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The , Commoner,
NOVEMBER 91906
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Mr. Bryan's Speech Before The Irish Club
A Dublin newspaper printed the following
account of Mr. Bryan's reception by the Irish club
at London:
Mr. W. Jennings Bryan, the democratic candi
Jato for the American presidency, was present at
a reception given in his honor by the Irish club,
n its magnificent new promises, Charing Cross
road, last evening. The function was one which
excited great interest, and long before the hour
appointed, quite a large crowd had collected in the
street for the purpose of catching a glimpse of
I the distinguished American as he entered the
club. ' There were numerous photographers with
their cameras ready to snapshot Mr Bryan the
', moment he alighted from his cab. Mr. Bryan ac-
topted the invitation to attend the reception a
week or two ago, notwithstanding the fact that
his time had been fully allocated to the round of
engagements which monopolized every available
I hour, and which deprived him almost of a mo
ment's leisure.
The club was beautifully decorated, and Amer-
I can and Irish flags floated in the breeze from the
t windows and from the roof of the building. Sev-
eral hundred guests assembled, and when Mr. and
Mrs. Bryan, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. John
Redmond and Mr. T. P. O'Connor entered the re-
V ceptlon hall, shortly after 6 o'clock, they were
t received with an outburst of enthusiasm which
affected the distinguished visitors. The scene waB
an exceedingly brilliant and animated one.
- Mr. T. Rouse, president of the Irish, club, pre-
E sided at the reception. Amongst those present
were: Mr. W. J. Bryan and Mrs. Bryan, Mr.
John E. Redmond, M. P., and Mrs. Redmond, Mr.
T. P. O'Connor, -M P., Mr. John O'Connor, M. P.,
Mr. J. Annan Bryce, M. P., and Mrs. Bryce,
Messrs. T. Condon, M. P., J. P. Hayden, M. P.,
t C. Dolan, M. p., W. McKillop, M. P., D. Coogan;
1 M. P., J. O'Dowd, M. P., R. Hazleton, M. P., P. J.
I; O'Shaughnessy, M. P., Mr. Joyce, Mr. J. Culllnari.
E M. P.,,W. Puffy, M. P., J. McKean, M. P., O.
Nolan, TO. P., W. O'Malley, T. Harrington, M. P.,
I W. Lundon, M, P., W. Devereux (mayor of South-
K wark), Mr. McAl'eer" (mayor" of Workington),
Captain Hon; FItzRoyal Hemphill, Rev. E. Malloy,
Rev.. P. Ttbe, Rev'. 'J. Boyle, Rev. W- Byrne) Water
J" fend,: Rev. Mr. Lynch Mr. Fi H. O'Don-
oll, Thomas Curran. senior Councillor M. C.
alsh. Aid. Anprlim. Councillor MacManus. Coun-
Ofor Leach, E. Cunningham, M. Keating, R. A.
alker and Mrs. Walker, S. Geddes, F. Salles and
rs. Salles. H. McGrath. John Keating and Mrs.
eatinpr.'Miss Flynn. J. Cunningham. W. P. Ryan,
7 P., Jr. Matthew,' Mr. W. Ludwig, John Ryan
d Mrs. Ryan, Miss E. Rouse. Miss F. Rouse,
r, Harold C O'MallPv Mrs. O'Malley, the Misses
allev. Miss Ryan. etc.
) TT V T f'frnni AT T TtrVi -nma KOnnlirail
th applause, said: Mi. Bryan, on behalf of
Irishmen of London and of Great Britain gen-
,lly I offer you hearty welcome, a cead mile
te to the Irish club. , Your name Is one which
n 'centuries ago .was prominent and historical
ho annals of Ireland. May we not also believe
out any lack of modesty that some at least
your many gifts your eloquence, your .politi-
" inifrhl vniir imn.mnnrinn irnnv ronrlv avm-
y, your geniality, your amiability are in part
ied from your Celtic ancestors (applause)'.
, Mr. Bryan, you would De a welcome guest
atairag us whatever the origin of your family in
tie-mere fact that you are a distinguished citizen
mat .the United States (applause). A little touch
American nature makes the whole world kin.
