Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-06
THE IRISH LIBERATOR.
O(Onnell's Life and Services to Jib.
erfv

celebrated in Brooklyn WednesIay even
lng by meeting IN the Academy of Music.
where Richard O'Gorman delivered an elo-
quent address. From the report in the y V
Tribune we make the following extract
The scenes of terror, shame, and despair
which passed before the ewes of a yOung
Irish Catholic gentleman. who had been
called TO the Irish bar in 1885, under the En-
abilng act of H9S-One OF the few who had
awaited themselves of that indulgence-ara
recorded in history. His pane was Daniel
o'Connell. He was an orphan and had been
brought up by an uncle,a man of means. who
had inherited an estate in land which hal
somehow escaped confiscation. After his
admission TO the bar. O'Connell at once de-
voted himself TO his profession with all the
energy OF his nature. From the friendship
OF judges or the patronage OF the Govern
m6nt he had nothing TO expect: as we saw
here, he had to paddle his own canoe" but
he had sanguine nature, undauuted cour-
age, and unlimited capacity for labor. There
was something. also. flank, genial and
generous about him. that soon won him
friends and clients On the Munster Circuit
his reputation spread far and wide Rut
while he was pressing To professional emf
nence and wealth he was none the less earn
est in the performance of his duties a. a citi-
ligiOn.
Before he was two years at the bar, in the
year 1900, we md him addressing meeting
Of Irish Catholics, assembled to express their
opposition 10 the Act of Union between the
two kingdoms, England and Ireland, which
the government was then pressing. Looking
back, now, at OCOnnell' : whole career. IL is
easy, think, TO discern a plan and purpose
clear and consistent. He believed that the
dignity, the perity, the happiness Of the
Irish nation, demanded that her legislative
independence should be restored; that i'm or
der To achieve that Independence, and keep
IL secure and permanent when achieved II
was necessary 10 enlist in its defense all The
people; that the Catholics, the great mass of
the people, shOHld be completely eufran-
chiSed; that Catholics, Professionals, Presley
terianS-men OF all religions and creelS-
should be equal in the eye of the law, equally
entitled 10 share in the grand council OF the
nation.
The success OF ireland in a struggle with
England by force OF arms he utterly re-
pUdiated as hopeless. He had seen il tried
and fail. lie had seen that no reliance could
be placed on foreign aid. lie had seen that
the most secret plans of the patriot leaders
mad been diNulged TO the government almost
as soon as formed. He made up his mind,
therefore, that all successful political effort in
Ireland should necessarily be open, public
and above board, within the limits OF the
constitution, and involving no violation of
the law. He believed, also, that there was in
political warfare a weapon, which had been
"a yet but little tried-the power of public
opinion-the power of well disciplined in
teliect appealing 10 the public sense of hu-
mainly against public wrong. He believed
in moral force. With these principles of ac-
ton, he tiuEg himself at once into the move
ment Of Catholic emancipa tiOn-if that could
be called a moVement-which did not adj
vance but only industriouly marked time.
O'COnnell was the central figure of all Ire
ment OF Irish character, of Irish feelings and
aspirations. BY degrees there gathered
around him body OF Catholic gentlemen,
whose lives and honor were pledged 10 the
cause OF Catholic emancipation. In le25
Wellington and Peel came into Office, pledged
10 resist the Catholic claims. The King,
George ", was of the same mind. Things
mad come 10 crisis II was decided in the
Catholic association TO oppose the govern
ment candidates at the Care election. No
Protestant could be found willing to face the
- ~ nVt nf no holt
ton, when the idea suddenly struck O'COn-
nell TO stand for Glare himself. He was
elected by an immense majority, presented
hlmSeIf In Parliament and refused to take
the oath which denounced the Pope and
Popery as damnable and idOiatrOus. Tie
excitement grew, and was spreading all over
Ireland, England, Europe. Wellington and
Peel grew alarmed. To the amaZement OF
every one they introduced the Emancipation
Dill INTO Parliament. II was passed, and
when they brought il TO the King 10 sign, his
Most Gracious Majesty dew into a passion
cursed and Swore, and when at length he did
affiX his signature he threw the pen on the
floor and stamped on IL, as became the De
fender Of the Faith and the first gentleman
IN Europe. Thus O'Connell had fought and
won the good fight. But he had no thought
OF repose On the contrary, he redoublei mis-
activity. Only one-half of the purpose OF
his life had been accomplished. Catholic
emancipation gained, now for Repeal OF the
Union" The newly acquired power Of the
Catholic people Of ireland was the means Tor
obtaining her legislative independence. But
it was not by speeches in the House, but by
the power OF public opinion in Ireland, act
ing on the prudence and good sense of Eng
land, that O'Conneu expected TO succeed.
After speaking OF OConnelfS Indictment
for reasonable conspiracy, his trial by a
packed jury, and his Imprisonment, the
speaker said: OConnell's release from prison
was day of wild excitement in Dublin. An
immense procession Of the citizens met him
at the prison gate with every demonstration
Of loyalty and devotion, and attended him
to his home. AS the cavalcade passed the
Bank OF Ireland in College Green, where IN
old times the Parliament of Ireland used To
assemble, UCOnnell stood up in the barOuche
IN which he sat, and, looking TO that noble
edibce with sad affection, pointed TO il
slowly with his hand. Was il look. a re-
gret as for glorious vision passed away?
Was il the acieu of a patriot To his long
cherished hope? God knows; but the aglta-
tiCn foI repeal dwindled, ana was IN fact at
an end. O'COnnell's tactics had failed. Rea-
son ana justice had been corrupted by mere
brute force, by bayonetS and artillery. Moral
force had lost its power, and O'COnnelI's ca
reer as the prophet-guide Of his people had
closed.
The rest should he quickly told. While
men stood considering what eXpedients next
10 adopt, horrible portent occurred. The
curse OF famine fell on lreland blight came
upon the crops The chief article of the peO-
Pies food blackened and roLted in the ground.
II was a terrible time To live through-a ter
rlble time even to remember. The British
government did nothing, talked cOllly of the
laws OF supply and demand and prated
ABOUT rOllllCal economy, while the people
Were dying by thousands. 1t was suspected
by many that the government was little
grieved 10 see the Celtic element in Ireland
perishing before weapon more powerful
than their own. The Celts are gone wrote
the Times. "qone with a vengeance, praise
be TO God" There came to US one hOpe-I
remember IL wel-one CLEAN in the dark
sky. 1t was the quick, kindly, practical
sympathy OF America. 1t was the worst
calamity OF C'COnnell's life that he lived 20
witness this woe OF his people. But ii was
not long. He was about three score years
and ten when mortal disease land its hand
upon him. His last journey was to Rome
TO the great center and temple of the faith he
had loved and served. He died on the way,
at Genoa, May p, 1SI7-died in peace, sur
rounded by all that should attend Old age
love, honor, obedience, and troops of friends.
A PEDESTRIAN LUNATIC.-James Hayes,
lunatic in the Hudson county IN. j. asy-
luln, imagines himself TO be Weston, the pc
destrian, and keeps up constant walk with
great gravity and earnestness, rarely cOnde-
scending to speak. He has walked more than
five hundred miles within the small circle
comprising the yard during the year that he
has been an inmate, and in bad weather he
walks constantly indoors. His feet have
become sore, and, having discarded shoes, he
q 1ls d., en.NAtre