The Irish standard., 1892-02-13
THE SPIRIT OF 1891
Charles A.. O'Neilrs Able Address
Before the New York Gaelic
Union
THE EUROPEAN REVOLUTION.
How Ireland's Sons Fought 70,
Freedom During the Past
Century.

Inc following aDio aQQreSS was recent
ly delivered by Hon. Charles O'Neill
before the Gaelic Union of New York:
This is an age of "Centennials." In
our own beloved country, we have cele-
brated, during the past decade, the sur
render Of Yorktown, which signalled the
overthrow of British power in America,
followed by the estab 'ishment of the
United Ssates Constitution and the inau-
guratson of the first President of this
glorious Republic. France has also been
cele rating her memorable centennial III
the "Fall OF the Bastile," the key Of
which hangs in the tomb of Washington
at Mount Vernon. propose to speak
tonight on one OF Ireland's Centennials
that OF 1871 --
Let us first take glance at the state
of Europe at that time. The closing
years of the Eighteenth Century were
full of stirring events and astonishing
revolutions, social and political. The
character OF European society and iusti-
tutions was un tergoing great change.
A spirit of unrest pervaded AL classes.
| The world beheld the spectacle of the
Emperors of Russia and Austria in league
with the King Of Prussia to keep France
a monarchy. George the Third was
King of Great Britain,' and the unfor-
tunate Louis the Sixteenth was still the
nominal King OF France, while Plus the
Sixth wore the tiara Of the Popes. The
Belgian towns were in open revolt
| against Austria. The German countries
were cursad with their thirty eight local
feudal despots, with pedantic and obso-
lete forms. The German people had no
country, for there was no strong hand.
Chaos reigned in France. The nobility
| were leaving the country. The unframed
| populace were endeavoring to frame sys-
TENS Of government for themselves and
their posterity. The Widest and crudest
| schemes we're advocated. The dismem~
bermert of unhappy Poland had already
been commenced.
| Across the Atlantic, free institutions
had been founded and enj 'yed for many
| years. Each of the American Colonies
had been separate aud independent, ow-
ing allegiance to che English Grown
alone. Each had it's own Legislature
and Supreme Court, with a full jury sys-
| tenn. The American Revolution WIS q
spontaneous revolt against English DOM
nation. George Washington VAS at
this era, the President of the United
States, and was wisely advocating those
principals of neutrality and nonintorven-
ton in the affairs of other countries
which have contributed in no small de-
gree to the lasting prosperity Of this Re
public.
From the time of William of Orange,
England had been governed by an oil
garchy composed of the aristocratic fam
lies who we're the real movers of the
so-called English revolution" of 1885,
England, then, no doubt, was badly gov
erned. Corruption prevailed to an ex-
tent unparalleled even in the history of
modern politics. England had lost an
empire in the West, but she has gained
another in the East. In that empire she
had displayed all the arts of corruption,
and enforced all the systems of cruelty
and oppression which have ever dis
graced her record The trial of Warren
Hastings, and his impeachment by Id
mund Burke in the name not merely of
India but of all humanity, was filing the
halls of Westminster, England, evident
ly, was badly governed; then what must
we say Of Ireland? Her people had been
oppressed for centuries denied the pro-
lection Of the law-considered an alien
race in the land of their BIRTH Doomed
to exile, determination, or practical sla-
very, they were hated and misrepresented
by those sent to keep them in servile
subsection. From the year Of the viola
ton of the Treaty of Limerick to 1882,
the history Of the people of Ireland is
simply a blank, covering the long night
Of the Penal Laws.
The year 1871 marks new era in Irish
history. From that time dates the estab-
lishment Of a patriotic Press and patri
otto society. Hencetorth agitation
among the entire people of Ireland was
was to be forever kept up. No hope OF
reform or regeneration should be expected
IN an assembly constituted as was the
Irish Parliament Of that period. No re-
dress of grievances could be secured
from the ignorant and bigoted land own
ers who ruled in Parliament, or from the
historically bigoted and insane King Of
England, To the millions of oppressed
Catholics the so-called Charter of Irish
freedom, wrung from England in 1882,
was an Idle and meaningless document.
Its declaration that the people of Ireland
were henceforth to be bound only by the
laws enacted by the King of England