The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-26

blood. The ball of vile assassin, a skulke1
in the dark, struck down without a mo-
ment's warning, one of the most remarkable
of Ireland's sons in the nineteenth century.
Even those who may have differed in
opinion with Darcy MCGEE, even his coun-
trymen who may have found fault with his
recent course, must regret that he has been
thus cut down, in the maturity of his pow
ers, in the full vigor of his wondrous intel
lectual life. Even his enemies were proud
of the genius of the man, and for old Ire
lands sake, must feel shame at the dastardly
revenge that has been wreaked upon him.
Thomas Darcy McGee's name has been
before the world'for over twenty years. In
the young Ireland movement of ls4S, he
took leading part, and though only a
and prestige to Smith O'Brien, John Mitchell,
Thomas Meagher, or Richard O'Gorman.
After the disastrous failure of that uprising !,
he escaped to the United States, and imme
diately made himself reputation as an
editor and lecturer. Most of the cities Of
have admired his remarkable gift of elo-
quence. He erred in the. beginning by
making the Irish Clergy responsible for the
failure of the revolution of l84s, but he after
ward nobly repaired that error, and to the
day of his death was remarkable for his de-
votion to his religion.
AS an orator, MCGEE was unrivaled on
this continent. I make this statement de-
liberately, from having had occasion to COM
pare him with the best of our speakers. He
was q born orator, and there was no mis-
taking his power when you heard him for
words flowed like crystal water from the
living rock. There was no effort, no hest
tation, no straining for effect. He in
dulged in no useless gesticulation. He never
mouthed OF shouted. But the flash of his
eye, the toss of his head, the culver of his
% Ii.
of his hands, all betrayed the fire that
glowed within him. He completely swayed
his audience-awed it into silence, melted
it into tears, convulsed it with laughter,
just as he pleased.
He was u sweet poet also. He has versi-
fed some of the most beautiful ballads of
old Ireland, and in Hays collection, there
are no pieces more pathetic or patriotic than
his. II all his poetical productions were
gathered-as we hope they will be-they
would form considerable volume.
The bent of his mind was decidedly his
would have devoted himself almost exclu-
sively to historic research. In speech, at
Ottawa, on last st. Patrick's day, he stated,
that if he lived, he would re-edit his 90 His
tory of Ireland" His prose style was re-
markable for its pure, castegated English.
especially Burke, whom he resembled, more
than any hishman of the present day, in
eloquence, in imagination, in learning, and
a taste for philosophical and historical re-
search.
AS statesman, too, MCGEE won a high
position. The late John Yore, of this city,
who knows him well, once remarked to me
that ne always thought MCGEE was destined
for public life. In Canada, he was regarded
as q tower of strength, and he contributed
materially toward bringing about the con-
federation of the British American Provinces
R1t inf this IL ia hio
Canadian statesman that has injured his
reputation. This is not the place to attempt
his justification, butt must declare that
Irishmen in the United States have been
very unjust toD'Arcy MCGEE. Though an
American myself, love Ireland dearly, and
it hurts me as a personal wrong, to see any
of her gifted children assaulted by their own
Two charges are made against him. The
first, that in II speech he made at Wexford,
three years ago, he maligned IrishInen in
America. The second, that he bitterly de-
the Fenian invasion into Canada.
With regard to the first accusation, it should
be taken into account that he meant only to
discourage emigration to this country. The
object was certainly good and even patriotic. |
Being asked to give his opinion on the con-
dition of Irishmen in America, he answered
that, all things considered it were as well
for his countrymen to remain at home. That
is the sum and substance oftfe celebrated
Wexford speech.
With regard to the second speech, shall
say nothing, leaving it to the conscience of
every one, whether being domiciliated in
Canada for|ten years, and belonging to the
government of the country, he could coun-
tenance any attack against it.
But however all this may be, one thing 1
know-and tellit from personal knowledge
to all his countrymen in America,-that
there lived not, the world over, an Irishman
who loved Erin with a deeper, fonder, more
pathetic love than Darcy MCGEE. AS 1
once heard him say, with tears in his eyes,
and in that beautiful language of which he
was master: "God-He knows that the
green isle of my birth is the brightest Wis
ion of my dreams, the dearest idol of my
heart, the fondest object of my love,
through the length of distance and of years."