Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-08-31

The NIeagsser Festival.

The birth day of Thomas +. Meagher, the
distinguished Irish exile. was celebrated ut
Faneui Hall, in Boston,, on Wednesday even
ing by the Meagher Club Of United Irishmen
and the Meagher Rifles The festival is de-
scribed as brilliant affair. Meagher respon-
dcd to toste proposing his health, in an elo-
quent speech. The following extract will give
some idea Of the characsr of his oratory, and
the high moral tone which pervades its senti-
ments:
"Honesty, thorough independenoe6f mind,
high moral courage-th@e place ahevs the
dearest friendship. In ab enemy,{ks deaali:
est nigh, strike asaityI would ao honor
so.hsss qualities: Aetiy ftisa{ M
IS ny q. = 5as gees. l1, sassdsSee L. -
pa:hy--elevating and not DEPRESSING. my con.
ccption Of his goodness.
"Thus speak, having well known. and yet
knowing, what sterling friendship is-the
song it wakes from the saddest heart, the light
it pours down through the clouds that gather
above the househod-the fragrance it steals
from the dullest or .he rankes; weeds that in
tercept our path or spring from the ruins OF
hopes struck down. Thus speak, who, not
for all the perfumed islands of the South Pa
cifc-not for all those chambers rooted with
cinnebar and paved with silver. of which a
brave old seaman of your navy, in his descrip
ton of the Amazon, has lately spoken, who
not for all those wonderous treasures would
exchange one Of those friendships it was
my fortune to find whilst | was yet child il
the groves that were vocal with the songs anC
peopled with the shades of the priests, th'
poets, the soldiers of the elder times, in thei
! long robes, and the snow. white fields and th'
| Hyperion star upon their brow. do hot in
| quire, then, whether you concur with every
thing or anything may have said hear orese
where, on the contrary, l assume that you dis
sert from me on many points; and yet | sa.
that for this very difference of opinion I Sc
the higher value on the compliment you hav
paid me- And why? Why, for this very dii
ference which may exist between us do ! tn
more previously regard the trust and friend
ship which, wit the ringing cheer and flash
ing cup, you have pledged me in this old ha
this evening. For this reason, as have a fe'
moments before stated that it denotes the pre-,
alence amongst you of that just, that tolerar
that liberal spirit. which gallantly challenge
to the proof opinions maintained in conscienc
to be true-which fears not to test them in III
lists where the silver spears of intellect MAX
trail of their metal--which clears the groun,
admires the bearing, adjudges victory, aware
the prize even to the champion whose cry an
crest is other than your own--a spirit sustain
ing tho public mind in state of heathful ,ar
brilliant, and courrgoss- activity, whore
would otherwise cover, darken, and stagna
"a spirit which is the foundation of chart
and peace, and prosperity, and graceful o
der amongst men-a spirit which brings iii
may upon the workers in deceit, poverty, al
shame to those who gamble with the creduli
of a people-brings on error, exposure, fig
and CONSERVATION, and TO the despotism,
which all these evil things are but the age
, ces and weapons. de.hronement and annihil
tion-a spirit which, if not fostered by h
children, the Commonwealth that was or
died here, shall have fewer days than Cartha
or Genoa, or Venice, which, in their gener
! ton, were less favored than you have bee
/ but which, if, on the other hand, preserve
| shall lift this republic high above the inf
MATES and calamaties that have overtake
heretofore, the prosperous and mighty on
/, of earth-setting, it like city of gold, up
. an everlasting hli."-Washingto Union.