Totvery land and every race your country has
;a xanu oi prumiue, ui uope, oi larger uuurues,
iter equality of opportunity, beneficial change
lm?BLvlronment (annlause). To the Irish in nar-
wnKr voUr country has been an asylum and a
iImtSRB Nearly forty years ago England's great-
"aatfSWtbune used these words: "You will recoi-
NPMat when the ancient Hebrew prophet prayed
'. captivity lie prayed with his window open
s Jerusalem. You know that the followers
omet when they pray turn their faces
Mecca. When the Irish peasant asks for
d" freedom and blessings his eye follows
fitting sun. The aspirations of his heart
ibeyond the wide Atlantic, and In spirit he
hands witli the great republic of the west."
, It iff often the cause of bitter wail, and
mes almost of despair, that so many mil-'
; of our race, have been driven by evil laws
our own beautiful and fertile land, but it
e consolation to us that so many of these
s have 'found happy and prosperous homes.
hospital and glorious bosom of the great'
icl of the est (applaifse);
e are proud that they haye done their'
duty for their now country iu battle by
land and soa, that In tho pursuits of commerce
they have taken their due share, and wo aro
proud and grateful also that while no race of tho
many in your land are more ardently patriotic,
and I might say more vehemently American, yet
they have. not forgotten that sad little island from
which their race, springs (applause). In your
visits to our country you must have been struck
by tho palpable signs all around youthe close
and myriad ties that bind our people to tho United
States,. Thero Is scarcely ono in the thousands
of .cottages by which .your train has apod in which
America has not a daily and hourly thought in
one gray-haired father or mothor, brooding oVer
some beloved son or daughter who has left them
to' find work In America. This man has. a brother
there; this woman a sister; in short while millions
of our pebplo remain in the flesh within the shores
of Ireland, the dearer part of their hearts and
their souls lives In the lands of the Stars and
Stripes, with tho living or the dead who has
found a last resting place in American earth (ap
plause). There Is not a ship that crosses the Atlantic
which does not boar thousands of messages of
love from tho scattered children of the Gaol to
each other. The Christmas letter that brings
help and often the very necessities of life to tho
poor people left at home from relatives that havo
prospered in your land, is still one of , tho
great events of Irish life, still ono of tho epochs
of the Irish year (applause). With tho ties so
close and so numerous, even the breadth of the
Atlantic can never make an Irishman think of
America as far away. It is so near to the hearts
of our people that it seems just next door. The
surf that beats against tho shores of our little
island has apparently traveled from some spot
on 'your great coastline (applause). We look on
you, sir, as one of our truest and most powerful
friends.' We wish you just as well as Wo know
you wish us (cheers). It is not for us to make
any pronouncement, or even to express any per
sonal sympathies, on questions of internal polities
in America. Wo have friends in all parties (ap
plause). Wo have admiration for .men in all par
ties, and not the least for the courage of the reso
lute and honest man who is now your chief magis
trate (applause) a sentiment We know will bo
welcomed by you, whose strong advocacy of your
own political views has always b6en tempered
by your genial and kindly estimato of the per
sonal merits of your political opponents (ap
plause). What great destiny may be reserved for
you in the future is not for us to forecast. That
rests in the liands of your own great and gifted
people. To us it is vyour personality that makes
the appeal (applause). It is not the first time
we have met you here in London. You have
grown upon ub the more we have known you.'
Millions of your own countrymen look to you with
enthusiastic affection and admiration as a politi
cal leader. We bear you the same feelings as a
man (applause). We admire, wo respect may I
not even-say love? you for yourself (applause).
We wish you God-speed, a safe return to your
own land, and many long years of health arid life
for the service of your people and your country.
We wish the same blessings to the true and sweet
companion who Is here with you, and Who is so
. splendid a specimen of America's noblest product,
the" American woman (applause). Mr. and Mi's.
Bryan, I utter to you together tho pleasant and
sad greeting, "Welcome and farewell. -Cead mile
-fallte agus beannacht Hbh" (loud applause).
Mr. Bryan, who was received with loud and
continued applause, said: Mr. Chairman, Ladles
and Gentlemen, it is very kind of you to give us
this cordial welcome and this friendly farewell,
I appreciate the compliment that is paid to us
by" the invitation to attend this club, the compli
ment 'paid to us In" tho speech of Mr. O'Connor,
and the honours done us by the presence of Mr,
Re'dmorid, the leader' of tho Irish party In parlia
ment (applause). ' My only complaint is that in
being more than complimentary Mr. O'Connor has
boen less than klnd,foi' he has said so much In
that generous commendation that it makes It a lit
tle embarrassing for me to speak at all. I think I
made a great mistake when I, was a candidate for
office, If I coujfd .have Stayed, at home and kept
stfll and let Mr. O'Connor tell the people what" a
gopd man f was; Ithink I would have been elected
by an overwhelming majority. His 'introduction of
me is much , more, embarrassing than one i re
ceived some y ears, agq,s 'It Is" now twenty-two
years Since X vihiuju , iu .ipuu , aoutuuiuui iieui
the 'town hi wrilcli I lived,' 'and' the ctiairmaii of
camo and told mo that ho was to prcsido and
would I tell him how I wishod to bo Introduced
and ho would introduco mo (iftughtor). I was
then a young lawyer just beginning practice, and
I thought it might bo well for tho pcoplo to know
that (laughter) and to know that In caso they
had need of a lawyor'a services I was prepared
to render them at a reauonablo chargo (renewed
laughter). So I told him to say that Mr. wT J.
