The Irish standard., 1886-08-07

brought against them, the Catholics O
1 Dublin called meeting at the Roya
Exchange on the 18th Of January, 1900
and there, in the presence Of the noto
rious Major Sirr and his body-guard OF
armed butchers, the young tribune de-
livered one of the boldest and most ef.
fective speeches he ever delivered in his
life. From that day forth he was rec.
! ognized as one of the rising young lead,
ers OF the Catholic party, which had
heretofore been under the control Of a
set of sleepy old aristocrats like Lords
Fingal, Gormanstown, Thunderstorm
and French.
1t was not, however, until 1910, when
the Catholic committee was suppressed
by Wellesly Pole, then secretary for
Ireland, that O'Connell became the sole
leader of the Irish Catholics, but he
bravely took the post OF danger, resolv-
ing never to abandon it while he had
life, until his efforts were crowned by
victory. He 1eorganized the scattered
remnants Of the committee under the
name of the Catholic Board. and ell
tered vigorously upon the new contest.
But that the task he had undertaken
was one both ut difficulty and personal
danger, his duel with D'Esterre. the
next most remarkable incident in his
stormy career, gives conclusive proof.
The Dublin corporation was AT this
time composed OF the most rabid Or
angemeD. En- one OF his phillippics,
O'Connell applied to it the epithet of a
''Beggarly torporation.'' For this he
was challenged by D'Esterre, the bully
OF the body, and notorious duelist and
dead shot. The duel took place on the
3lst OF January, 1915, and D'Esterre
was shot in the groin and n1ortally
wounded. He died two days afterward.
Subsequently, Mr. O'Connel} received
challenge from the late Sir Robert
Peel; but, before tile meeting could
take place, he was placed under arrest
and bound over to keep the peace.
From this. time until the formation of
the Catholic Association i'll %, O'Con-
nell worked energetically in the cause.
The elections of Waterford and Louth
in '26, i'll which the leading Orange
houses Of Beresford and Roden re-
ceived such all overwhelming defeat at
the hands of the brave forty~shilling
freeholders, paved the way for the
great victory in Clare in 1928, in which
O'Connell defeated Vesey Fitzgerald,
and was duly elected to represent the
county in the British Parliament. In
consequence, however, Of his refusal to
take the test oath, he was refused ad-
mission, and had to be reelected.
Before, however. he could enter Par
lament, the ministry resolved 10 force
through bill Of emancipation. The
autumn of 1928 beheld the Irish nation
on the eve of civil war. The command
er OF the forces communicated to the
ministry the fearful news that the 10y
atty of the army could not he depended
on. when could Irish soldiers be de-
pended on to support the foreign enemy
III q fair stsndup contest for the indie
peudence of their native land: Never!
as they were forty years ago, SO are they
now, true to the core to faith and faith
erland Aggregate meetings OF men
who wore the green were held
throughout the land, and the fires OF a
new rebellion began to gleam forth.
The rulers Of the empire became
alarmed, a call of the House of Parlia~
ment WAS made fU the 9TH Of March in
the ensuing year, and OH that day Mi.
Peel moved committee OF the whole
House to go into consideration Of
the civil disabilities of His Majesty S
Roman Catholic subjects. - On The both
OF March, the bill passed the House Of
Commons, and OIL the 10th Of April the
House of .ords, OH the 18Th it received
the royal assent, and thus ended the
great struggle for Catholic emancipa
ton, in which O'Connell played such a
part.
1t IS, however. much to be regretted
that in this act was embodied d clause
disfranchising the forty shilling free
holders, those devoted men who so ma
terially contributed to a victory which
conferred titles and emoluments on
their wealthy co-religionists.
In conclusion, we would only say
that no man was more beloved by the
Irish people than Daniel 0 Connell, and
for centuries back no man ever existed
in Ireland who welded the power
which he did from 1843 to 1876, for. dur
ing that period, he had the united
strength Of the Irish nationaiists at his
disposal
The Catholic school for Indian girls,
at Avoca, Mimi, founded by the Right
Rev Bishop Ireland, is in charge of
the Sisters Of the Holy Child, from the
Mother House at Sharon Hill, Pa.
There are forty-seven pupils, who came
from Rosebud and Pine Ridge agencies
of Sioux reservations of Dakota, and
from the Chippewa reserve in Northern
g...