The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-23

limbs!
The multitudes that attended him in other local..
ties and his victories the intern that up
till his time was the curse Of the land, equally
not only far exceed limits but Ill large volume.
He visited Waterford, Lkmore Enns, Clonmel Thurlss
Cashsi Templemore. Castlecomer Rathdowny &C.,
&c where the same OF ten Of thousands hrong
ing to take the pledge were witnessed At Parsons
town. the scene most interesting On entering the
area In which stands the beautiful Roman Catholic
chapel the spectacle impressed bosoms very sus-
ceptibe with feelings Of intense interest and awe In
front OF the chapel was stationed large body Of police
presenting very fine and well disciplined force Out
side these the rifles, Bonded knee with bayo
nets fixed and pointed forming barrier oppose the
rushing multtudes; whilst within aud without this
barrier to keep the passages clear the cavalry moved
up and down In slow and measured pace. Beyond aud
the eye could reach along the streets we're the
congregat.d swaying to and fro with every
impulse and by their united voices producing q deep
indtinct sound like the murmur OF the rufsd
OF the sea Within the vicara residence and in strong
contrast to the stirring without safe tue mild
unassuming. extraordinary man round whom had COL
ect'd TINS display o. martial pomp and numerical force
To give an idea of the most extraordinary i'm pulse
which he had communicated to the public mind on
this subject may state that Ia day. at Nenagh
70 ooo persons took the pledge in Galway In two days
100 000 in Loughrea, In two days, $4,000; between
Galway and Loughrea. and on the road to Portumna,
from leU 900 to zoo 900; In Dublin during Eve days,
about 100000! There are few towns in ireland which
Father Mathew has not visited and with the like
1t is true that the temperance movement was begun
In this country long before Father Mathew took IL up,
and curiously enough. too by six gentlemen In Bat-
2
formed themselves into the arst I. society in
the world called the Washingtonian, in honor Of
George ashington; and this is still the
Of the principal society in the United States The
temperance principle had also gained footing in thu
North Of Ireland. where the Rev DR. Edgar Presby-
warmly opposed total abstinence But all these ope.
ra'ions were only preudes to the drama in which
Father Mathew was the actor.
Before he took the lead, controversy sprung UP
that ragged very ercely for time 1t the total
abstaipers and the men who sbstaRed from whiskey,
brandy and rum but commended for the mperate
Of beer ale, porter and wine. Father Mathew seemed
determined to set the controversy at rest by boldly
Promulgating total abstinence from all intoxicating
drinks" and discouraging intempersnce in Others
The Catholic population everywhere embraced the
doctrine preached by him, and those who adhered to
the other principle dwinded down to a handful.
he fidelity with which the pledge was kept by the
people was extraordinary. They .garded it Q sin
the abest divines had declared that there Nss
moral obligation whatever to keep it. 1t was con-
siderrd however dsgracefu in the extreme to break
IT, and those who did IL relied upon secrecy unless
notorious profigate drunkard, who plugged deeper
and deeper In the mre. Some only took 1t condition.
have them released from what they considered q
kind Of VOW. Such was the glowing enthusiast m
that at one time prevailed you would behold ladies
Of the first respectabty meeky kneeling at the feet
Of the Apostle Of Temperance to receive his blessing,
and bringing HIM their little whom he was always
glad to see. The despatch with which he touched the
heads Of his audience they kneeled in groups
peated the words Of the pledge after him. truly
wonderful He always estimated the numbers who had
through with the ceremony For whole days together
in Of the churches and late at night 1t his odg-
ings did this ndefatigabe man pursue his vocation.
