Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1888-12-20
John Boyle o'ReliIy's Lecture.

"Iilu>triou. Iri,hmen OF our Century" was
the subject Of John Boyle O'Reilll'- lecture Al
Hancock Hall. on Friday evening Of la, week,
and very able and in-truciiV. lecture 1t was
MANY prououncing it one Of the very finest
ever delivered 10 Ellsworth. Mr.. O'Rclly is
a decidedly handsome man aud what with bis
good looks, fine physique and full dress hahili-
ments, he got the closest attention OF his
audience from the first. on the platform were
Mayor Aiken and Rev. Father Butler the
latter OF whom introduced the speaker in a
few wel-cbosen words. Mr.. o'Reilly began
his lecture by briefly referring to the history
OF ireland since the first century, and dsclt
some length on lis 80 years Of oppression in
the later centuries. God meant that the peo-
pie OF ireland should do their own work in
their own wsy. make their own laws aud adj
minister the government Of their own people.
Ireland is rich in natural Resources. The
humidity received from the Atlantic causes Il
great abundance Of rain which keeps the
streams full. and gives TO the country Que
OF the best water powers in the known world.
The wealth OF Ireland IN iron, coal peat, tin
and lead. and qusrries OF marble is simply
enormous. but through oppression all OF this
vast wealth hd, ceased 10 be utilized. The
hght in Ireland has been between the masses
OF the Irish people and the English arist0crat-,
but now, after centuries OF OPPRESSION, Ireland
has ut last reached the conscience OF the Eu-
g-h. mostly through the effort u one good
man. Mr.. Gladstone. England resorted
10 the basest Of methods TO subjugate her peo
Pile The Iri-h are liberty loving people,
but of the people under the government Of
England nine out OF every eleven are disfran-
ch,ed, and yet the English people throw up
their caps for the liberty they enjoy under that
tyrsnnical government, when IN reality they
h,.Na h.rfy han Gait in fta
field. No man can tell how Eng land is going
to get the land out OF the 10 600 and put it into
the hands of the millions, but it ia going to be
done. and speedily. Formerly Ireland was
one Of the foremost countries in education.
with her people learned In the arts and
sciences. and Bangor, from which our neigh
boring city takes its name. was at one time the
seat OF q university with 200 students. After
700 years of rule England has left Ireland
without 4 school, has sent depression through
the lund. and made beggars OF an ingenious
people. England has deliberately planned to
kuLjugate the Irish people by statutes. II is
not religion. as some have claimed. " bich made
trouble but tyranny. Some OF the Industrious
sons OF Ireland then claimed the attention OF
the speaker. Those whom he selected for
special mention were Jonathan Swift. whose
writing. for the good OF Ireland. did great
work for the cause; Oliver Goldsmith, the
author OF the best English classic prose. and
the best English poem ever written; Sheridan.
the greatest of dramatists and orators Henry
Grafton, the patriot statesman, whose resoiu-
ton for the franchise became Il part of the
constitution Edmund Burke, the author OF
the Essay on the Sublime and the Beautiful"
the orator and statesman. one OF the great
masters OF elaborate composition and a friend
TO the United States IN the time OF need; ;
Thomas Moore. the noble poet Robert En-
met, the statesman; Daniel O'Connell, one of
Ireland's greatest lswyers; Michael Balfe.
William Vincent Wallace and Sir Arthur Sull-
van. the eminent musicians. Marshal McMa-
hon. Lord Wolsley, Gen. Sheridan and Parneii.
There il only one test Of n nations greatness
and that is the production Of iustrIOus men.
and illustrious men such these, the sons OF
Ireland. are proof incontrovertible OF Ireland's
| greatness. Ireland has given layishly of her
| great men and patriots to other nations, and to
| America Phil Sheridan and many other noble
men.