to serve their kind, and to pay a tribute, on behalf of the Irish Nationalists of tins city, to a brave little woman, whose face is, perhaps, not known to many, hat who•e memorable courage in connection with the v ctory in the Phcenix Park three years ago—(prolonged applause)—whose sacrifice for the Irisu cause is known to us all, and can only be properly honoured by a free Ireland, can only be fittingly appreciated when an iniependeut republic is established on IrLsh soil. (Applause.) In the name of this ass-aibly I commend to your warm reception Mrs. Frank Byrne—(applause)—and rt,k you, Mrs. Byrne, to receive this testimonial (handing the lady a well-filled purse) as a token of the esteem that the men of today hold you in." Mrs. Byrne bowed her acknowledgmeits to the meeting and retired in favour of her husband, who said that "the blow inflicted upon England in the Pocenix Park three years ago was the greatest since Brian smote the Dane at Clontarf. (Applause.) It was the first time in the history of the English connection that Englishmen were taught that if they meant to come to Ireland and continue to oppose the people they would do so at she peril of their lives. (Applatve). Two men of the Irish army met and killed two men of the English army. (Applause.) The doctrine that the rifle alone will free Ireland is dead ; the doctrine that the rifle, supplemented by modern improvements, will free Ireland is alive." (Applause.) Colonel J. P. O'Flynn recited " with mucti ability " Tim Cowley's poem "WellS nd the Land Thieves Ten Thousand Miles Away," after which Professor Tarpey spoke and said : "We must u-e all weapons at hand in our endeavour to free Ireland. We honour Joe Brady as the modern Coriolanus, who struck a great bl .)w for liberty. (Applause.) By a continued use of these weapons Macaulay's New Zealander will soon sketch the ruins of London." A vote of thanks was passed to Patrick Ford, of the Irish IlOrld, for " his unswerving loyalty to the Irish cause," and " God save Ire!and was sung before the meeting terminated. The Times says it may be as well to add that the following names occur in the official of delegates to the Chicago Convention, published in the Irish, World of August 28. 1886 : New York: E. J. Rowe, Austin E. Ford, John McGuire. Among the members of the reception committe3 who awaited Mr. Justin M'Carthy's arrival by the " Britannic " on Saturday, September 25, 1886. were Mr. P. B. Egan, and Mr. Robert and Mr. A. E. Ford, representing Mr. Patrick Ford, the chairman of the committee of the arrangements.— Irish World, October 2,