ement with which Parnell and his
colleagues were identified. The murder of Dr. Cronin, however, had
rended asunder the Irish element in Chicago, and, as a result, there
were two factions, one composed of friends of the murdered man, and the
other of adherents of the "triangle." In this condition of affairs a
"union" demonstration was, perforce, out of the question, and while the
former faction determined to celebrate at Cheltenham Beach, and apply
the proceeds to the fund for the detention and prosecution of the
assassins, their opponents preferred to gather at Ogden's Grove, the
meeting-place in former years, and to make the same disposition of the
receipts as of old. According to the best estimates, from 13,000 to
15,000 people participated in the "Cronin" demonstration, and between
five and seven thousand that of the other element. At Cheltenham Beach
speeches denouncing the murder and demanding retribution were made by
Congressman M. A. Foran, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Frank Lawler, of
Chicago; John Devoy, the well-known Irish leader of New York, and Rev.
Father Toomey.

Said Congressman Foran:

"Dr. Cronin went forth that fatal night as a brave man to answer a
call for help. Instead of being called on a mission of mercy, he
was called forth to be foully and brutally murdered. I will not use
even the word assassination. He was called up to some cottage on
the outskirts of this city. He went in there filled with the hope
that he would be able to carry succor and relief to some suffering
mortal. He is scarcely inside the door before he is stricken
down--murdered, and the next we hear of him his bruised and
mutilated body is discovered in a foul and stinking sewer in this
city. It is almost beyond human comprehension to believe that men
could be so depraved, so low, so lost to all sense of justice and
humanity, so much like devils as to do this foul and heinous thing.
But yet it was done; and then, not satisfied with having murdered
the man himself, not satisfied with having destroyed his body, the
malignity of these murderers is so great that they must murder his
reputation and his honor. If devils were brought up from hell they
could conceive of no fouler, no more damnable deed than that!"

The speech of Father Toomey aroused the thousands of people to a pitch
of almost uncontrollable excitement, especially when he said:

"The