The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-12
From Oar Own Correspondent
OUR IRISH LETTER.
DuRLN. March IL.

DUBLIN, March IL, 1874
This is the national anniversary-St. Pat.
rick's Day, and all Celtic and Catholic Ireland
is en- Jste. cannot yet give the readers of the
STAR an account of how the festival has been
kept in the different parts of the country. But
here in Dublin there has been general holi-
day, SO far as the poorer classes are concerned.
Almost every is wearing the shamrock,
and green ties and ribbons are as plentiful " as
leaves in Vallambrosa." Great numbers of
country people are in town, dressed in their
best attire. As far as can judge, there has
been little OF no drunkenness, and the various
chapels and churches were this morning densely
crowded at every Mass. But alone of all the
cities and chief towns of the country, Dublin
is to be without any particular public demon
straton in the shape of ball or banquet. The
reasons for this (apparently) disgraceful fact
are not far TO- seek but I cannot allude to
them here just now. The anti-national or
Castle party affect to celebrate the day, too,
but while they do they take good care to show
that they are not animated by any sympathy
with the mass Of the people. The soldiers
CHARTERED here used to perform in the Castle
yard the ceremony of trooping the colors )"
this year the absurdity was omitted.
The Dublin election will take place to-
probable result than that it is likely to be ex-
tremely close. Col Taylor-the Tory candidate
himself said to one Of the opposite party on
Sunday that he expected to win but by a very
small majority; and he added that if all those
who are entitled to the franchise were pat on
the registry, the Liberal and National party
would be in majority Of over one thousand.
The fact is that only one half the number of
qualified voters have registered themselves,
the reason being that the tenant-farmers when
they could not vote as their Conscience told
them, preferred not to be called on to vote at
all. Since wrote last a score of meetings at
least have been held in support of Mr., ParnelI
and about six or seven in support of Col. Tay-
Tor; and to-day there was 6nal monster
meeting held at Swords at which several of
the leading members of the Home Rule League
attended and delivered addresses. The Ian
guage held by Col. Taylor has been ,impudent
and defiant in the extreme, and ought to array
against him every Catholic and every Liberal
Yet some miserable Catholics have been found
TO support him. He called the Home Rulers
impostors and traitors and yet he had beside
him at the time one or two men who were
amongst the earliest members of the old Home
Government Association but who have now
dropped ont of the Home Rule ranks for some
reason or another-I suppose, because they
expect as Conservatives to profit by the Con-
sentative government.
The seat for Dublin University rendered va
can't by the acceptance by DR.. Ball of the ofaoe
of Attorney General, was filed up on Monday.
DE-. Ball was re-elected-and In his absence
His address soliciting reelection was just two
lines long, and he did not attend the hastings
to explain his past career OF made any pledges
for his future. In fact, nothing could we'll be
more contemptuous than his treatment of his
constituents. Yet he was reelected without
opFoeition. But though he was reelected, yet
It was made pretty plain that he would be the
last of the Mohicans," and that all future
vacancies will be filed up by any person
rather than by lawyers on the look ont for q
place. Or. HaughtOn, Fellow of Trinity Col
lege, In most witty and severely sarcastic
speech exposed, as they had never been exposed
before, the lawyers who have used the repre-
sentation of the University a. stepping stone
70 the bench. The University and the bar,'
said he have mutually dsbauohed each
esher !" and he Eslated how Eenscr TelIows 81