Bryan, an attorney, of Jacksonville, would now
address them. It was a modest introduction, I
mink, but ho had my professional card in It, Ho
. V h R 1OVOrftl tImes' nnd JUBt bof0ro cMla8
the mooting to order ho asked mo to repeat it
and I gave It to him again. Ho called tho mooting
to order and Instead of Introducing me as I had
requested, said: "The meeting is called to orion
0 Bryan will now spoak." Laughter. I look back
to it as the best introduction L over had, for It
raised no falso hopes; it throw mo on tho rosult
of my chance, and left mo to hold my own road
(hear, hear).
Yes, I havo some Irish blood in my vein
(applause). Just how much I do not know. I
hope it will not be necessary to investigate, for" I
think I claim more than I could prove (laughter).
1 havo the testimony of my fnthor that wo wore
of Irish extraction, although wo don't know when
our ancestors landed In America, or from what
part of Ireland they camo. I know that I am
part Irish; my namo helps mo out in that. I
am part English, My father's mother's namo holpg
me out In that I am part Scotch. My mother's
mother's name helps me out In that (laughter).
But I am all American (applause). I think my
wife not only has some of the blood of each of
theso countries, but as she goes beyond me in
nearly ovory other respect, go in this, sho trace
her ancestry to ono more race than I do, arid
mixes a little German with Irish, English, and
Scotch (applause). So that you can understand
wo have a double reason for appreciating the cor
diality of your welcomo (applause). Mention has
been made of tho fact that sdmo. of your couritry-v.
men havo gone ,tp .merica. That is true (laugh-
tor) a, great many. In fact so many, that .when,
I was in Ireland tho other day I could .not help
noticing tho number of American nanietf you havo
on your buildings (laughter and applause). I
saw nearly everywhere, names with which I am
familiar, on tho buildings in Cork, Dublin and
Belfast, I may say to you that tho Irish who havo
gone to America have been a great help to our
country. I can say without flattery that no people
have come amongst us who have shown them
selyes more capable of cfilclent participation in
every department of American life (applause).
You may go into any section of tho country, you
may go among the people of any occupation, of
any profession, of any calling, and you "will find
the Irish there (applause). Thero is no departs
ment of work in America in which, they havo not
played a conspicuous part. They have been prom
inent in the ministry, thoy havo been prominent
in statesmanship, they havo been prominent at
tho bar, and in every industrial occupation, they
have borno their part. It is not strange, there
fore, that there should be a sympathy between the
people of Ireland and tho peoplo of tho United
States (applause). It Is not strange, therefore,
that everything that affects your welfare interests
them, that oycry aspiration you have for tho de
velopment and elevation and progress of your peo
ple finds a warm response In the hearts of the
American people (applause), and that is true, as
has been so eloquently said, without regard to
party, and without regard to creed (applause).
Just as in Ireland, O'Connell, tho Catholic, and
Parnell, the Protestant, found common ground in
advocating tho rights and Interests of Irishmen,
so in ray country Protestants and Catholics look
with friendly eyes upon the Emerald Isle, and t
wish you great prosperity and the advancement '
of your people (applause). It is true, also, hi poll
tics, for while I think I can say that tho majority
of the Irish of America belong to the party to
which I belong, I must be frank enough to tell
you that sympathy with the Irish cause is not
monopolized by the democratic party. The repub
licans, as well as the democrats, look with inter-.
est and deep concern upon all that appertains
to your welfare, and your development, and your
ambitions (loud applause). I think I owe that to .
the people of my country, to my political oppo
nents, to say that wo, democrats, can not claim
any greater love for you, or greater interest In
you, than the republicans, can, for I believe this
feeling is well nigh universal (applause).
ifI.was speaking merely from the political -standpoint
I might express regret that your peo-
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