The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-22
THE MORNING STAR AND CATHOLIC III

confederation. Talking Of legal matters re-
minds me that Lord OHagan sat rs Lord
Chancellor of Ireland for the last time on
Saturday last. The chancellorship being a
political Office, the holder of it goes out with
his chief; and, accordingly, when Mr. Glad
stone went out of Office, Lord O'Hagan followed.
He was addressed in a brief speech on behalf
of the bar by the Solicitor General, Mr.. Law,
Q. c., NJ. p, who spoke in high terms of the
manner in which Lord O'Hsgan had discharged
his duties for the last five years. Lord OLA
gan replied in few appropriate and touching
words, and then left the court, the whole bar
rising and cheering him. Lord O'Hagan was
the first Catholic Chancellor of ireland since
the Reformation. Now that he is free from
the trammels of Office, and has o pension of
f400O year, he may become Home Ruler,
possibly for it is to be remembered that he
onoe advocated the federal plan and has never
reoanted his opinions publicly.
Several election petitions have been filed.
and will probably be successful. Mr.. shiel
(Home Ruler) petitions for the seat for Ath-
lone against Mr.. Ennis (Whig); Mr.. O'Beirne
(Home Ruler) for one of the seats for Leitrim
county, against Mr. Ormsby Gore (Tory); and
some Home Rule electors petition against the
for Kerry county; and all those petitioners
are likely to have their prayers granted. The
Kerry petition has been presented with the
| intention Of having fresh election and then
getting fitting Home Rule colleague for Mr.
Blennerhassett; Mr.. Herbert being an anti
Home Ruler and altogether bad politician,
and having only slipped into reelection in the
| hurry and confusion caused by the suddenness
of the dissolution. Had even another week
| been allowed the electors, they would have
had suitable candidate ready and they would
undoubtedly have returned him. Mr.. Herbert
| knows this we'll, and is quaking in his boots.
Other petitions are talked of, but they don't
possess much interest and are not likely to
come to anything
/ The election closed with q splendid victory
in Wexford county, Sir George Bowyer, Bart
(Home Ruler) and Mr.. Reyes OClery (Home
Ruler), having been returned by immense ma
jorities over MIR. Power (Liberal) and Mr..
Halldare (Tory). The two latter are local
| landlords; one of them-Mr. Powers a Ca
tholio and the son of a generous benefactor of
religion, while Messrs. Bowyer and O'Clery
are strangers-Sir George Bowyer being an
Englishman. Could any more cogent proof be
given of the strength of the Home Rule idea
| Sir George Bowyer is the eminent English
Catholic, who was formerly member for Dun
dalk, and in that capacity acted as the cour-
ageous defender of the rights of the Holy See;
Mr.. O'Clery is q young Limerick man who
fought sword in hand for the Pope and is the
Secretary of the League of st. Sebastian
Lord Robert Montague is another English
Catholic who has found an Irish seat in Par.
Lament. He was member for Huntingdon.
shire in England, but having become convert
to the Catholic Church, he could not hope to
be reelected in his own bigoted land. But
having become Home Ruler he was invited
to contest Westmeath in conjunction with Mr.
P. ]. Smyth against member of the Liberal
government who had voted for coercion and 8
local Tory and by the united exertions Of
priests and people was returned by q majority
of more than six to one. Irishmen really dc
not care what a mems country or creed is pro
vided he is an advocate of native government
| j j C..