Some Of the astocracy of ireland him by the
the greatest beneactor Of the country Among tho
distinguished men that Joined his the
Of the land and the clergy Of all denominations Sir
Philip CHAMPION, the first lawyer in Ireland Judge
Champion, and Lord Trimbleston among bis fol.
lowers Even In England which he visited In l843 and
1874 he received with the most unbounded enthu-
siasm. The Earl Of Stanhope the first noblsmsn
who the pledges and in honor Of the occasion set
Of quadres pubished bearing his lordships
Lord Shrewsbury was also prominent follower Of
Father Mathew.
friendly to him, and Mr. O'Connsl never liked him -
Both the arch and the clergy body were
jealous Of his In nuence and his fame He never
politician or II he had any leaning 1t appeared to b.
the conservative side and in support Of the existing
order Of things for he believed the evils of the country
were social, and not political Recently he lost much
Of his popularity by accepting pension from gov
eminent.
Though he made considerable sum of money by
the sale Of the medals which made for him at
Birmingham bis travelling expenses very great,
and he was very ready with his purse to support
of silver and even Of gold medals which, no doubt
tended to diminish his funds. There was q movement
some time since set foot to raise him testimonial
and q considerable sum Of money subscribed -
There was much discussion to what the nature Of
this testimonial ought to be- Some for erecting
monument, some for purchasing for him an estate
But nothing efectua DONE and the potato famine
interviewed, and knocked the project on the head.
NO doubt 1t was the extreme pressure Of financial
difficulties that induced him to accept the government
pension writer in late number Of the Dublin Uni
rersify Magazine observes" How have these labors
been rsqritsd! By stripping him OF his private for
tune, and hsmpering him with debt; for unlike all
other reformers OF this age those philanthropsts Of
the platform with sounding sentiment and selfish pur
poses Mr. Mathew has lost his by his abors for
the people and embitered his life by the pressure Of
heavy pecuniary responsibilities The pension $500
per annum only keeps up an assurance on his life,
In free trade agitation that pure and uns.lnsh being
Richard Golden netted about fS0,000 And Golden
was paid just as If else had done anything
for free trade though the future historian Of this
must record that, in point of fact William Huskisson
did more than dozen Of Cobdens to carry out free
UPON the public after the Edinburgh and Westminster
Rerteos had .apped the ground on which our econo-
mical system had depended in the minds Of the read
Anti Corn Law Catechism, which alone was worth
thousand of Lobden's hippant epeeches-after the
English philosophical radicals had faniliarissd the
public for years with the doctrines Of free
trade! Again, Mr. O'Conpen was paid three or
four times ss much by his agitation shop as
He said himself he used to get Eeo0 per an
mum by his profession, but that was q monstrous
that such an income is not to be- earned a. tSs
Irish bar, where the fees extremely small and be-
sides the Agitator never In large equity business
Father Mathews private resources not very large
sstpg chiefly of legscies from relations he cheerfuy
expended In the temperance cause He left dis
tillery at Castle Lake in Ipperary with good deal Of
money. He broke 1t up, at vast loss to himself and
refused large rent for it, when it offered to be
taken by parties In distiery. He had one brother
embarked In distiling; of bis sisters married
to eminent distiller and another brother
ried to lady whore family extensively engaged
in the manufacture Of whiskey But regardless Of the
commercial Injury his friends and kindred must
suffer ON the cause Of temperance regardless Of his
own pecuniary losses, he entered on his Of
exertion, and sackened In his toll One circum
stance In this movement Of Father Mathew very
remarkable. The Liberatorn was by NO means one
OF it's most ardent admirers A Jealousy Of all who
Threatened to rival his influence mrrksd feature
in that character his treatment Of Lord
ClopsuIry, Mr.. Shel, Mr.. Sharman Crawford, even
such mob orators rs Jack Lawess and enior
proved at various times. The moral miracle Of Father
Mathew distracted the attention Of the myriad dupes
who heretofore gaxed with the eyes Of faith the gilt
terDg bubble Of Repeal with It's rainbow hues Father
Mathew was rival "Lbcrator, OF greater and nober
kind and the glare Of the Cancellation Hall system,
with its mock glitter and theatrical varnish, might
lose its tnsel, and cease to be admired. It no
wonder, therefore, that O'Conn.n dsliked Father
Mathew To the editor Of of the Repeal organs he
said, You are making 700 much Of Mathews" And
in various ways he q insinusted his opinions
the worthy Father enough "; fer Joseph Surface