Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-05
THE O.UoNsELL uaarKSNIAL.

The OCOnuell centennial, Of which we
published some facts yesterday, in 8
sketch Of the great sgitator, is OCCASION
irg already great stir in Ireland and
nong the E0glish masters Of that most
unfortunate OF islands The British
ministry, in q spirit such 81 prompted
the presence Of Disrseli at the Byron
monument meeting in London a few
days since, are willing to do honor 10 a
man whose ability as an orator, parlia-
meBtary debater and popular leader is
one Of the most valued legacies Of his
country, but they fear the congregation
Of so large a mass Of people in Dublin as
promises to assemble on Friday next.
With all the march Of events, the gov
erning classes Of Great Britain have not
learned to trust the people, they have
not learned the great lesson, 50 little
understood even here in fee America,
that il q government is conducted fairly,
In the interests OF ell, all will
alike lie satisfied. Public opinion, like
water, find its level. Like the Missis-
sippi, it has many tributaries; each Of
which conveys something to the great
channel, swelling its volume until at
last it oveTflows its banks and browns
out all that is effete and valueless. The
British government is still managed in
the interest Of the classes who have
money, titles, or privileges, and without
regard to the rights and claims Of those
who labor; hence the dread Of a popular
gathering which, while it would do
honor and homage to the memory Of
O'Connell, might also take on the form
Of a silent protest against the class leg
islation, and tyranny, and class ex-
actions, against which not even O'COn-
nell as fully protested as be would had
he not been tinctuTed with the
aristocTatic feeling which has cursed
and blighted so many glorious intel
lec,s in the "Old county" But OCOn-
nell, nevertheless, was q great man, "a man
Of the people, who sympathised with
those Of Ireland in 50 far as they did
not possess the privileges conceded to
those Of England, but he had 10 mind
for the larger measure Of liberty for
which Mitchell, Meagher, Dsvis and
Smith O'Brisn struggled in vain, He
was neither Democrat nor Republican.
For him the British constitution, fisg
and crown, with all their ancient sur
r0undings, were sufficient. His policy
was Cancellation and peace. For his
time and country, as events proved, it
was a good policy, because il was safe,
and insured at least q little Of the re-
form every year for which he and his
people had so long agitatsd the. politics
of Great Britain. He Was an honest
and upright man, full of the kindly
sympathies Of his race, aud labOred zeal
ousIy, accomplishing mure than any
man of his time, in the face Of obsta-
cles, too, that appalled, many equally
brave hearts. Ireland and Irishmen
owe him 8 lasting debt Of gratitude,
one that the centennial celebrations
Of Friday and the monuments erected 10
his memory do not half Tequite. Re.
this, we trust the Irishmen
Of Memphis will not permit the occasion
10 pass without such recognition as it
deserves. They should assemble en-
olaS8e, and by appropriate resolutions
and eulogies, put themselves on record
ls sincere and ardent admirers of the
greatest man, "take him for ali in alp
that ireland has ever produced.