The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-21
SOME m1sH NAY THOUGHTS.

of SO many of Ireland's most distin zuished
sons; and We have thought that few re-
Elections on the career of each would not be
out Of season.
Where is the true Irishman who can read
in his almanac the words opposite the 18th
! of the month" Grattan died, l62On-with-
out being borne by busy memory over the
long and honorable career which on
ourselves in thought beside the lifeless form
of the venerable pstriot, we feel ourselves
carried back to the days when, in all the
| elasticity of vigorous strength
That gallant man led the van
OF the Irish volunteers.
The thunders of his eloquence seem to
strike upon our ear, as he demands, not
begs, the rights of Ireland, and tears to
| atoms the flimsy pretexts under which
those sought shelter who would deny to q
| nation nations Inheritance. We follow
Grattan through that too brief period Of
legislative Independence which kindled
Ireland nationality for time, and, meteor
like, passed away when she sank into q
province. We go back to that memorable
debate in the Irish House Of Commons, when
the morning beams Of q spring sun fell upon
travel-stained, he re-entered the scene Of
80 many of his triumphs in order to utter
last solemn protest against the destruction
of the liberties of the land he loved so we'll.
We trace him in an English Parliament
again and again in vain appealing for the
fell0w-c0unt1ymen, were not Of his creed,
and at Last laying down his valuable life
after q journey undertaken in illness that
he might plead once more in the same
sacred cause. He died in England and
sleeps in Westminster Abbey within
those ancient walls there crumble the bones
of no nobler man than Henry Grattan.
We turn over the calendar just one day
more, and we find recorded the close of
another great career in the simple words
O'Connen died at Genoa, aged r." AS
compared with Grattan, O'Connen belongs
aged Irishmen who have not marked that
eye, which flashed with intellect, and looked
upon that massive brow, which almost
seemed to speak the thoughts of the busy
brain behind it; or who have not Still ring
ing in their ears the echo of that wonderful
thunders of indignation against the wrong
ers of Ireland, and at one time awakening
the gaiety of thousands by the silvery
music of some merry jest. What food for
thought, too, is there in those figures 49,"
indicating as they do, when referring to 1s47,
laws, in all their despotic intensity, ground
the faces of the Catholics of Ireland. But
other days came, and, after many and
many gallant struggle, the people, led by
O'Connel, broke the chains that fettered
conscience, and at Westminster, in 1929,
Tor, we should rather say at Glare, in 1S2S,)
gained that powerful weapon by which, in
due time, complete religious equality might
be won. 1t was not given to OConnen to
see the downfall of that Establishment
naughty head in land which rejects its
teachings. But now, when all honest men
see with delight that edifice tottering to its
fall, every one must admit that that happy
event is but the following out of the senti-
ments which marked the whole career of
the mighty tribune who, full of years, closed
noble life in the old historic city of
Genoa, on May 18th, 1947. His heart rests
in Rome, and we grudge not the possession
of that honored memorial of an illustrious
Catholic to the city to which all Catholics
turn with affectionate reverence, as the
of which O'Connell through long life SO
honorably fought.
May also reminds us (26th) of the death
Of Shiel, the flashes of whose eloquence
shed such lustre on the Catholic Association,
while Ireland was still struggling for Eman-
cipation, and who gave to the senate one of
its brightest ornaments. The birthday of
Moore belongs to this month (2sth) and re-
calls the memory of the gifted bard who
unbound his I" own island harp"
And gave all her notes to light freedom, and song.
And battle thoughts also are mixed with
May. 1t was on the11th of May, 1745, thvt
the Irish Brigade brought the chivalryOo
Erin to swell the glory of France in o MEM
orable field, where Limerick was avenged.
The green flag was unfolded
While rose the cry of joy,
Heaven sped dear Irelands banner
That day at Fontenoy.
Other " Irish May thoughts" crowd upon
our mind, some cheering and some sad, but
We have not space to dwell upon them.
The greatest, the sublimest of all May
thoughts requires none of our feeble
language. It is the happy thought that
through all Ireland Though not exclusively
there or the land l; would dn mot be Catholic
whether in the stately cathedral or in the
little chapel ON the remote hillside, to Her