The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-11-15
DANIEL O'cONNEtL
Two Important Ep.sode. In the Life n,
tho Irish Libcrutor

"' important Epssodes In the Life ,
tho Irish Li6erntor.
Daniel O'Ccnncll was born in III,
and was sent TO Franco TO be educatet
: as was the custom at the time anon
! SatholIc Irish families. AT the are q
~ he wrote to relative concernin,
his future plans: II have now rw'
ooJects 10 pursue-the one the attain
n,';ni, ment OF knowledge; the s, eth,ss-.Ar--;
leon-.-.~eesrue polite gentleman. an
convinced that the former, besides tn,
immediate pleasure which it Yields. i.
calculated to raise me to honors. ranL
and iortune, and know that the
iatt'r serves as general pass
port or iirst recommendation; and
as Tor the motives OF ambition
which you suggest, assure you that no
man can possess more Of it than I do.
have, indeed, a glowing and, if /
may uso the expression, an enthusi-
astlc ambition, which converts every
toll into pleasure and every study
INTO an amusement. Though nature
may nave given mo subordinate tai.
cnts, mover will DO satisfied with n
subordinate situation in my profession.
No man is able, am aware. to supplv
tho total deficiency of abilities. bnt
everybody is capable of improving and
cnlarging stock, howcvc,, smaH and
III It's beginning, contemplate. It is
this reflection that affords mo most
consolation. Ii l do not riso at the
bar will not havo to meet tho re.
proaches Of my own conscience"
ihe young man understood himself
wcll. LIS success as lawyer was ex-
traordinary. Before lie had been prac-
uclng live years hc had within his
reach law business that would have
brought him an income of $50, 900 or
$lO0, 600 year. But he had not fore
seen that ho was born political gladi.
ator, and that tho oppression of Irish.
men ana the mscries Of Ireland would
constitute the ono great cause of his
career.
When O'Conncll took up tho Irish
question many of his fellow Irishmen.
IKE himself, were under u religious
and Legislative yoke. They were for
blddcn even to hold real property.
The agltator lived to.scc somo of the
worst disabilities removed, and this
largely through his own inccssant
cnorts. his parliamentary tactics were |
much tho same us Parnells-hc NAV
DC SAID to have Invented them. He |
was elected to Parliament in 1928, and
was the first Catholic Irish member
after tho revolution. The emancipa-
in 1929. ,rutsa,fiIas Re ftSfI,e = I.
rorS gaS1ilfth With al members at the time;
His first appearance IN the house oi
is thus dcscribed: "Thc eX-
element was intense; brcathlcss
silence prevailed in that crowded as
scmbly when O'Conncll was intro.
duccd by Sir +. Burdctt and Lord
The speaker then in
formed lin of The resolution cf the
house on the previous night-that he
could not take his scat unless he took
the oath prescribed at tho time he was
elected. The liberator then said:
May ask to SEQ tho oath?' The
clerk was directed to hand him the |
oath. which was printed on large |
card. O'Conncll put OH his Spcctacles |
and peruscd the oath with deepest at
tcntion. One would suppose he had
never seen the oath before; during the
few minutes lie was so pcrusing 1t the
smallest pin could be heard drop.
He then said: II SEQ in this oath one
assertion as to matter Of fact which
know to be false, see in it another
assertion as to u matter of opinion
which believe to be untrue. there
fore rcfuso to take that oath, and,
with an expression of the most pro,
found contempt, ho flung the card
from him on the tablo of tho house.
Tho house was literally, struck OF a
heap. No other phrase that ! know OF
but that quaint, old fashioned one can
accurately describe the feeling Of
amazcment that pcrvadcd parliament
for somo minutes after tho card was
thus contcmptuously flung on tho
table. The speaker then said, ''The
honorable and learned gentleman
having refused to take the oath, will
please retire below tho bar" and the
Liberator, again leaning on Bwdett
and Duncannon, camo below the bar
and sat near me under the gallery. In
tho debate that cnsued the speakers on
all sides paid him the highest compli-
mcnts, but it ended in tho issuing of a
new writ for Glare. Detroit FREQ
r-c":=