The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-07
independent in Eoerything.
Saturday, August 7. 1876.
The o'conne1l Centennial.

Aiiu1y august Olub FWaSz kAS. ohS I'LL
dredth birth day of the great Irish LIBERIA
tor. Daniel O. Cornell, and was celebrated
throughout the world in all large cities,
wherever the Irish people live in consider
able numbers. ~O'Connell was the greatest
orator and patriot, and, in many respects,
the most powerful man that ireland ever
produced, and his countrymen made it a
sacred day for the Green IsIe-one in
which the pent-up emotions of warm
hearted people found full vent. Process
sions marched, bands played, banners
Auttered, speeches we're made. and masses
said. Old men who knew the Liberator,
those whose arms and hearts were young
when his all-powerful voice was heard in
the land, felt anew the nt.spell Of his
unseen presence; young men, filled with
patriotic ardor, fred with new hope Of
final liberty, stepped proudly to the music
OF the fife. In the depths of the warm
national heart the name OF O'Connell is
eDshrined, and all over the world Irishmen
Joined to honor the name and memory Of
their lion.hearted hero. -
O'Connell was born to rule. In the days
of Irish royalty he would have been king,
Coming to his country in her hour of need,
he stood up in her midst, like Saul among
the people, ruler strong to bear her bur-
dens, and to hold her passions in the hol-
low Of his hand. ~ Greater statesmen than
O'ConnelI thsre have been never a greater
popular leader. A perfect model of the
Celtic character; bold, impassioned, chiyal-
rous, witty, keen, a reader OF men, a
natural orator, he swayed the multitude,
and while he fought for justice in the halls
of the enemy, he taught his people how to
govern themselves
Daniel D 'Conpell was born att Carhen, near
Valentia, on the 9th of August, l775, His
parents being rigid Catholics, and there
being no Catholic colleges in Great Britain
at that time, he was sent to st. Omer, IN
France, with the view of entering the
priesthood. These were the dark days
af the French revolution, and the effect OF
that terriable ordeal upon the fiery spirit
Of the youth was electrical, Abandoning
theology, he entered upon the study OF
the law. The union of the English and
Irish Parliaments, which took place iu
1900, was the match which lighted the
fire Of patriotism..within D Connells breast
He swore TO liberate his people and his
country, At great mass meeting held by
Catholics in Dublin he denounced thi:
union as q fatal blow against the freedom
of his country. The Catholic emancipa
ton bill introduced .by Canning failed
O'Connell, who bided his time, ANNOUNCED
his intention of standing for Parliament, iii
q celebrated speech made by him ii
Dublin in 1912. The Catholic Association
was begun in 1923, dissolved in 1926, and il
1928 OConnell stood in opposition to Lore
Fitzgerald, and wac elected. The Catho
lie Association being, however, agaiI
dissolved, his election was declared invalid
but upon his second candidature he wa
triumphantly returned.
As parliamentary speaker OConnel
was not at first success. The eloquenc
which swayed the people was scarcel
suited for the polished rhetoric then popU
lar in the house of commons. He was
however, too able man not to perceiv
that different course was necessary. ii
was not long in showing his power, an
in making his enemies feel the edge of HI
cutting sarcasm and the strength of b
sledge-hammer blows. Long and arduousl
did he labor to free his country from
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS aud CALLING yok,
In 1884 the repeal movement was lost, an
O'Oonnell waited long for that redre
which was to be the price the ministl
promised to pay for his silence. The
promises were not fulfilled but the wronl
of Ireland did not sleep in the hands
the agitator Monster meetings were he'll
ut which several hundreds of thousands
men were present, and it needed but
word from the all powerful leader to G.
havoc and let slip the dogs of war.
his honor be it said, his weapons we
words, not blows, and while by one turn
his finger he might have plunged Il
country in blood, he stilled the trouble
waters and babe the people go in peace.
The last days Of OConnell were cloud
by Imprisonment. Found guilty of consI
racy in 1874, he suffered disgrace for
short time. Upon his acquittal he W
carried in triumph to Dublin. But /
spirit never rallied. He died May 1854
Well may Irishmen and the-lovers of tr
liberty throughout the world unite to
honor to the memory of him who foug
and died in q noble cause, the freedom
his country. -