The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-06-06

We find in the New York 1sibsns .
well-considercd article under tho above
caption. In the passing contrast instituted,
we are told that oConnell was an orator and
agitator of extraordinary type.-Maehiayellf
even more ,extraordlhAfS rs y political philoso-
pher, aud intriguef. The Italians of the
present day have. chosen to consider him as an
ancient exponent of their system. The
preceptor and pupils worthy of each other.
But, as the paper before us states, statesman,
politician, historian as he was, and with all
the subtlety of his intellectual command the
world yet wants testimony that lie had
heart. Machiave eli, the outcast in history has
gained enthusiasts among the unprincipled,
but after while he will have judges-pay,
he has them now among all right-minded men.
When it becomes necessary for world inclined
to Justice to give even the devil his due the
intellectual claims of Mephistopheles must not
be overlooked. We give a portion of the
article below: -. +G
Europe has lately witnessed two commence
rations of remarkable contrast. On the third
of last month the people of Florence celebrated
the fourth centenary, of theirs great author
and diplomatist, Nicolo Machiayelli. On the
18th ult the people OF Raein saw 5ae honn'
ment worthy of their love and bis fame.
British opinion has observed the occasion by
general criticism of the arch-agitator,s Ate and
character. The most ingenious of his detraetors
fail te-proSe that in the twenty years that
have elapsed since his death his character IN
Irish history has been impaired He is stu
erect in his proper fame the father of the
Irish peopIe,. if ever their Maynard genius
could be brought to acknowledge q moral pa
ternity outside of their priesthood The one
great triumph of his life, Catholic emancipa-
ton, was enough to inimortalize this man who
attempted something mightier in his time than
any one of the seven iabors of Hercules. Those
who say disparagingly, that beyond this ms
wasa failure scarcely measure the breadth of
the agitator's shoulders, and the size OF the
pillars, and the weight of the superstructure
which he overthrow by main strength. Neither
have they fairly valued, think, the effect of
that giant act upon subsequent history.
Seldom could man accomplish two such Things
in a lifetime, with Il people so hard hearted
and npla able as tn ose with whom O'Connel1
had to deal. and with such weapons oil wrath,
and wit, and scorn, as7could be forged out OF
the burning and defiant wrongs of ms country.
He is charged with having made a useless
agitation for Repeal, but the orators claim TO
renown must, in truth, partly rest upon ms
second berculean labor. He perhaps at times
unprecedented the failure of his reform, and
while wise enough to restrain his people from
the sacrifice OF themselves in II frutless. war,
knew the standard policy of agitators, which
holds it necessary 10 aim at great reform IN
order to gain any. -OConnell would have
reoced to have had his country righted at
British hands rather than that an ignorant and
of righting themselves. "a century ago."
remarked ene-of O'Connell's critics, "a Roman
Catholic was born political and social sert.H
To-day, thanks not only to his work but his
light, we enter slowly upon an era of enfrin-
chsement and oiustice. That OConnelt could
do no more fer his people proves less the limit
OF, the agitator's capacity than the national
hardness of heart and riGidity, of prejudice
which he had to encounter as the champion
of the humblest and simplest against he
strongest and most arrogant. Along with the
tragic quality of the agitator's life-hls tor
rent-liko eloquencc that made him the very
Dcmosthepes of some of the greatest and
best mobs the world ever saw--his broad heart,
that made him the leader aud the father of
"the finest peasantry in the word"-his vigor-
ous ntellect and kingly authority, that brought
the world to listen to him-there was n strange
comedy like the mirth of an ovcrworn giant.
He made his nation laugh or weep. The
powers of blarney and invective, of honey and
thunder belonged to this great orator. But
the noblest comment which his life furnished
to his own character, was his hearty aud entire
antipathy to Slavery in every form. His high
minded scorn of all Shareholders, his radiant
indignation against African Slavery, have long
reflected upon the unreasoning prejudices of a
large portion of mis- countrymen.