Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-06

named D'EsterTe, and duel followed
in which the slatter received a wound
that ultimately proved fatal For this
event O'Connel ever after expressed
the most poignant regret, and declared
his unaIterable opposition TO the code.
In 1923, he stood for member of Parlia-
ment from the county of Clare, and was
triunphantly elected On proceeding
to take his seat, however, he refused as
a Roman Catholic to take the fest
oaths which had been in long usage
and expressly framed to exclude mem
bers of his faith. HIS firm attitude
intensified discussion Of the Catholic
question in Parliament and out of it.
Denied admittance, be appealed to
the people and raised such a
storm that the great leaders of the
Conservative and Prot slant party, Sir
Robert Peel and the Duke of Yelling
ton, were glad to pass the famous
Emancipation Act early in 1899, where
by O'COnnel was enabled TO take his
seat. He aftcrward represented several
other counties in ireland, and was
most active in securing the repeal of
the penal Ia IS and other grew
ances under which his co religion
lists had suffered. In 1871 he was
Lord Mayor Of Dublin. Everybody
has read of the monster meetings in
1912 and 1913 on the royal hill Of Tara,
the Curragh Of Kildare and the Rath
of Mullaghmast, places sacred II Irish
history, and song, and tradition. Some
of these assemblages numbered as high
as 100000 spectators, and although
conducted in the most peaeeable man
ner, the British Government beca ae
alarmed lest they might breed violence.
Finally, he called a monster meeting,
to eclipse all previous, to be held on
the historic field of ClOntarf, where the
hish had driven the last Dane to their
ships some seven hundred years ago.
One month previous to the appointed
day, a proclamation was issued by the
authorities forbidiing the meeting
and warning the people not to attend.
O'Connell Immediately countermanded
the meeting, as he sought no collision,
but he was nevertheless arrested on a
charge Of conspiracy and sentenced to
IMPRISONMENT for one year and a fine
of $4,000. On appeal, the English
House Of Lords reversed this unjust
sentence. In subsequent years he took
a less active part in politics, owing to
the rise Of the Young Ireland" party
who scoffed at his reputation of physi-
cal force N seeking political reforms.
Early in 1917 he SET out on a pilgrim
age to Rome, hoping to die in the holy
city, but he sank too rapidly; and
breathcd his last at Genoa on May Is,
requesting that his heart be embalmed
aud forwarded to Rome, while his body
was taken back to Ireland and received
a magnificent funeral. The English
historian Alison, summing up his
character says: He belonged 20 the
age Of Ignatius Loyola or st. Francis,
rather than that Of the French revolu-
ton. Pope Hlldebrand was not more
devoted to the interests Of the holy see;
Peter the Hermit did not possess in a
higher degree the art Of rousing and
violently moving the great body Of the
people" He certainly manifested but
little sympathy with the French Jacob
ms, notwithstanding hisimpetuosity in
youth, and the political sympathies be-
tween his couutrymen and theirs.
Wherever two or three Irishmen are
found, in Europcor America, Australia
or Alaska, the memory Of O'Connell
will be revived on this centennial day.
In Dublin it is estimated that mil
lion people viii be gathered. Our
foreign exchanges tell US that ad-
ditioDaI steamers Will be put
on duty, running from Glas-
gov, Liverpool, Holyhead, and
other English ports to Dublin, to carry
the throngs Of Irishmen who are anx-
ious to participate in the ceremonies of
the day. The procession there will be
immense, for every town in Ireland Will
send heavy delegations, and the enthu-
siastic citizens themselves, always ready
to make an astonishing display on any
patriotic occasion, VIII hardly find
room to march in the interminabie line
that Will move to Glasneven cemetery,
where O'Conne1 rests under an Irish
round.tower. The celebration will
have somewhat Of religious
SAVIOR, owing partly to his great
work of Catholic emancipation and
partly to the character Of his country
men. We are disposed to think, how
ever, that the cable dispatches of the
past few days have exaggerated, for
political effect, the discussions to which
this feature is said to have given rise.
Both parties in England find the Home
Rule men of Ireland hard to manage.
They are gall to the Tories and a
stumbling block to the Wings. Any
thing that could be made to foment
discord in the Irish ranks would be a
gain to the government party and a
relief to the Opposition. Reading the |
cablegrams in the light of these cir
cumstances; we are strong in the be-
lief that the centenary of the great
O'COnnell viii pass off in a manner
worthy of his memory and his generous
hearted countrymen.