“(7) To promote by union in a common high purpose, a sincere fraternity, a greater emulation in well doing, a closer confidence and mutual respect among the various elements of the Irish race in America, that by putting behind it the asperities of the past, it may unite in a common brotherhood with its fellows for the honor of the race and the glory of the Republic.
“(8) To compile the results of its historical investigations in suitable literary form; to print, publish and distribute its documents among libraries, educational institutions and its own membership with a view to the wide dissemination of historical truths, and in order that such data may be placed within the reach of historians and other writers and readers.
“(9) To discriminate every paper, sketch and document bearing on the work of the Society before the same is accepted and given official sanction, in order that its publication may be a guarantee of its historical accuracy; to do its work without passion or prejudice, to view acknowledged facts in the true scientific historical spirit; and, having reached the truth, to give it to the world.
“Some two years ago the movement for the erection of this memorial was started. The first suggestion came from Mr. Thomas Hamilton Murray, the late honored Secretary-General of the Society. The Rhode Island members at once manifested a deep interest, formed themselves into a committee, and, in due time, solicited among their number subscriptions for this memorial. These subscriptions came in very satisfactorily, and, when we were assured that it was possible to erect a suitable memorial, a sub-committee of the general committee conferred with the Board of State House Commissioners, who assigned to us the most appropriate space in the State House, beside the cases of flags carried by Rhode Island regiments in the different wars.
“The memorial has been erected with the aid of Rhode Island subscriptions, with one or two exceptions. It was designed by the brilliant young sculptor, Mr. John G. Hardy, under whose direction it was executed by the W. J. Feeley Company, of Providence.
“I now take great pleasure in behalf of the American Irish Historical Society and in behalf of its committee, in presenting to the State of Rhode Island the Sullivan memorial, which Mr. Hardy will now unveil. (At this point the flags draping the memorial were drawn aside by the sculptor.)
“And now I have the great honor to present to you a gentleman well-known and highly-honored by all Rhode Islanders, one who has shown deep interest in this, as in all other worthy projects, Hon. James H. Higgins, Governor of Rhode Island.”
Governor Higgins spoke as follows:
“Ladies and Gentlemen: In behalf of the State of Rhode Island, I am not only pleased but proud indeed to accept this splendid memorial. Rhode Island has a particular interest in the career and achievements of General Sullivan. He was delegated to the command of the forces in Rhode Island largely through the recommendation of General Greene, the greatest soldier of all in the Revolution next to Washington. Through the joint recommendations of Washington and Greene, Sullivan was placed in command of the forces in this State.
“There was perhaps no State in the Union which, in proportion to its size and population, suffered more of the hardships of that great struggle than our own. Some historians have suggested that one section of our State, Newport and the Island of Rhode Island, have never recovered from the blow dealt it through the long occupation of that section of the State by the British forces. We of Rhode Island, therefore, have a particular interest in the efforts of General Sullivan to expel the British from this State.