The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-02-26

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King asked nothing but that he would be
silent on the subject; but Pitt believed
and believed rightly-that his honor was
at stake, and he persisted in resigning.
His renowned administration of seventeen
years. standing was at an end, and the reins
of Government were assumed by the in
competent and feeble Addington. Deeply
as we regret the untoward circumstances in
which Mr.. Pitt was placed, we do not con-
cur with those who censnre him severely
for not having insisted on having his own
way. He would have driven the King
again into state of insanity; his col
leagues would not have supported him, and
| the country was not yet ripe for the equit
able measure which le had to- propose.
We will not attempt to- justify the promise
which he subsequently made to the King,
that he would never again, during his Ma
jesty's lifetime, moot the Catholic question,
| but we are sure that no one can examine
carefully the circumstances under which
that promise was made, and yet feel sur
prised at Pitts having made it. The sim
cerity of his desire to ameliorate the con-
dition of Catholics is proved by the fact of
his resigning Office rather than fail in carry
ing out, so far as in him lay, measures
| which which were intended to accompany
the Act of Union.
The view here taken of Mr.. Pitts con-
duct is believed by the writer to be that
which was entertained at the time by a
/
Ireland. They accepted in sadness Pitts
efforts when out of Office to allay the Bit
terness of their disappointment. They
heard of the sentiments which he expressed
| towards them in communications made to
Lords Castlereagh and CORVALLIS. They
| fOrbore in general from violent proceed
ings, nor did they indulge in resentful Ian
guage. They were disposed, on the whole,
to wait for brighter days, and to rely (too
fondly, as it proved,) on the fidelity of
those friends who had for their sakes quit
ted office with Pitt.
But there were in Ireland, both among
Catholics and Professionals, spirits which
could not be so easily pacified. Long years
of oppression, violence and injustice had
alienated them altogether from the English
Government, and caused them to look for
redress to another people who were the
hereditary enemies Of the British name
Among these was Robert Emmett, young
man OF pure and patriotic motives, but i'm |
PEELED by an enthusiasm which far over
leaped the bounds of discretion. The |
military despOtism exercised in Ireland |
fevered his heart and brain, and prompted |
him, while in Paris, to cOntrive another in
notwithstanding the recent fail
ure of that of 1898. His family portion,
of f25OO, was devoted to the
purchase of ammunition aud arms; and
these We're laid up ready for use in several
depots in Dublin. Many promises of as
failed him in the hour of need. The out
break which he meditated was fastened by
the accidental explosion of some gunpow-
der in one of his stores in Patrick-street.
With few hundred desperate associates,
he issued from his head quarters in Mar
shal-lane on the 23d of July, 1903. Pixies
had been distributed among a large crowd
waiting in Thomas street but when the
main body proceeded to the Corn Market,
with Il view of selling the arsenals and
military depots, and of storming the Castle
itself, the number of insurgents, far from
miserably. The appearance
among them of the carriage of Lord Kill
warden, the Chief Justice ofIreland, caused
q cry for vengeance to be raised and the
Judge, having thrust his head from the win
dow of his coach, and exclaimed " 1t is l,
Kilwarden, Chief Justice of the Kings
Bench ~ one of the insurgents replied,
''Then you are the man we want" plunged
a pike into his body, and killed him on the
spot. His body was covered with thirty
wounds, and his nephew, who had been Sit
ting at his side, was slain likewise. A more
commencement of the rebel
lion could not be conceived, for many who
would have encouraged open fight, de-
nounced with horror the crime of assassi-
nation. The military were soon in sight
and they lost no time in firing on the armed
multitude. About eighty lives were lost
anu many, taxing TO night, concealed
themselves and their wounds. Their young
leader, Emmett, escaped to the Wicklow
mountains, and dissuaded the peasantry
there from attempting another insurrec-
ton. His friends urged him to quit the
island, and to seek for safety on a foreign
shore. But he had left behind him in Dub
lin one who was dearer to him than life.
and whom he loved above all things except
his country. His passion for Miss Curran |
the daughter of the celebrated wit and |
orator-induced him to venture once more
into the place which to him was the most |
dangerous on earth. But in Dublin only |
could he obtain one last heart ding in |
terview with a lady worthy of his devoted
attachment. To Dublin lie repaired, and !
while waiting in his lodgings the recei pit of
letter, he was suddenly surrounded, as
Dr. Smiles relates, by armed men, under
the e-:.ers of Major SIR. Rushing into his
apartment, they seized their prisoner aud
dragged him OFT without delay to his lonely
cell. From that dungeon he passed, with
seventeen of his fellow conspirators, to the
scatfold. But why should we dilate on a
story which is known in all its pathos and
romance to every reader of Moore's Mclo-
dies, and Washington Irving's Sketch
BookP While we deplore Robert Emmett,s