The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-06-04
JOSEPH p. RoMAYNE. III. p.
dublin Nation, May 1871

remains were laid in the grave, in st. Jo
seph's Cemetery, Cork, on Thursday last
before the eyes of many thousands of bi
sorrowiDg country men.
Few men, if any, in all Ireland, enjoyed
so large a share Of popular trust and fon'
regard. Few are they whose practical service
to the Irish Nation al cause could compare il
value with his. Very few are they whose
easily be supplied.
For Joseph Philip Ronayne was exactly
the stamp of man te exercise, as he did,
most wholesome infiueDce'O on our natiOna
councils and on the we'll being of the Ma.
| tional party. Known to be a man of etrone
opinions, of high. courage, and uncompro:
missing honesty, he was equally well known
to be fair minded, copsiderate, and reason
able. Brave as a lion, he was yet prudent
and wise. Freely atany moment would he
lay down his life for his country, but he
was too good patriot to devote his time
and talents to the prosecution of rash ad-
ventures. Every movement honestly
made for the redress of Ireland's griev-
ances had a share of his ey mpatby, whether
it's aims fell short of his desires OF went be-
yond his notions of what was practicable.
His patriotism was no blind and narrow
passion. The spirit of mere faction was
not in him. He had large heart, and
every man who loved Ireland he looked
upon as having a claim to his regard. In
return, he was loved by Irish Nationalist
of every section, and by men of every creed
and class in the community. He was a link
between them all and onr land, which is
not blest with many such men, and in
which party antagonisms are apt to be
sharp and bitter, is vastly poorer because
he is no more.
Mr.. RonayEe W as q native of the fair city
which now holds his honored dust. He
came OF a patriotic stock, and he was
true ecion of it. From the years of his
childhood he was warm lover of his native
land. Her troubled history had charms for
him; the memorials Of her ancient sanctity
and splcndor spoke eloquently to him and
hopes of bright future for her filled his
heart. In the hot time of le48-"t the year
of revolutions "-he was of the gallant
band who, impelled to action by the des-
perate condition of the country, attempted
to end the power of her oppressors by force
OF arms. The failure of that endeavor may
have daunted some hearts, but it did not
cool the ardor of his patriotism. His politics,
however, did not prevent him from making
his way honorably in life, and achieving
fortune by the practice of noble profess
sion. He was highly skilled engineer, and
found abundant employ ment for his talents
not only in his own country but on the
great western continent, In America he
might have made his home, growing buster
and richer every year of his life, but that
his heart was with the dear old land of his
birth, and with Lis native city where
Tho bells of shandon
They sound 80 grand on
The pleasant waters of the River Lee
gave to his country during the remainder
IF his life the benefit of his bqpyant and
resolute spirit, his wise counsels, and his
generous deeds.
The Home Rule movement, from it's very
won his affection. The
offer it held forth to England he judged to
De such as Ireland could make with honor,
and England accept without fear. On the
broad platform of that movement he saw
patriotic Irishmen of different creeds and
classes and political parties working har-
noniously together for the walfare of their
common country. 1t was the very thing
to crafty 30 largely tolerant and truly ma
prefer to see Ireland entirely Independent
Of England, free from all political bends
and entanglemebts with that country, at
tached to it neither by an iron chain, nor
by twist of parchment, nor by golden
ink "; but he clearly saw that for the
present such separation was impracticable,
he cav that his countrymen were willing
20 give a fair trial co Federal connection
between the two countries, and as his res
son told him that such a connection iu-
Volved no surrender of Irelaud's national
rights, he willingly and heartily cast in his
ot with the Home Rale party. 1t is need
ees to say that in bis declarations on
hat subject there was no ambiguity ; and
hat from the day he gave ir his adhesion
70 the cause to the day of bis death, he
never for moment swerved from the pos
tion he had taken up. There were no
two ways about him, no fencing with
words, no slipping through rat. holes, no
jumping through hoops, no backsIiding on
any pretense whatsoever, no turning round
and drawing of the sword ou his former
colleagues. The noble nature of Honest
Joe Ronayne" was incapable of anything
IF the kind. Loyalty, faithfully, and at
ectionately he worked with the Home Rule |
party in and out of parliament. The |
pledges he gave to his constituents he |
'crnpnlonsly carried out, the trust they
confided to him he console ntiously fulfilled.
de was at the post of duty, watching the |
interests of his country in the English Par. |
lament, until the mslady from which he
suffered became so severe as to threaten |
lis life-then, and not until then, did he |
return to his Irish home to place himself |
under medical treatment. Alas TINT med |