The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-11

from Our Own Correspondent
OUR IRISH LETTER.
DUBLIN, December IS, 1878

DUBLIN, December Is, 1873.
The last meeting of the Homo Government
Association was held in this city on Tuesday
night. There was large attendance this
interesting occasion, and the chief speakers
included Dir. Butt, Mr.. A. M. Sullivan, Profess
sor Galbraith. A report of its work for the
last three years and five months-the time it
was in existence-was read, and the success
achieved by it was alluded to in deservedly
eulogistic terms. In the middle of the year
1870 it started-a small body of gentlemen
Disguised with the government of Ireland
before it died it had reached the proportions
almost of national organization, and during
its existence it Influenced and decided in
favor of its own aims the course of every elec-
ton to Parliament that took place in this
country. Its influence has also been felt in
electoral contests in England and Scotland,
and it has made the words Home Rule as IA
miliar in London as they are in Dublin. On
Tuesday night it adjourned sine die, and handed
over its papers, books, and documents to its
successors, the Homo Rule League. may
lust mention here that The OConor Don, NJ P.
who spoke enthusiastically on Home Rule
at the great Conference, was the very first man
| to join the new league.
1 spoke in q recent letter, l think, of pro-
fessional appointment in Galway Queens Col
| lege-that of o DR.. Pye to the chair of Materia
Medioa; and while pointing out that it was
the first instance in which an Irishman and a
Catholic got such situation, I suggested that
probably DR.. Pye was not quite orthodox In
his political or religious opinions. This week
| have strong justification for putting for
| ward this suggestion. A banquet was given
| to Dr. Pye by the students of the college to
celebrate his appointment, and at this banquet,
of course, DR.. Pye spoke in reply to the toast
of his health. The greater part of what
he said concerns me not-only passages IN
his speech de, and they are briefly stated.
First, DR.. Pye quoted with approval the
savings of the German poet Lessing-that if
the choice were offered him on the one hand
of the absolute possession of all knowledge ;
and on the other of the ever-restless desire
for knowledge though joined to the condition
of for ever and ever erring in the pursuit
} still unhesitatingly he would select the latter.
Secondly, he declared as the settled conviction
of his life that the state of individualism, OF
independence, of the courage to think for
oneself, is the highest function of man, the
most complete development of his intellect
1 should say that with regard to this second
J matter the teaching of the Catholic church is
, tho direct reverse of DR.. Pye's settled con-
yiction." The conclusion is inevitable,
f think, that DR.. Pye's Catholicism has been
l seriously " inroaded," if I may say 50, by his
Queens College experience-and that is pre-
cisely the result which the enemies of those
infidel institutions have always predicted.
Here is story calculated to tickle the fancy
of all Irishmen who have heard of Judge
I Keooh On Monday night last, or rather on
Tuesday morning between one A. NJ. and two
3 A. NJ, the Judges son-William Keogh, Barris
ter, was arrested near Trinity College by the
:, police on q charge of having been drunk and
: disorderly, using profane language, and at
tempting to assault two policemen. 1t wat
q further charged against him that he wanted at
that un unreasonable hour an " unfortunate F" who
3 happened at the time to be detained in the
g neiGhboring police station a charge o
8 drupkonness, to be brought to him. In the
: police court to which Mr.. Keogh was brough
in due course he had no defence to make, bu
t made a statement which sense of decenc )
9 compels me to omit noticing. He was sen
n fenced to a fine of 81 or in default of paymen
r fourteen days imprisonment. :" Like Father
d like son." By the WY, good story is told o
Z this youth There was one day a dinner-partJ
: in his fathers house, and his father-the judge
h happened to make an observation, prefacinI
d IL with the declaration " upon my honor" Tn
! son Immediately, being, like the father " hal
.eas over.n burst out into loud laugh an'
and said: "Isnt that richf The honor, indeed
70 of Billy Keogh!"
u The weather hero just now is the mildes
d orvbodv ever remembers to have seen at thi
H. time of the year. . = T.