The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-10-11


State Historical society library at Ian.
sing IS rich ia manuscripts left by
Father Marquette and later by Fatbt r
Richard. !.
I FATHER THEoBALDs MATHEW.
w ithont doubt. one OF the greatest
add dresses ever heard in the rational
capitol was the one delivered by the
great apostle of temperance. Father
Mathew, in the hall Of the house I'll
sl849. n
The story of Father Matthew's visit to
WASHINGTON is an exceedingly interests
ing one. Seldom, if eyer, has man
ffecelved such shonors from the hands of.
lcoparess as did Father Mathew, and.
200, il is doubtful if any other man ever
sun1sste tionallY created such a eommo
ton in political circles at the capitol
In SO brief q visit as he did. The fame
ut the great temperance orator had
reached America long before his landing
Tn New York on the morning of July 2.
l849, SO that when it was known that
he was or ours shores, Invitations poured
III upon him from all the large cities of
thu union. The great meeting in Irving
hall. New York, wAs one of the most
noted in the eity's history. Daily
.levees in the city hall were the pro-
gramnae for q week. While there, Hon.
Millard Fillmore, vice president of the
United States. and Hon. Lewis Cass
called uDon him and invited him to
nv ashington. About this time Wln,.
Lloyd Garrison extended him an invi
tation TO visit Boston as the guest OF
the Massachusetts Anti Slavery society,
and Father Mathew unwittingly COM
piled with the request. This afterward
caused much embarrassment 10 Father
Mathew, as will be 3een later on. q.
a, In Boston he addressed very large
audiences on temperance, and refused
to be dragged BY Mr.. Garrison into dis
|eusslng the slavery question, Philadel-
,phia paid him equal honors, and on
December l3 he arrived in w ashington.
III AS soon as his coming was made.
known to congress "a resolution was
'lnani2 i2nously carried id the .honSe ad- 7
mitting him TO "a seat. the highest dis
tinction that could be- conferred upon
the subject of another country by the
representatives of our republic The
G,,3t, ii hnr nj
entered the hall, the members rose to
receive him and an informal reception
was held during the noon recess In
the meantime q resolution had been
offered in the senate extending him
the courtesies IF that BODY, which gave
rise to most animated debate. SEN
ator Walker, of Wisconsin, had moved
that the Rev. Theobald Mathew be
allowed a seat within the bar Of the
United States Senate during the period
Of his soiourn in WashiDgton.'
MT. Clements was the frs. to oppose
the adoption Of the recolution.
Mr. Clay expressed deep regret that
anv opposition should have been made.
and said in concluding half hours
speech on the resolution. lit islntend.
cd as an homage to distinguished
foreigner for his humanity. his bene-.
Violence, his phifantrophy and his vir
tue. 1t is but merlted tribute to a
man who has achieved q greab social
revolution, revolution In which DO
blood has been shed. a revolution which
has involved no desolation, a revolution
which has caused NO bitter Gears of
widows and orphans to f,w, revol1-
tion which has been achieved without
violence. and a greater one perhaps,
than has ever been accomplished BY
any benefactor OF mankind"
Mr.. seward delivered an eloquent
eulogium upon the object Of this intend
ed compliment. Mr.. Hall said he
wonh gladly vote for the resolution as
q trIbuteto the virtues and the philan-
throphy Of Father Matthew, although he
disapproved OF the course which he had
taken on the slavery question.
Jefferson Davie tnen took the door
and made q very bitter attack on Father
Mathew He said: ''Shall this senate.
haviag upon its fl1Or those who repre-
sent slave holding constituency. vote
an extraordinary compliment to one
known as the ally OF l1't'nnnan. and in
whose npiniOns he c0incides2 Whv. It
he came here as a g1lest to share our
hospitality. and not to disturb the
peace Of the country, did he not say
that our domestic affairs are our own,
and that he came here to express M
opinions in relation to slavery z No;
hut he comes eovertly. q wolf in Sleeps
clothing and shall Oppose his entry
into this chamber By nv vote =
j Mr.. gasa siapreeat the introfiu uctlon
OF the slavery qnAst1op 4. Tespecting
which the public mind was salEeady in
4 aIgh state nf exeite tement. 8 IS.
s outstanding the protests of the