The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-11-25


oil the Orangenan was only an episode; he returns
again TO HE serious vein, and he carries his audi
ence with hun; again he stops TO throw another
''c'l"h IN the AR, and again he comes back 10 his
subject. llark, now, to that strong and passion-
die dennnclaion, listen TO those strong and fDrc-
bic Images, TO those hardy. muscular, snewey
ideas wll'ch are born liom his brain more rapidly
than they can be uttered, ard are thrown half
Sliapelcss upon the world. 1t is Il splendid thing
to witness a giant intellect aroused and in fail
action unsoye'naLie in the mpidly of lis workings
ANA throwing OF! lis creations in such .eeming CO.
pousness that the body tolls in vain to convey
them TO the material world, IT'S done. The
voice has ceased How lrIling appear the pau-
dts with which he Is greeted! How small aud
Tim sounds The vuce that has taken up the thread
of The debate.
! remember seeing O'Conne a, the Crown and
AnchOI-l think i, was after Lord John RusseII's
declaration against the Ballot, or certainly after
some very unpopular act of which his Lordshp
and The Wings had been guy-O'Conne was
there, and so we're Grole, Roehuck. Molesworh,
aud others of this section Of the Radical party
These men had been haInnering away until they
had well worked up The people before them, and
they had appealed directly to O'ConneIl-"Now,
o Connell, what will you do'"
The question could not 20 unanswered and yet
promising the interests of his counry by declarins
against the Wings. lie was compelled TO come
iorward and he advanced with his fine command
ing figure 10 the front of the hastings and was re-
cened with very distinct expression Of dsuppro-
ballon. O'Connc, who had been accustomed
for years to be received with storm Of acclana-
ton. and 10 have the close Of every third sentence
drowned in cheers, i,ht almost have been OK.
cu'ed had he shrunk from so new and mucous.
TONED Il reception. Not he, Hiss as they might,
n" nerve Of his appeared 10 quver. There he
stood, as daunllrss as confident, and quite us sell.
possessed AS if he had been talking over old top.
les among his coniidanls and cronies of the Com
Exchange.
"NIr Gro.e," he a, length said, during pause,
turning his head quickly on one s,le-..Mr (irole
has asked, Now y Connell what will you do''--
Now, genemenlf You will hod your dear tongues
Il moment, I'm just going to tell him." 1hs,hui
the manner much more ll,in the words, gol him II
moments hearing. But as 10 telling them what hn
was going 10 do,,hal was no, among his Intentions
Instead OF doing so, he struck Immediately into a
few general topics of abuse, in which they were
certain TO sympnhSe with him, and from these he
slipped gently aud in'enshy into the wrongs Of
poor suffering ireland. Ihencerorward his speech
was one Of the most beautiful pieces Of art which
! ever heard. lie beat round and round, workin.
"P"h 'HO P'NsloHs uIIuslp lIlc IIHCy OF Ills
auditors, but never absolutely touching the point
of difference between him ana ,hen-and this he
did without talking n, random, or even starting II
topic which could be objected 10 us prevalent 10
the point under discussion. lie spoke for an hour,
aud he retired amid loud cheers. lie did not con.
vince his audience Tint Lord John Russell wa.
right in whit he had done, nor did he convince
them that it was wrong to vote II want of conf
dence in him and his co.adjulors upon that ac-
count; but he had succeeded in prcven,in, him.
sell from being involved in The censure--he laI
avoided the signal disgrace of being hooled from
public meeting of English Radicals, and he hid
achieved his without giving any pledge to oppose
the Wings.
This was mighty triumph of art, and O'Conc
felt it as such Ills face flushed as the cheering
followed him TO the back of the hastings DID
Mt bling them round weil," he asked quickly
and luughngly Of Roebuck. "Ycs," said his it,
tie opponent, who looked like an atom by his side
and who answered with an AR of disappointment,
"Yes, you did that very well. Bu, let the CUES
lion now be put 10 the vote, aud you will find no,
one man present who thinks any better Of the
Wings for all You have said" O'Connel said
nothing but the laughing roll Of his eye told rs
plainly us words could how little he thought Of that,
and how very different his object had been.
Such is OConneIl in the House and at the hus,.
mas Of public speaking, in both of which so few
are ever exceent-s,ill more his success at tho
bar, the eloquence Of which considered with lrs-
lice, 10 be almost incompatible with that Of anolh
or spherc-his' success IL these three very different
lines of speaking, mark the extraordinary versatility
Of the talent in the man, but sill more his extra.
ordinary and accu,e perception Of The character OF
his audience. None other but man intrnsically
great could have performed this feat. Some minds
vas, in speculation, but incapable in action;
Others are very mediocre IN the closet, but mighty
among moving men. OConncll is Of the litter
class. Every thing he does is directed to an end,
nothing for show. except so far rs that show may
tonduce towards his purpose. In future genera
tion., when the question is asked, "llow were the
civil inca nc,cs of The Catholics removed -
there will be but one answer.-"DaDiel O'Concll
removed them" Catholic Emancipation is rs
solely and eniirel, the work Of Daniel O'ConnelI
as one Of the Hereditary llondsmen' letters which
he dates from Derrnahe Abbey. Although he has
many able men about him, there is not one who
can claim to share with him one leaf Of that lau
rel alone he did IL.
So long ms the Wings keep Oransemen chained,
and O'Connell can get nothing more from any 9th.
er line Of uciion and can retain the support of his
country in this, long will he continue to support
the Wings. BY so doing he gives them in his rs.
iinalion, fair wnges for The woIk they do; and d..
rcclly he can find party who will bid higher, and
have equal power TO perform, he will leave the
wings to their fate wi,out n shadow Of lcompunc-
ton. Ills mind is PRACTICAL He wants so obtain
large tract Of country and retain IL; not 10 fight
great battle and win it, and then be oblise to
treat.
II il great mistake 10 look upon O'Connell rs
an avaricious man. Ills objects are too great to
admit of ayarice. believe that very little Of the
O'Connell Rem, goes into his private purse; bu,
conscdaies his power II keeps together paid
political staff Of the ablcst men 10 Ireland, who
supper, his authority, enter into his policy, and
suppress all muiin, among his supporters. II keep,
in tact ,ha, apparent influence. which, although
apparently sd volatile and little TO be trusted, has
endured every assault that could be made upon il,