I am pleased to announce that the past year has witnessed industrial and educational changes in the Emerald Isle. One-half of the present occupiers of the land have purchased the ground outright (Applause) and the division of the untenanted pasture lands among the people has stimulated thrift and neatness, as well as increased production, whilst the Irish trade-mark has protected its home industries. Home Rule agitation has strengthened the position of Mr. Redmond and vindicated his Parliamentary activity. The prospects for Home Rule in Ireland, whether from the tariff reform or from the Conservatives or Free Trade Liberals, are now brighter than they have been since the year 1885. (Applause.)
HONORABLE THOMAS F. GILROY,
Far Rockaway, Queen’s County, New York.
Formerly Mayor of New York City.
It is not my thought, in this prefatory address, to invade the province of subsequent speakers, but rather to introduce to you in a modest way our position as an historical body in this great nation. The gentlemen who will follow me will give you detailed accounts of our activity and strength in this country, whereas it is my humble part to explain our existence and ratify our importance as one of the races that make up this glorious Republic. (Applause.)
We know no creed except the Sermon on the Mount; no race but the community of honest purpose; no politics but those which serve for the betterment of mankind. We want our record from the voyage of Brendan, who antedated Columbus nine hundred and fifty years, to this country, down to the invention of Brennan of the monorail, inscribed upon the pages of history as products of Irish thought and ingenuity.
I will take a minute, if I may, to explain in a digressional way what I have alluded to in my last sentence. Mr. Louis Brennan, inventor of the Brennan torpedo and the Brennan monorail, of which he recently gave a successful exhibition in London, was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland. He was, from 1887 to 1896, superintendent of the Government Brennan Torpedo Factory, of which he is at present the consulting engineer. The first monorail for commercial purposes will soon be in operation in the city of New York. Mr. Brennan estimates that it can easily attain a speed of 140 miles an hour, and that danger is practically negative.
Your Presidents-General, from Admiral Meade to Admiral McGowan, have been men who have stood for the great ideals of this country. Their labors in this Society have been crowned with success, and those of this group of executives who have been removed by the hand of Death can look from their exalted places tonight and feel proud of their meritorious work. They have erected the edifice; it is only left for us to maintain the structure. The work of this Society would be like a “Rope of Sand,” as my friend Clarke would say, unless we perpetuate our traditions and realize the anticipations of our forefathers.
This Society needs a Chapter in every State of the Union, where semi-annual meetings should be held for the purpose of reading historical papers, and at the same time to draw closer and closer together our people. Bring your sons into our Society that they, too, may enjoy the glorious association of our kinsfolk. (Applause.)
There is a tendency, however, among the young people (and this I say with regret) to regard anything Irish as unstylish and, perhaps, a trifle low. Now, such thoughts must be eliminated by their presence and coöperation with us, and their participation in all our allied interests.
My work among you has been a labor of love. The administration has been ably seconded in all its efforts, and the Membership Committee, headed by its indefatigable captain, has regenerated our Society by its colossal work. In two years our forces have been increased to nearly one thousand members (Applause) and the Society has benefited numerically and intellectually, as well as financially.