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Show Denver's Welcome to A, 0. H. THE DAYS of this past week have opened the eyes of the people of Denver. Denver Is essentially a convention city. Everybody in Denver is proud of the city, and Denver is lavish in its hospitality to strangers. But never before did Denver have an opportunity to observe and entertain a representative gathering of the Irish people genuine Irishmen, and men and women of Irish parentage, joined together to-gether in the bonds of "friendship, unity and Christian charity." It was a revelation to Denver, which expected ex-pected to find Puck's Irishman in the delegate from Massachusetts, and a stage "Paddy Miles' Boy" in the corps from Illinois. Denver was amazed. Denver was delighted. Denver gave a genuine "Caed Mille Failthe" to the A. O. H. and those who accompanied them across the continent to hold their biennial convention in the Colorado capital. At this writing the national delegates are In session at the Coliseum, and of course, what is transpiring is known only to the members. On Tuesday, however, the session was formally opened and the public was admitted, as Colorado and Denver were desirous of expressing the pride the state and city felt over the presence of the nation's, na-tion's, representative Irishmen. Gov-I Gov-I ernor and mayor and State President McGuire : of Leadvllle . did themselves proud In their addresses of welcome. In like manner did the president and vice president of the A. O. H. wax eloquent in their responses to tbe state and city- executives; and because an Irishman has "always leave to speak twice," boquets. of eloquence were thrown back and forth by the celts of Colorado and the Irishmen from the other side of the Spanish peaks, 2.C0Q miles away. As a mark of respect re-spect to the late Archbishop Feehan, j the convention adjourned. I But before all this took place, pontifical ponti-fical high mass was celebrated in the church of the Sacred Heart, and God's , blessings invoked upon the delegates j and upon the good work they intended j to promote. j There appear to be two questions I which will arouse animated discussion, but which we hope will be discussed solely on their merit3 and in the spirit of the motto of the order friendship, unity and. Christian charity. The chief contention will be an attempt to secure an endorsement of the aims and work of the United Irish Land League. It is said that nearly all of the .officers and directors of the order are firm believers be-lievers in the plan of physical force as best for the liberation of Ireland. We sincerely trust that the logic of the other side" in debate will change this opinion and a vote of confidence in the Land League be recorded. But whichever which-ever way the decision is given, indications indica-tions now are that the victory will be on the narrowest of margins. The other question .which promises heated debate is the proposition to reinstate re-instate Dr. Henebry in the chair of Gaelic literature in the Catholic university uni-versity at Washington. It was the A.. QL H. that endowed this chair with a. donation of $30,000 and certainly the voice of the order should be- respected by the university directors. Father Peter Yorke is on hand to champion the cause of the deposed professor. Father Yorke will be much in evidence ; during the entire convention and will also lead in debate for the Land League. The question of uniting with the Federation Fed-eration of Catholic Societies will also be entertained and doubtless carry in favor of the proposition. If so, the j A. O. H. will be. the most Important I factor of this great Catholic League. Every state except North Dakota is represented in the convention. Who will be the next president? The knowing know-ing ones say it will be either John A. Ryan of Boston or Patrick O'Neill of Philadelphia, one of the present national na-tional directors. Either man will reflect re-flect honor upon the great order. The Intermountain Catholic bids the grand order welcome to these mountains. moun-tains. We are certain that they have enjoyed themselves. And we are certain cer-tain of another thing. When they are a few hours' ride from Denver on their return journey, and looking east, see nothing ahead but a level plain, they will turn their heads again to the west and sigh as they catch a last look at the Spanish peaks. The memories of their visit to Colorado and the sight of its majestic mountains will linger forever for-ever with the. delegates of this biennial convention of the A. O. H. .. |