“Mr. Chairman, Fellow Members of the American Irish Historical Society, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am deeply sensible of the honor my official position and duty brings me on this occasion as Mayor of Providence in greeting the representatives of The American Irish Historical Society and its distinguished guests from many states; I tender you a ‘Providence Welcome,’ and the freedom of the city.
“I thank the Society for its munificent gift of the beautiful bronze memorial, which commemorates the heroic deeds of Major General John Sullivan of the Continental Army and his services to his native State (New Hampshire) as citizen, legislator, jurist and governor, and also to the United States as a member of Congress.
“The people of Providence thank the State House Commissioners for allotting space for the memorial in the Capitol Building of Rhode Island; it is an appropriate place for a memento of the hero of the Battle of Rhode Island. The good deeds of men live after them. General Sullivan’s life was spent in the service of his state and country. He was generously endowed by nature, with the mental and physical qualities that are characteristic of his race, which enabled him to perform his duty on the field, on the bench, as chief magistrate of his State, and as a citizen, courageously and zealously with loyalty to God and country—seeking honor only in the discharge of duty.
“The history of his life work survives him. We are assembled to honor his memory. The memorial you have this day placed in this State House is a page in bronze, of the history of the early struggles of our countrymen for National Independence, equal rights, and freedom—a page which future generations will read with inspiration to emulate the honorable career of General Sullivan.
“We honor ourselves in dedicating this monument to his memory. Providence is grateful to the Society for possession of it within the city, and is modestly proud of the fact that it is the product of a Providence artist and establishment.
“The dedication of permanent monuments in grateful recognition of the noble service of good men inspires others to heroic deeds and sacrifices, and perpetuates the history of such men and their achievements.
“The American Irish Historical Society, in placing this beautiful memorial in Rhode Island, commemorates one of the early battles in support of the Declaration of Independence and for national separation of the Colonies from Great Britain, fought by an American General of the Irish race, ever loyal to the cause of freedom and equality and commends the history of his life, and the history of the Irish race in America to all men of good will.”
Chairman Lee: “A generous response to our invitations has been received, nearly all our invited guests being present. We have received letters of regret, however, from Rev. W. H. P. Faunce, President of Brown University, Hon. Asa Bird Gardiner, Rt. Rev. Mathew Harkins and one or two others whose letters are not this moment before me. Our fellow-member, the President of the United States, in a letter to us, tenders his regrets at being unable to be present, and cites urgent business at home as the reason. Judging from the accounts in the morning papers about his trouble with the yellow journals, I take it he is pretty busy at this time in Washington.
“We have letters of regret from other members of the Society who are unable to be present. I will read the names only. Rt. Rev. Philip J. Garrigan, Bishop of Sioux City; Rt. Rev. M. J. Hoban, Bishop of Scranton; Hon. W. Bourke Cockran of New York; John Moriarty of Waterbury, Conn.; J. B. Spillane of New York; M. C. O’Brien, M. D., of New York; James H. Devlin, Jr., of Boston, Mass.; Rev. John J. McCoy, LL. D., of Worcester, Mass.; John W. Bourlet of Concord, N. H.; Rev. Gerald P. Coghlan of Philadelphia; Hon. Willis B. Dowd of New York; Richard Worsam Meade of New York; Patrick Gallagher of New York; Edward J. Brandon of Cambridge, Mass.; J. C. Griffin of Skowhegan, Me.; W. P. Regan of Lawrence, Mass.; W. J. O’Hagan of Charleston, S. C.; John J. Slattery of Louisville, Ky.; John F. Doyle of New York; P. F. McBreen of New York; John J. Keenan of Boston, Mass.; William Francis Byrnes, M. D.; Hon. J. C. Monaghan of New York; Wiliam B. Sullivan of Boston, Mass.; Hon. P. J. Ryan, Mayor-Elect of Elizabeth, N. J.; H. M. Cox, M. D., of New York; Dr. George McAleer of Worcester, Mass.; William Gilbert Davies; Charles V. Dasey of Boston, Mass.; Finley Peter Dunne of Chicago; Hon. John J. McDonough of Fall River, Mass.; Eugene Lynch of Boston, Mass.; Stephen Farrelly of New York; Mitchell McDonahue; Henry L. Joyce of New York; Major E. J. O’Shaughnessy of New York; Lawrence Clancy of Oswego, N. Y.; Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Conaty, Bishop of Monterey, Los Angeles, Cal.; Judge Mathew Breen of New York; Capt. James Connolly of Coronado, Cal.; Gen. A. G. Malloy of El Paso, Texas; John J. Daly of New York; Hon. Edward A. Moseley of Washington; Judge Victor J. Dowling of New York; Rev. M. J. Cooke of Fall River and Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady of Toledo, Ohio.
“Before presenting the orator of the day I desire to say to all members who have not visited the Society’s headquarters at the Narragansett Hotel that luncheon will be served there after the ceremonies here; delegates of all the organizations represented in response to our invitation are also cordially invited to join us at luncheon. The headquarters are in room 10 at the hotel, and luncheon will be served in the main dining-room immediately upon our arrival there.