Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-07

the orator OF the evening with lOuu Durst
lofapplauSe, and then, rs he began to speak,
each individual settled himself into the
attitude of an attentive listener.
The Lecture.
Mr.. Lucas commenced by calling atten-
ton TO the fact that this day was the an
niyersary of the birth of Daniel OCOnnell,
whose principles, measures, and methods,
would form the subject Of his lecture.
While he rcioiced at being able to con-
tribute anything to so noble 4 cause as
that which has inspired the organization
of the Parnell Club of Wheeling, he ut the
same time diSclaimed any intention Of
discussing the present aspect OF Irish poll
tbs. OF of obtruding any views OF his own
upon Irish problems. The task which he
had assigned to himself was to photograph
the opinions of O'COnnell, impartially
and faithfully, leaving their influence and
application to those who did him the hon
or TO give audience and attention. In or
der TO understand Daniel O'C0nncll 1t was
necessary to know something of the pOlitl-
cal atmosphere and other environments
in which his career was commenced ana
developed.
Mr.. Lucas then referred to
THE PENAL CODE,
showed its ameliOratiOns in l1S2, and COM
mented on the discomfort which tcrmin-
atcd ia the Protestant Revolt OF 1913.
Then came the Legislative Union, and
after that, OConnen. His first political
speech, in January, loOO, was IN favor oil
the Repeal Of the Union.
The speaker then classified the princi-
ples of O'COnnell in what he considered
their natural order:
First, he advocated absolute religious
liberty. and effected the passage of the
Catholic Emancipation Act, which became
a law on the 18th of April, lS29. This,
said Mr.. Lucas, was the anniversary OF the
birth of
THOMAS JEFFERSON,
the author OF the first act of absolute rellS-
ious liberty which WAS ever passed.
Secondly. UCOnnell was a believer in
the ultimate sovereignty of the people,
and supported the English Constitution,
because, and only because, it was eStab-
liShed by the resolution of 1858 upon the
will of the people. lie claimed for Ireland
the benefits of the Constitution, with
mama charia. and trial by jury. But,
above all, he claimed for Ireland her own
independent legislature, as necessary to
her internal administration and independ-
ence
To support the accuracy of his positions,
Mr.. Lucas quoted from OConnelIS speech.
Is and letters.
But" said he, 1.-THE browning glory OF
Daniel O'Connell'S career consisted in his
great doctrine and method of Pacific Aglta-
ton. Ii was this which gives him rank rs
a reformer. and the author of anew dispcn-
Sation in the religion of political life. To
transfer the battle from the plane OF brute
force to that OF reason and conscience; to
throw upon its legally constituted conserN-
ators and guardians the responsibility OF
every breach of the peace; to cause the
selfrestraint of the multitude to shame the
impatienee of judicial tribunals; to assem-
BILE n nation i'm tents, and make the rOS-
trum greater than the barriCade; to raise
mn walls of defence around ancient liberties
by a voice more musical than AmphiOn' :
golden Tyre which raised the walls OF
ThebcS This was
THE GREAT TRlJ MPH
of Daniel O'Connell
Between Wolfe Tone and John Mitchell;
between Robert Emmett and Smith
O'Brien; between '9S and ~ he raised up
by the inspiration of this gospel of pacific
agitation the magnificent continent Of
emancipated Ireland, like beautiful
island. emergcnt, without one thrOe of ma
ture. from the bosom of the sea. Modern
historians NAV talk, like Mr.. FrOudc,
about the 'frOth of OratOry,' and the lie
cline of elOqucncc. Nevertheless, great
orator with great thought behind him Is
still the most potent engine Of truth which
this planet can set I'm motion. The pen is
mightier than the sword, but the tongue is
greater than the pen. From Socrates to
the Savior of mankind; from PcrlcleS TO
Patrick Henry, elOqucncc-SpOken thought
has ruled the world.
THE VOICE
of Daniel O'COnnell in behalf of liberty,
and against violence, was needed for all
aces. 1t was to OratOry what the MarSel-
laise was to song. Nay, it surpassed the
HYMN of France, because its immortal re-
frain was not to arms, but to the tribunal
of reason.
MIR. Lucas here read an extract from
O'Connell's speech Mt the mOSter meeting
Mt MullaghmaSt in lsI3, and declared that
none of the prophets of old had spoken to
their cOuntrymcn nObler or more inspiring
words.
The speaker showed that O'Connell was
opposed to all the SenSeleSs factions and
h,,,,,l Nf.,,S Of HI, laN- an1
desired to see ''all those distinctions which
had been the curse of his country sunk in
the single name of IriShmGR."
Mr.. Lucas then gave description of the
monster meetings which O'Connell held
in 1910 up to 1913, inclusive; also, of his
trial and conviction under the Conspiracy
Act.
After having given a summary of what
he considered the leading principles of
O'Connelrs political career, the lecturer
concluded with the following estimate of
HIS GENIUS.
There is a marked difference between the
estimates made of O'COnnell before lSc29,
and those made after that date. The
sketch ofMr. Richard LalOr Shiel made in
1873 is of OConnell the barriSter simply,
and has nothing of interest about OCon,
nell the Liberator. ''0COnnell'S style,
SAYS he, sis vigorous and eopiOus, but in
correct. The want of compactneSS in his
periods, however, attribute chiefly to il
attention. As to his general powers of
eloGuence he rarely fails in case admit
ting of emotion to make deep impression
upon a jury; and in popular assembly he
is supreme"
In ISIS, Shiel heard him in Free MasOn's
Hall. in London. 0'COnnell spoke three
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