The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-15


the nre Of passion cotored ~ the imsginatioa
! OF the Celt His words. though carefully pre-
pared. seemed to burst out like quick throb-
bings Of Impotence. He was the ardor Of
Irish feeling personiled. His audience fol-
lowed him out Of BREATH and reached mis- ex-
element before It arrived at his conclusions.
His speeches were magnificent odcs. which.
like Grattsns. Currans. and Shei's. elevated
discussion into poetry. Tho time OF Meagher.
like that OF vsrgniaud. to whom Sir Gavan
| compares him-they were both trained by the
| Jesuts-was when he spoke: the pedestal Of
| his beauty was tho tribune. When he had
| como down II vanished the orator was no more
| than mere man. But he was a very pleasant
| kindly man at that. very bright and genial In
| society. and full OF quaint and amusing figures
Of fancy and expression. That he carefully
prepared his speeches. as Sir Gavan says. is
true He polished them with tho same tender
| industry that the soldier does his sword. But
though we doubt the accuracy Of Lord Brough-
| ANS dlctum. thst he who prepares with the
most care will be the readiest on sudden occa-
sion. he at times made happy impromptu
speeches.
Such was the party which at O'Connell's
| death undertook the conduct Of affairs In Ire.
land-O'Brien. Duffy. Mitchell. Meagher. Nc
Gee Dillon. O'Gorman. Lalor. Reilly Doheny.
Savage. with u host OF rising young mon strong
In tho pross and In the tribune. those two
points that scntiate tho electricity which
gives vitality to n cause. higher-how far higher!
save In the ability OF tho leader In all the
qualities which command success. than that
which sustains Parnel now. OConnell's policy
was slow rs some may think Parnell's Is. and
it may have been disngured by place hunting.
though we hold. with O'Connell tho right OF
lrishmen to occupy all the official positions In
Al al.
Parliamentary policy which such occupation ut
periods Of struggle brings: but it admittedly.
at all events. had an anchorage OF principles.
while Young ireland had none. Every Young
Irelander interpreted Young Ireland for him
solf. Mitchell did not think with Duffy. and
thought wrongfullv. IA he usually did. Mitchell
was really n man OF very high order spoiled by
faults apparently small. Hs had acuteness.
poetry OF thought and fertility OF expression.
He had not tho least approach to ncanncss.
On tho contrary. he was distinguished by
honor and oftinoss Of sentiment: but he WAS
most indiscreet dsbnter. whether writing or
speaking. For tho sake Of IL now subtlety or
forcibe phrase. rs In the gross Southern
plantation expression and others mentioned
by Sir Gavan. ho was content to utter what
loaded him and his cause with unpopularity.
His logical propensity and his combativeness
led him to extreme sequences. and he OK
pressed his opinions no strongly that they
furnished most striking examples OF incon-
sisteney.
What turn thrso auarres would have taken
or what policy would have been adopted was
left uncertain. For there came u revolution OF
II most extraordinary character which changed
the political aspect Of Europe. and with 1t the
policy Of Young Ireland. Franco was again
republic. Alta days notice. and by course OF
events which could have astounded no one
more than the parties most intimately con-
csrned. tho dynasty OF Orleans had becn termi-
mated. The King did not hear the warnings
that sounded under his feet. and the citzen
monarchy crumbled away. 1t found its grave
where 1t had found its cradie-On the barri-
oades. France was republic. A new hope
dawned on all hearts. New aspirations thrilled
through Europe. raising food OF new ideas.
The Incidents OF this momentous revolution
succe .ded each other with such wonderful ra-
pidity that little time was given for reflection
and Judgment Whatever OF these qualities tho
Young Irolnnders possessed took Hight, and
they accepted the challenge OF tho hour They
forgot that France was prepared for u republic,
and that the Republican party there. assuming
gradually by various stages OF development
affinity with the parties Of 1889 and 1893. was
yengendered by the revolution Of 1880. They
'"Sos o'ciytH'hB III tHo Tulnpo~ cdl
which came to stir thor young hearts
as those OF the other struggling peoples.
rhey rose rs others rose. nut unpre-
pared. sad piece Of Irish history is the
rising OF ~, yet IN many Respects brilliant
one: brilliant in the examples 1t brings OF gal
liant herosm honoring to tho name and race
ana Oh uhin'tarihs h"eity to 'nin. to princi-
p'' ana 10 e"ch "thnr-one not TO DO forgotten
ana not 10 DO mashihed.
The purity OF tn" motives which nctuated tho
Young lrelanderS In their struggle. thcr<.cn-
erous sacrifice OF prospect. and perchanco OF
me, to tho cause OF their country. arc ncknowl-
edged ANA praised generally by historians OF
'he'r timo. hut Mt the axr"ns" OF their wisdom
ana common sense. Their unsuccessful efforts
ara treated as Indicating. especially in Smith
obri"h. ieeolen"s' OF viii and shallownrss Of
thonsht. and we ara taught to look on them
rather with foeling OF pity. as host Of de-
cnimers who were found wholly wanting in
rapncity to deaf with the realities Of political
lIle. Tho general Impression produced by Sir