The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-03

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| E&7 leader ana states
E&AX z& man Charles Stew
w., 1art Parnell, mus
H admire his bold
~ <S ness, courage, pa
triotism and un
~Z questioned ability
,&NS however much he
may have erred in private life, and
his great services to his people can not
be lost sight of in the recollection oi
his faults. In New York City, Novem-
Der 10th, a great gath ering Of Irish
Americans met to pay tribute of
respect to the memory of the dead
Irish leader. An address was deliv-
cred by Hon. Chauncey M. Depew,
the following account of which we
take from the New York Press:
'The dead should be sacred---in peace let
him rest,
Nor trample in scorn DER the prayer
hallOWed sod
The green turf is holy that covers his
Give his faults to the past---leave his
soul with its God
These words expressed the prevailing
thought at an immense gathering of
Irish Americans in the Academy of
Music last evening. 1t was a mag
nifcent demonstration held to honor
the name of Ireland's great patriot,
Charles Stewart Parnell. Words that
thrilled with emotion and occasionally
moved to tears were spoken by able
orators sad melodies arose from the
orchestra and as it blended with the
soft music of the harp helped to con-
jure up in the mind a picture of Irish
history and the mourning Of new
generation for one who had brought
Ireland within sight of local govern
ment.
The tribute paid to the great Irish
statesman by Chauncey M. Depew last
night was worthy of Depew and of
Parnell. Since his celebrated Grafton
on the centennial ofthe American Con-
stitution DR.. Depew has not essayed
theme more nearly touching the
hearts of freemen throughout the
world. Parnell was for years the per-
sonal representative of Ireland's cause,
her magnificent and dauntless cham
pion in the constitutional strife to
gain the right of self government for
which her sons had suffered and fought
in vain.
DR.. Depew dealt only with the i'm
perishable achievements of Parnells
brilliant and pathetic career. He
depicted the leader of a harmonious
people before faction had applied the
torch of discord to the rising structure
of Irish home rule. About the earlier
and nobler part of Parnell's life story
there can be no difference of opinion
among Ireland's friends. The great
ness of his services will be remembered
when his faults are forgotten.
DIR. DEPEw's GREAT EULoGY.
"If there is to be a national or in
ternational impression produced by
the utterances of this occasion, SO far
as | can voice they shall be the senti-
ments of the American people, with
out any division as to the man and
his cause"
We are here to pay tribute to the
memory of man who made an indel-
ible impress upon his time and per-
formed incalculable services tor his
country. The weaknesses and errors
of great leaders are an inseparable part
Of the elements which affect their fort
unes while living, but, when they are
dead, the sum of their services to their
people is their monument. We have
not met to discuss or settle the party
differences Of the hour. 1t is our pur-
pose to recognize and gracefully re-
member the wisdom, The patriotism,
the courage and the superb general
ship with which Charles Stewart Par
nell organized and led his countrymen
to within sight of the promised land
Of self-government.
These opening words of DR.. Depew
were greeted with the warmest ap-
plause by the audience, which then
settled itself TO listen to most elo-
quent dissertation on Irish history
from the beginning of the century to
the present time. The lecturer graph
ically recalled the patriotic efforts of
Daniel O. 'Connell, his only partial sue
cess and the Irish famine. Speaking
on the advent OF Parncll DR.. Depew
said:
At the hour when the prospect was
darkest, and the Irish were despairing
OF their cause, there appeared upon the
field champion who presented none
of the externals OF heroism or leader
ship. No herald trumpeted his coming,
no applause greeted his arrival. His
comrades had not noticed his presence,
the euemy was not aware of his exist
ence. He hated publicity, but was
destined to be the most conspicuous
figure in the empire. He disliked to
speak, and whenever possible avoided
the forum or the platform, but he was
to effectively voice the demands and
principles which had taxed the re-
sources of the greatest orators of a
nation Justly famed for eloquence. He
was cold in manner, undemonstrative,
self-poised, imperturble, neither elated
nor depressed, and yet he became the
idol of the most impulsive of peoples