The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-24

| Our contemporaries are ueVoting Soou ucai
of space to the Grafton delivered by John
Mitchell at the recent Irish banquet. Some cri-
ticse the speech severely, and regard it as
gross impertinence on the part of Mr. Mitchell
to have undertaken to lecture the American
government others applaud the bold censure
applied to Hr. Marcy's celebrated Koszta letter
So far as the latter piece Of clap-trap is con-
cerned, every body knows that it was but re-
hash of the sentiments contained in Webster's
letter to Hulsemann and, when we can find
space for some documents now in our posses
sion, the public will be enabled TO Judge of the
extent OF faith Marcy placed in his own doc
trines. 1t required no fresh review In fact,
we have failed to discover either in the speech
or in the other proceedings at the banquet, any
pretext for serious comment. The dinner was
brilliant affair, and afforded pleasing theme
for an artists pencil. Many of the speeches
we're eloquent, Those of Messrs Meagher and
| Mitchell glowed with that poetic imagery which
has always been the characteristic of Irish
oratory. But amid the flowers of language
which fell in graceful protusion from the speak
ers' lips, single principle Of practical appli-
cation or immediate usefulness will be sought
in vain. Those who expected the exiles to
avail themselves of the occasion to develope
the programme of their future movements, and
to apprise their adopted country of the task
they propose to undertake. and the purpose
| they intend to achieve, will turn from the re-
cord Of Mondays proceedings with disappoint-
| ment. There was at the banquet as we said,
much to crafty the eye; the speeches overflow
with sentences whose beauty charms the ear;
| but there was nothing in the whole performance
[ to satisfy the mind or feed the understanding
| There was one feature in John Mitchels
| speech which is calculated to produce more
lasting impression than rhetorical display com
msnds. That feature was the savage hostility
displayed towards the government of England
and the Anglo-Saxon race. Such outbursts Of
vindictive feeling are natural to one who has
suffered much at the hands Of tyranny: though
we doubt whether they will raise Mr.. Mitchels
character as a philosopher and statesman. But
one thing is very certain the people of this
country do not fully share, at this present
time, in Mr.. Mitchei's feelings towards Great
Britain and the British government There
was time--not very long ago-when the
memory of recent war kept alive a spirit
Of hostility to England and Englishmen
among the people of the United States. But
that age has past. Intelligent Americans
"hate" no country. They entertain an honest
feeling of rivalry towards every nation which
stands on footing of equality with themselves
and strive to surpass them. They try to build
better ships and steamers to construct more
perfect machines, to manufacture cheaper
goods, to command larger trade, to encourage
sounder morality. and to reach q higher point
of political and intellectual cultivation than
England or any other country; but neither tri-
umph nor failure in these honorable contests en-
genders hatred in the American breast. The
people Of the United States look upon English
men as rivals, not as enemies; and whatever
applause Mr.. Mitchcl's denunoiatons may elicit
rom or Irish population they viii find no re-
spouse or sympathy among the American
masses.
We fear that like many other exiles we have
seen. Mr.. Mitchell mistakes mis- position here as
he mietook it in Ireland. This mistake has
rendered bis whole past career failure, not
withstanding the many noble acts and many
evidences Of commanding talent and indomi-
table purpose by which it has been marked.
He went wrong in policy, not in spirit in
lS4S, when he, with the other members Of
the Young Ireland party, broke loose from
the selfish restraints of O'Connellism, and
undertook to make republic out Of Gle
ments which were not even fit for a mon
archy. Had John Mitchell known his real
position in that day, he would have seen that
the Irish people, whom he undertook to convert
| into republicans, were in reality in the most
| elementary stage Of social cxstence-the
ohedient slaves of hierarchy. Blinded by
| the warmth Of his feelings he faucied that the
| little circle of ardent youths who surrounded
him was in fact the country; end only disco.
vered his error when the people whom he
| fondly hoped to lead aided in his capture, and
| placidly watched his trial as a conspirator and
| rebel. Two centuries hence it is probable
| that such man as Johu Mitchell would be .
| noble benefactor and beloved leader Of the
| Irish people. His aims-which, however right
| in the abstract, are not suited to the present
| condition Of thngs--would then be feasible,
| patriotic and practically beneficial. He over
| looked these two centuries of time, and the
consequence is on record.
He now occupies in this country position
very analogous to that which he filed in Ire
| land. For some years the Irish party in this
city has been ruled by John Hughes on
principles similar TO those SO successfully
used by O'Connell. Mr.. Mitchell comes here,
and must obviously, whatever compliment
tary correspondence may pass between him
and the Archbishop, organize q new party
| separate from and hostile to that led by
His Grace. His paper cannot but pursue
different course from that followed by the
sacerdota organs. In very short time we
shall certainly witness in this country re-