The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-03-05
4 MEMORABLE SCENE.
GRATTANs LAST APPEARANCE IN THE IRISH
PARLIAMENT.

chill wlntry CLOUDS clOseu III, anu .oo MS"-
bers were assembling, College Green be-
came covered with a sea of upturned faces,
lit by the flicker of q thousand torches-oy'
the flashing of thousand emotions. Many
were the comments, grave and gay, OF
praise and scorn :-"Come, Mr.. NJ, You
were paid this morning; give us q ten
penny bit to drink your health" Sue
cess to you my Lord E. 1t was you
made the good bargain, and it's credit to
"a all, you did not sell your country too
cheap" "Three cheers for Sir William,
boys; he bargained to be lord when
there's to be no lords at ALL" Here's
Harry D boys. How much
did they mark on your brief, Harry !"
Castlereagb was almost shielded from pop
ular scorn by the superb beauty OF DIS
wife: but when Lord Glare appeared, many
q fist was clinched, and Rroans reverberat-
ed liked muffled thunder. The groans
were changed to cheers, wild, loud, and
high, as Plunkett reared his head, and
glorious little Cnrran flashed his dark
eyes, and Kendall Bushe, and Saurln, and
Gould, brought the greatest names at the
Bar of Ireland. Bnt there were sad gaps 10
the popular ranks Lucas had long since
passed away. Floods tall form was
smoulderipg in the grave. Charlemonts
princely presence would never again meet
mortal eye. Aud the greatest of them oil
first in gcnius, in the heart of Ireland
Henry Grattan, was not even entitled to
enter the house of which he was the pride.
He was believed to be lying on lis death bed
at Wicklow. Some wild rumor had, in
deed, run, that he had been on that very
day returned Member for Wicklow, and
that, before the debate was over, he wouid
appear to save, if man could save, the lib
critics of his country. But this rumor was
deemed too wild to be seriously believed.
INSIDE TEE HOUSE
was tenfold excitement. The students OF
Trinity College held their accustomed
places, serried rank on rank, in young en-
thusiasm. The galleries were thronged
with the beauty and fashion Of capital
where beauty and fashion were famous
and tie ladies themselves showed by the
colors they wore that they were not only
spectators but partizans. Behind these rose
many a row of eager faces, and many
form on which shone the stars of the Peer
ages of both islands. The members
thronged the house below in the splendid
full dress of the time
At first, the ministry did not show their
hands. The Viceregal speech from the
throne made no mention of the one subject
which was on all lips. The mover and sec
onder of the address were equally reticent.
But Sir Lawrence Parsons forced the min
stelial hand. In stirring speech he
moved an amendment declaratory of the
resolutions of Parliament TO support the
independence of the nation. Then came
ton, "seemrd on that night inspired by his
subject" Gentle George Ponsonby as
founded friends and foes by a display of
intense power and passion. Even Castle
reagh was eloquent. Bushe and Plunkett
made speeches which became historical.
The grey morning began to dawn, and the
debate to languish, when great sound of
popular tumult was heard from outside:
the debate stopped: cheer rung above
cheer, until all Dublin seemed to be cheer
ing. George Ponsonby and Arthur Moore
afterwards judge glided out. They soon
reappeared, supporting man in the uni
form of the Volunteers but wasted by
illness, pale and suffering, white as ghost.
IT WAS HENRY GRATTAN.
1t was indeed he. Government had kept
the writ for Wicklow until the very day on
which Parliament had met. But that very
day it had been sped by willing hands to
Wicklow; the voters were ready; thereturn
was made after midnight !; Grattan sprung
from his bed his wife parted from him,
believing they would never meet again !;
feet horses bore his carriage fast, and he
was there there to fight the last battle for
the land he loved. AS he entered the
whole House rose and uncovered. As he
tottered to the table and took the oaths,
LORD CasCleTeagn ana all the ministers
bowed and remained standing. For awhile
no sound broke the silen e, except the
sounds of convulsive sobs from the gal
leries. But as the grand old tribune rose
to address the House, there burst forth a
long, wild cheer that answered we'll the
cheer without, and was well re- answered
back again. Scarcely, however, had he
risen when he fell back again into his seat
exhausted. Then he asked leave to ad-
dress the house without rising. And
then" says Mr.. Lecky, was witnessed the
spectacle, among the grandest in the whole
range OF the mental phenomena, of mind
asserting its supremacy over matter, of the
power of enthusiasm and the power of
genius nerving a feeble and emaciated
frame. As the fire of oratory kindled, as the
angel of enthusiasm touched those pallid
lips with the living coal, as the old scenes
crowded on the speakers mind, and the
old paudits broke on his ear, it seemed as
though the force of disease was neutralized
and the buoyaucy of youth restored. His
voice gained deeper power, his action
a more commanding energy, bis eloquence
an ever increasing brilliancy. For more
than two hours he poured forth stream OF
! ND Of -