National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-06
DANIEL n,cnNNELL.

The present seems to be cycle OF cen.
tennials. The American people are In the
midst Of celebrations OF national centennial
anniversaries, when q numerous class Of
adopted citizens are impelled by worthy
reverence for the memory Of one Of the
greatest leaders TO celebrate the one hun
dredth annual return Of the birthday of
Daniel 0'Connell. This coincidence will
serve to remind the thoughtful student of
history that the era of our country's nativity
was one of general progress and revolution
in governmental systems. The Irish peo-
pie had already waged long and fruitless
opposition against the ImpositIons OF Great
Britain; but the year which gave birth to
a nationality among the British-American
colonies also gave birth to an IrishmaR,
who proved to be less of an Irishman than
any of his race; but who, nevertheless,
served his countrymen with jealous loyalty
to their dearest interests, and justly earned
the titles Of Agltator and Liberator. He
meyer resorted to violent measures, and
therefore we say he was less of an Irishman
than any Of his race. Combining all the
characteristics Of his people except that of
rash pugnacity, he led them with rare elo-
quence, aroused them to the point Of rebel
lion, nerved them to do and to dare, but,
never losing control of the hurricane of
passion he invoked, always succeeded in re-
straining his followers from serious out
breaks. When it is remembered that those
followers were the most impulsive people
in the world, and that he led them against
the English aristocracy, whom they hated
with the bitterness of generations of ami
mostly, this power of restraint seems al
most miraculous. Yet 0'Connell exersed
it, and to day, from pole to pole, and zone to
zone, millions of his fellow countrymen will
assemble to do homage 10 his extraordinary
powers. Nota civilized nation on the face of
the globe will fail to hear and learn some.
thing of his character to day from them, and
the acknowledgment will be made that Gen.
turies Of subsection to Great Britain has
not obliterated the individuality of the Irish
people as a nation, or blunted their desire
for national autonomy. 1t is in this light,
as the greatest pleader the Irish ever had
in advocacy Of their independence, that
O'ConnelPs character finds its admirers
among believers in all the creeis and in
every faith. While the Catholic Church
may claim him as its especial champion,
there was SO much true universally In his
struggles for freedom that the world at
large owns q controlling interest, so to
speak, in his undying fame. The bigotry
of extreme religionists may deny this, and
strict sectarians may argue against it, but
the fact will remain that his struggles for
religious liberty were based upon princi-
pie which was simply all-comprehensiye.
He was, in truth, the foremost disciple, Of
his day, of those principles which find an
everlasting resting place upon the basis Of
human freedom. The prejudices of re.
hgion may have warped his Judgment at
times; but Diminishing the natural influences
Of his early education to be priest, we
find that he was an instrument in the hands
of Providence for the advancement of the
noblest forms ofprogress. To him Irslani
was the world; but in the results Of his
labors the world becomes bis ireland. His
only hatred was against the Saxon. That
word symbolized in his mind oil that