Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-07
O'CONNELL ON DISRAELI,


We copy from Mr Fsgan's "Life and Times
of ofO'Connell, the celebrated speech of O'Con-
nell on Disraeli, in reply to a speech, in which
the latter spoke in most disrespectful terms
OF OConnell, using the words "incendiary,"
traitor" and other still less complimentary
terms IL will prove interesting to many who
have not before seen it:
Yet, sir, the " No Popery'' cry is again raised
In England, and every enemy to ireland in
that country does me the honor of directing
the arrows of his malevolenee against me. But
have risen to a magnitude / never thought
would attain by the quantity of SANDER poured
out upon me through the medium of the Eng
lish press. They make me bug bear of the
first magnitude, though any bug Of my size
would be n humbug; but, literally, nothing is
more ludicrous than the importance they at
tach to my humble name. I am not accus-
toned to feel much surprised at their resortiug
To me for lack OF argument" but, / must
confess, there is one Of the attacks on me which
excites in my mind great deal of astonish-
ment 1t is this-ths attack lately made at
Taunton by Mr.. Disraei. In the annals of
political torpitude there is not anything de-
serving the appellatOn of " blackguardism"
to equal that attack upon me. What is my
acquaintance with this man. Just this-in
1881, or the beginning of 1892 the borough of
Wickham became vacant; l then knew him,
but not personally. / knew him only as the
author Of one or two novels. He got an intro
duction TO me, and wrote me letter, stating
that, as WAS a Radical Reformer, and as he
was also Radical, and was going to stand
upon the Radical interest for the borough of
Wickham, where, he said, there were many
persons of that way of thinking who would be
tnhaenced by my opinion, he would feel Obliged
by receiving letter from me recommendatOry
o; him a. q Radical. His letter to me was 20
distinct upon the subject that l Immediately
complied with the request, and composed as
good an epistle as could in his behalf / am
In the habit of letter-writing, sir, and Mr..
DIsraeii thought this letter so valuable that he
not only took the autograph, but had it printed
and placarded. 1t was, in fact, the ground
upon which he canvassed the borough lie
was, however, defeated; but that Was not my
fault. L did not demand gratitude from hun
but L think If he had any feeling Of his own,
ne would conceive that had done him at least
ciyility, if not service, which ought not TO
be repaid by atrociry of the foulest description
The next thing heard of him tha. he had
started upon the Radical interest for MaryIe-
bone, but was again defeated. Having been
twice defeated ON the Radical interest, ne was
just the fellow for the Conservatives. and, ac-
cOrdingly, he joined a conservative Club, aud
started for two or three places the Conser-
yatiye interest. How is he now engaged Why,
In abusing the Radicals eulOgising the king
and the church, like true Conservative. At
Taunton this miscSeant had the audacity 10
style me an incendisry. Why, was greater
incendiary in 1851 than I am st present-if l
ever was one and, it l am, he is doubIy so,
for having employed me. Then he calls me a
traitor. My answer to that is-he is q liar.
He Ia liar i'll action and in words. His very
life is living lie. He is q disgrace to his sps-
cies. What state Of society must that be that
could tolerate such q creature, having the au-
dacity 10 come forward with one set OF princi-
pies at one time, and obtain political assistance
by reason Of those principles-and, at another,
he
life, / say again, is living lie. He is the
most degraded of his species and kind and
England is degraded in tolerating, or having
upon the face of her society, miscreant of his
abominable, foul, and atrocious nature My
language is harsh, and | owe apology for it;
but will tell you why 1 owe that apology. 1t
is for this reason: that if there be harsher
terms in the British language, | should use
them, because il is the hardest of all terms
that would be descriptive Of wretch of his
species. He is just the fellow for the COnser-
vative Club. i suppose il Sir X. Peel had
been out of the way, when he was called upon
to take office, this fellow would have under
taken to supply his place. He has falsehoOd
enough, deprayity enough. and sclfshness
enough, to become the fitting leader of the
Conservatives. lie is Conservatism personifed
His name shows he is by descent a jew. His
father became a convert. lie is the better for
that in this world; and hope, OF course, he
will be the better for il in the next. There is
a habit OF undertaking that great and op-
pressed nation, the Jews. They are cruelty
prosecuted by persons calling themselves
Christian-but no person yet was
Christian who prosecuted. The cruelest per-
seeution they suffer is upon their character, by
the foul names which their calumBiatOrs be-
slowed upon them before they carried their
atrocities into effect They feel the persecu-
ton OF calumny seyeIer upon them than the
persecution Of actual force, and the tyranny Of
actual torture. / have the happiness to be ac-
quainted with some Jewish families in London
and, among them more accomplished ladies, or
more humane, cordial, high-minded, or be tier
educated gentlemen, / have never met 1t
will not be supposed, therefore, that when
speak of Disraeli, as the descendant Of jew
that mean to tarnish him on that account.
They were once the chosen people Of God.
There were miscreants among them, however
also; and il must have certainly been from one
of those that Disraeli descended. lie possesses
just the qualities OF the Impenitent thief who
died upon the cross; whose name, | verify be-
lieye, must have been Disraeli For aught |
know, the present Disrseli is descended from
him and with the impression that he il, now
forgive the heir-st-lsw of the blasphenous thief
who died upon tho cross.