The Irish standard., 1886-12-25

may have surpassed him in particular
| traits, or outdone him in special efforts
but for a complete, rounded, perfect
character he had few equals.
Burke was born of humble parents in
land where, to rise from low birth to
positions of honor and trust, was con-
sidered almost contrary to the laws of
nature. But by the sheer force OF his
own efforts he raised himself into posi-
tions in which he could defend his
fellowman against oppression and in
justice, aud make his voice heard to
| the utmost limits Of the British EN-
plre.
Mr.. Burke was educated for the law
and was called to the bar, but became
impatient with the slow details of prac-
tice and abandoned it entirely. At
first he gave his attention to literature,
and produced the Essays on the Sub
lime and Beautiful But while yet a
young man he received political ap-
pointment, and during the remainder
of his eventful career was constantly
in public life. He was a warm friend
of the American colonies, then strug-
Cling for existence, and one OF his
greatest speeches was in favor of re-
pealing the taxes imposed on them.
Though permanently residing in Eng
land and representing English con-
stituents, he never forgot his native
land, and one of the grounds on which
he was rejected at the Bristol elections
in 1880 was that, in the matter of the
Irish trade, he was too partial to that
country. But MIR. Burke's greatest
service was performed, not for the
Americans nor for the Irish, nor Scotch
nor English, but for q people living on
the opposite side OF the globe, and less
able to defend themselves.
at this time the British possessions
in the East were controlled and gov
erned by the East India Company-a
commercial monopoly such as no other
country has ever seen. 1t had exclu-
slve control of all the British COM
merce On half the globe. 1t collected
All annual tax amounting to 1000, 600.
1t commanded an army Of 10000 men,
and had for it's subjects 30,000,000 OF
the inhabitants OF India. Fox many
years the company Was represented in
the East by the celebrated Warren
Hastings, and under bis government
such acts of oppression, extortion and
cruelty were committed on the weak,
submissive natives as even Ireland in
her. worst days has never seen:
After various unsuccessful efforts to
reform the company and to take away
it's power entirely, Burke finally deter
mined to bring to justice the author of
all the misfortune that had been
heaped on the people OF India. Ac-
coraingly. on the return Of Hastings to
England, he was impeached by the
House Of Commons. lhe trial, which
is the greatest in Che history Of juris-
prudence, was commenced before the
House OF Lords in l7Ss and lasted seven
years. Nearly all the great public men
then living ranged themselves ou one
side or the other. The scene at the
opening of the trial has been described
by one of the historians in the follow
ing beautiful LANGUAGE:
~There have been spectacles more
dazzling to the eve, more gorgeous with
jewelry and cloth Of goa lnage slc attract
I've to grown~up children, Than that
which was then exhibited at West
minister; but, perhaps. there never was
a spectacle so we'll calculated to strike
a highly cultivated. a rejecting and
mind. AL the various
kinds of interest which belong to the
near and the distant, to the present and
to the past, were collected on one spot
and in one hour. All the talents and
all the accomplishments which are de-
yeloped by liberty and civilization were
now displayed, with every advantage
that could be derived, both from CO.
operation and from contrast. Every
step in the proceedings carried the
mind either backward, through many
centuries, to the days when
The foundations of our constitution
were laid; or far away, over 5oundless
seas and deserts, to dusky nations liv-
ing under strange stars, Worshlping
strange gods and writing strange char
acters from right to left. The high
court of Parliament was to sit. accord
ing to forms handed down from the
lays of the Plantagenets. On All Eng
ishman accused Of exercising tyranny
over the lord of the holy city of Benares
aud the ladies Of the psincely house of
0uGe. Neither military nor civil pomp
we're wanting. The gray old halls were
hung with scarlet. The long galleries
we're crowded with an audience such
is has rarely excited the fears OF emu
alton of an orator. There were gath |
cred together from all parts of a great.
.ree. enlightened and prosperous en-
11re grace and female loveliness. wit |