The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-07


Irish views might be Disseminated from the friends OF
the British connection at any price. The idea OF
statue 10 him might have long remained barren but for
another lucky accident In November, 1867, three
men we're hanged in Manchester on charge OF MUIR
dering police sergeant named Brett The facts proved
we're they bad taken part the rescue OF two Fenian
leaders and in the progress Of the riot the sergeant
was accidentally killed The killing having occurred
in the carrying OF the Illegal enterprise Of rescue
OF prisoners amounted he legal offence OF murder
The government OF the day was resolved to make
example which might tcrrify the Fenans,
and the men were left for execution.
This proceeding made a profound impression In
Ireland II exasperated the nationalsts OF all snades
monster mourning procession moved through the
streets OF Dublin which speeches delivered by
the late John Martin and others A. NJ. Sullivan CON-
mented the transaction with great severity in his
newspaper. Martin, Sullivan and others were tried
for sedton, convicted and imprisoned A snoscrip-
tion initiated and warmly taken up throughout the
country TO assist Mr.. Sullivan to deiray the expenses
incurred in defending himself Some hundreds OF
pounds were collected. But when he out Of
prison Mr.. Sullivan declined accept this assistance
and proposed II the donors did not object that the
amount subscribed should be made the nucleus OF
national subscription to raise statue TO Grattan IN
College Green. Who could quarrel with such gener
orsity and such patriotic proposal The suggestion
was taken up, small committee formed and Foley
the leading Irish sculptor Of the day, was commits
stoned TO make the statue
rHE PRINCE ALBERT
The Corporation upon being applied TO- resclnded
their vote assigning College Green TO Prince Albert
who was reegated to the lawn OF the Dublin Society
association the rearing OF cattle and i'm
provepent OF the breeds-a congenial site for the
thrifty owner OF the Windsor Home Farm" College
Green appropriated to Graham Il is worth bear
ing in mind that the Home Rule movement and the
FIRST practical steps raising to Gratan
the father Of Irish National Independence, we're almost
contemporary.
SKETCH cRATTAS's LIFE.
Henry Grattan was born in Dublin July 3, 1746 His
father James was Recorder OF Dublin for many
years and represented the city the Irish Parliament
from l7Gl 1906 His mother, clever, spirft,selte
woman, daughter OF the Chief Justice Of the
Kings Bench and the belief has been that the
owed small part OF hts genins to this mother.
AT the first school to which young Gratan
sent he gave striking indication Of his
/ energy OF character. His having nogged
him undeservedly he felt so indignant at
| the degradation that he Insisted on being sent
other school, where he became popular among his
schoolfeliows for his high spirit and genial disposition
In his eighteenth year he seized with i'll
ness, which repeatedly returned TO hm at the most
epochs OF his life reducing him a state of
greatest physical debility Indeed all times his
organization bore small proportion his
perarnent and his body but irai tenement
4 for aspiring spirit In 176S Grattan entered Trim
] ity College, Dublin where he became acquainted with
John Foster aterward Speaker Of the Irish House OF
Commons and leader OF the Protestant nationalists;
with Robert Day, afterward prominent judge, and
/ with BLACK Jack Fitzgibbon" handsome sulen
youth, aftcrward Lord Chancellor of Ireland and the
naughty Earl of Clare The two former continued in
alter life to be his friends; but like many others he
early parted company with the overbearng antilrsh
Fitzgibbon. In college Grattan showed talent and in
dnstry being noted for his study of ancient oratory;
and he took high honors in his examinations In 1867
I he went to London and entered the Middle Temple
bis way'' to the Bar, according custom which
only within the last quarter OF century
He called the IRISH Bar l772 but he still con-
tinued to reside chiefly in London, where he had be-
come fascinated with the fame eloquence OF the
elder Pitt the great Earl OF Chatham and bad made
the acquaintance OF others destined 10 occupy in after
years a shining place in British history.
BEGINNING or oRArTAE's
Real life began for Grattan when December, 1775,
his thrtIeth year entered Parliament through the
Influence OF the Eari 81 rfrHersn,. smiabe noble
! man OF moderate abilities, cultivated taste and
siderable wealth, but conspicuous for ardent love
the Irish people and desire to improve their
dtion at home and their reputation In Para-
meut Grattan joined ranks of the opposition
+ led by the celebrated Flood. At this time
The English legislature asserted and exercised
Ireland the authority which IL attempted TO
enforce In the American colonies with memorable
! suit. standing army was maintained in Ireland
solely under English law. The English OF
law claimed supremacy the Irish tribunals No
bill could be introduced into the Irish Parliament
unless previously approved by the English Prvy Coun-
fod and
RESTRICTIONS Grattan's high spirit and nervous
quence great gain to the popular party. One OF
great fruits OF his zeal partial alienation
OF the commercial restrictions IL IN the height OF
! THE WAX NDEPENDEsoE
France had joined the revolted colonies, and both
French and American cruisers and privateers had
found their way tue British seas. From Belfast
application made for protection in the OF
descent The sent from Dublin Castle that
Government could afford succor" The spirit of the
whole country seems TO have awakened under this
confession ofhepessness from rulers could play the
tyrant could afford protection The Protestants
Cfor they only could legally possess gum took up
arms tor their security and guard their native
land from hostile INVASION And so arose the cele-
brated Irish vounteers-the FIRST specimen the Old
World Of national voluntary armed force for peace
able purposes, anticipating by nearly dozen years
Lafayette's Parsian National Guard
GRArTAN's PUBLIC
This organization Of the volunteers the constitu
tiona fuerum needed by Grattaa The citizen soldiers
proved themselves sincerely desrous promote tho
political regeneration OF their country defend her
coasts In 1850 obtained from the Irish Parlia
ment the memorable rescluton-''The King and the
Lords and Commons OF ireland are the only power
competent TO make laws 10 bind ireland HIS speech
on this occasion reckoned by his finest effort
al will be satisfied ho said in the concusonj
long the meanest cottager Ireland has link OF the
British chain clanking TO his rags he may be naked
be shall not be in iron" Grattan bad by this time
quite gained the admiration and love OF his country
I men, and he contributed not little TO swell their
courage and enthusiasm Negotiations were set on