The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-02
II NATION MOURNING.
IDublin Nation, Jane lO.l

our readers attention to the eplenulu HAL
per in which the Bohemian people ce,eora,
their gre at patriot, Palacky. From all the
ahodes of their race the scattered familtea
Of the Sclavopiars sent up Populations to
Prague, to honor the man who had oreatn-
ed anew the life of nationality into one sec
dion of their much. divided people. Men OF
ali claeses, of all ranks, of all political opin-
ions, of all religious denominations; hao
gathered around the venerable OLD man
Who had taught his people by word ano
example that there was something hoiier
than material prosperity, something 70 90
preferred to repoee. He had shown tnem
that a nations existence Is o sacred thing,
of divine origin, like human life, to Dc
guarded and cherished, indeed, more care
fully than that of any indivio1ai, oe
cause more widely and more endurlneiy
useful. He had taught them tnat patrloS,
ism was q duty incumbent upon All, from
which nothing could exonerate them, no
more than from the love OF their parents.
He had shown them that their country had
q history and q literature of which they
might we'll be proud and that IL was
memories. and allow themselves to Dc
swallowed up as mere units In the great
empire of which they were subjects. HIS
conntrymen had listened to him, nae
hearkened to his arguments and MS coun
sels. and had been convinced. Ihey mao
years they sprapg up as II inspired VIVID
o new life and they gave another PROOF TO
the world that it was easier and happier and
more enduring to be patriotic than to in
augurate a revelation. They gathered to
commemorate this great change, to honor
its author, to celebrate the completion of
preat work, whose first beginnings had
sounded the trumpet awakening them to
life, Twas touching scene, glorious
example, which well deserved the sympS-
thy accorded to it by ell generous minds.
But how vain is mortal rejoicing, now
uncertain the projects of men! Quickly
the whole scene changed. The country
that shouted -Palacky's name in triumph
was suddenly hushed it had put on sable
weeds to mark its grief for his loss. Little
more than Ave weeks had passed away since
tho national gladness of whole race
,.sombatents in it's joy, and now Paiacky
was dead. It is true he was an old man
who had considerably exceeded the tradl-
tiOnal span allotted to man. But no one at
the festival dreamed that he could be
taken away 30 soon. The report OF MS III
whole land, but throughout all Austria and
even Russia. Then it was declared that
his illness was very serious. Still, as al
ways happens, those warnings scarcely
prepared the public mind, and the news
Of his death fell upon the ear as an an
great festival was an astonishing proctor bic
popularity. But the unanimous evidence OF
the national grief was, perhaps, q Stall
stronger demonstration of how much ne
was honored and loved. The only slmIlar
event with which it can be compared is
that Of the monrnipg of Hungary LOT Deak
four months before. But then the great
Magyar was a statesman of the first c!aas,
a public man, long and intimately mixed
up with the administration OF the political
affairs of bis country, who had achleVso
the recognition of it's independence after
long and arduous struggle and in the teeth
of the utmost encouragement. Pataeky
WA NO public administrator, no debater
in popular assem blies, no keen coustitu-
tional agitator. He was only student,
a literary man, an ardent patriot, an en-
thusisstic lover of the memories and usu-
CsnCist Of it's claims to national recognl-
ZION. Yet Bohemia's mourning and her
funeral rites may we'll compare with those
of which Pesth wac the theatre.
For centuries, we are told, such a scene
has not been witnessed by the banks of the
. Moldau. The body lay in state for four
days in the council hall of the old city OF
Prague. Laurel wreaths, crowns of palm
branches, floral decorations, were sent IRON
an parts of the country, aud by persons Of
the highest aa we'll as the lowest station
More than a thousand of them were re-
eetEed, go that literally they lay piieu uPoL
she floors. Palacky was CalVinist, bu
Ali religious division seemed to be hushec
by HE death. The Catholic clergy attend
Cd the funeral the Cardinal Archbishop bishop o
Prague, a sciOn of the haughty house o
Schwarzenberg, paid o visit of coudolenc
TO the relatives, and among them to tn
Son-in-law Rieger, who is himself leade
among the Bohemian Nationalist. ~
ilay Of the funeral all places of busines
we're closed, the streets were hun
With mourning, and were crowded wit
spectators. The funeral procession wa
AZ the members of the Bohemian and Mol
avian legislatures: a deputation of tn
Bohemian nobility, including sewers
princes and counte; all the public bodies
1he city, including the clergy, the membel
of the religious orders, and even the JEWS
Rabbis, There were over five hundred do
putations from various places in the AuI
only passed through the streets of Pragu
hut companied the earthly remains of IL