Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1881 — Irishmen in Council. [ARTICLE]

Irishmen in Council.

A National Convention 06 Irishmen assembled in McCormick Hall, Chicago. About 1,200 delegates were in attendance, representing nearly every State and Territoiy In the UnionJohn F. Finertv, of the Chicago Times, ealled the convention'to order in a speech in which lie declared that it was the duty of IrishAmericans to support their countrymen in the old laud in their strugglo against British domination and misrule. Mr. Wm. J. Hynes, of Chicago, was elected temporary Chairman. MeSsrs. Ronayne and Horgan and Mayor Pqwderly, of Scranton, Pa., was elected Secretaries. T. P. O’Connor, M. P., Father Sheebv and Mr. Healy, M. P., fresh from the old sod, depicted ttie wrongs of Ireland, the speeches being greeted with the wildest enthusiasm. The convention effected a permanent organization by the selection of Rev. Dr. Betts (Protestant), of St. Louis, as Chairman, and the appointment of a Committee on Resolutions, consisting of one member from each State and Territory, one from Canada aud one from Ireland. Tne convention was saluted by a cablegrain from Patrick Egan, at Paris, announcing that tenants on 600 properties iu Ireland had refused to pay rents. Tfie convention adopted a series of resolutions indorsing the “no-rent” manifesto of the Irish leaders, pledging the delegates present to raise $250,000 between now and tne Ist of January, practically agreeing t-o allow existing organizations to stand, and appointing a committee of seven to assist the organization to devise ways and means to carry ont the subscription pledge of the convention. The resolutions were accompanied by an eloquent address, arraigning tho policy of Gladstone, and indorsing Parnell and the iio-rent manifesto.. A gentleman named O’Connor, from Elmira, N. Y., Opened a subscription for Land-League purposes by planking down SSOO, and was followed by Mr. J. F. Finertv, of Chicago, who subscribed SSOO, and liy Mr.' Michael Kecley, of Chicago, who subscribed SI,OOO. The total amount subscribed was about $30,000.