Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-25
THE IRISH LEADER.

THE IRISH LEADER.
When Nr. Parnell was granted by
congress the privilege of speaking to
that body while in regular session,
we thought the twenty minutes speech
unworthy OF the man his cause, and the
unusual honor done him by the legisla-
ture Of a great country. His address
was lame, commonplace, and but poorly
repaid the large and intelligent audi
enoe that plodded through the snow and
slush to hear him. We got the idea from
that speech that the gentleman was
overrated as an orator, and that it took |
but poor material to elevate man to
leadership as an agitator in Ireland,
since the days OF O'Connell. 1t seems
that Mr.. Parnslrs native Irish modesty
caused him to do himself injustice in
this country. The speeches OF his can
vass just after his return home, when
efforts were made to drive him by force
from the forum, marked him as an elo-
quent and forcible talker, an Alclbiades
at times, at others something OF Cice-
70. We have him more recently in the
role of Patrick Henry. A great ban
quet was gwen him not long since at
Waterford. In responding to the toast
In his own honor he removed the mask
which he seems to have worn. of loyal
| ty to the British constitution, and like his
illustrious Virginia prototype. in en-
deavoripg to wrench dependency from
the same autocratic sway, the subllmity
OF earnestness makes him truly eloquent.
| When he said, IL do not believe that
any amount OF mcney or the strength
and power OF even the greatest nation
in the world can work imposslbilities,
and it is abundantly proved that gov
erning Ireland outside OF Ireland by
power and people whe do not live in the
country is impossible" he struck
chord which vibrates responsNely in
every Irish heart, and which meets the
sympathy et the great constitutional par
ty in America, which sees in home rule
the only perpetuity Of free and enlight-
ened government. He continued -
We have gigantic forces arrayed againstus but
have more powerful forces on our side-nane-
ly, the forces Of nature, forces OF nation ality,
sufficient 10 break the yoke Of English misgovern-
ment and chase from The country that usurpa-
tien which has SO long had its heel upon our
neck. Look at what we have done to this pitt
full government. In twelve months we have
obliged them to reverse every principle; every
law, every tradition on which they bullt their
position. We have made them eat their
speeches.
| As if this was not plain enough Nr.
Parnell added with great warmth ana
earnsstness
81 tell them that all their acts and statutes
are much waste paper; that it ID impossible IN
these days To continue governing this country
against the will OF the majority OF the people.
No nation In history was ever able to do this,
and of ali nations that ever tried it England has
made the worst mess oft. We stand to-day in
the same position that our ancestors stood. We
declare that it is the duly OF every freshman to
free his country If he can. We refuse to infict
by constitutional means SO long it suits us 10
| do SO. We refuse to plunge this country into
the horrors Of civil war when she has not a
chance. But ask any man ut this board. ask
! any true Irishman. be he priest or layman ,
whether he would not consider it the first duty
Of an Irshrnan to DO what he could to enable
} OF the world. (Deafenins cheers.J hit could
be proved to you that there is u fair prospect
. that success would follow from the sacrifice,
ask you whether ii would not be your highest
, duty to give your lives for your country thai
E gave you birth. call for useless sacrifice.
/ don't wish to be misunderstood. Our presen,
! path is within the limits OF the constitution.
England has given us that constitution for her
!: purposes. We will use it Tor ours. If ever
call upon the people to GO beyond the consttu-
E ton We shall dc openly and aboyeboard
5 We shall not ask the people 10 take y risk we
l present
! will remain within the constitution. relying er
l parliamentary action In England and upon or
ganized national action ut home l believe we
. have in these. power to achieve our ends. We
call upon you, II You believe in its use and be-
< and the genius God has given you, confident ir
e the future of our common country" (Gres
cheerlng)
r These are brave words bravcly spo.
ken; may they be considerably Needed
> England may be able with her men anC
5 money to drive every Irishman out o
r Ireland, to banish her daughters, te
: exile her children-nothing short o
4 this can subdue the spirit OF Indspend
ence which her people have absorbed
: . from the liberal ideas of the ninstesntl
y century. Coercion, England must un.
dsrstand, means annihilatiou. Coer
+ cien can accomplish nothing short 6
. this. Coercion, therefore, is, IT not i'm
!. possible, at any rate a truitless poll
: cy. There is but one means OF pre-
!, venting either anarchy or most bru
= tai and bloody war, and a subseguon
!. peace IN death, and that is fai
recognition of home rule; an acquies
r csnce in the principle that Ireland j
n n for the Irish, and must be ruled by Al
'r Irish legislature, elected BY universe
= Irish suffrage. Let the United King
10 dem have its parliament for agrse'
% - constitutional purposes, but perni
:; Ireland to be ruled by her own psopls
+ This may seem absurd to the Ensls
mind. but it is the only solution OF tn
Irish question short OF separation.
= Secretary Thompson, in his report
il il says that the farmers, planters. mart
tactursrs and all others engaged in pre-
ductivs industries will soon be at tn
mercy OF foreign ship owners, who in
"a pose on them ruinous burdens. Who's
IN fault is this2 That Of the rapub.ica
"a party, " hch refuses to register II foreig
10 built ship. and then taxes ship buildin
T. material so high that it costs twice 6
D. much TO build ship ia Maine as it doe