The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-12-01

than he. All such objections on his part
were overruled, however; and, perhaps
the individual who contributed the mos
toward inducing the eloquent Dominican
to yield to the request that had been st
generally addressed to him, was the latt
lamented Bishop O'Farrell of th'
Trenton diocese, though at that time ht
had not attained the dignity of thu
Episcopal purple. Father O'Fsrrell
who was himself splendid ora or, ,
constant student of Ireland's history an0
all ardent advocate Of her national
aspirations, not only exhorted Father
Burke, whose splendid capabilities fol
the task he fully apprecia tied, to answer
the English historian, hut he placed at
bis disposal his own magnificent library
abounding in Irish historical works.
! For the space Of week, after 9 bad
decided to refute Mr.. Froude's mis-
statements, the great Dominican occupied
himself with preparing his replies.
| Then he took the PLATFORM, and in 6
series Of five lectures, to which separately
his antagonist vainly endeavored TO
! reply, socrushing we're the testimonies
| with which he proved the falsity OF the
Englishman's charges that Father Burk >
turned back the tide of American feeling
and laid the foundations of that grand
sympathy which, on SO m any occasions.
had proved Of such signal servlce to the
Irish national cause. His triumph Was
one of the grandest and most complete
ever won by public speaker. England
| was not then without her defenders on
the New York press; and Mr.. Froude's
lectures had been lavishly, though unde-
servedly, praised by more than one OF
the leading dailies, while he himself was
feted and honored as, scholar and
historian in literary circles. When
Father Burke, however, had finished
with him, Mr.. F'roude was wholly un
done. The journals that had been loud
est in his praise when he was presenting
the English side of the Issues at question,
had become mute; his credit as a
historian was irretrevably damaged, and
SO conscious was he himself of his dis
com6ture and of the failure of his
A aa,1frfU fU1lf, mission that. although when
he came here it WAS his intention to visit
and speak in all the larger cities in the
land, be cut his tour short abruptly at
Philadelphia, and on the plea of i'll
health, hastened back to London.
Father Burke's replies to Mr.. Froude
consisted of five lectures ia which he
dealt with the Norman INVASION, Ireland
under the Tudors, Ireland under
Crom we'll, Grattan and the Volu teers
and Ireland since the UNION. These
lectures drew immense houses, and in
his audience were mon distinguished in
every walk of life The enthusiasm he
awoke when he took up aud demolished;
one by one, the accusations of his
opponent was tremendous and time and
again the eloquent Irish ecclesiastioss Aad
to pause in his delivery while the house
rang With the plaudits Of his hearers,
who we're enthused to the highest pitch
OF admiration by the force Of his resist
Jess logic, the wonderful extent of his
historical knowledge and thu marvellous
spell of his unequalled eloquence. At
the conclusion of his last lecture, the
Very Rev. William STAIRS, then Vicar
General of the New York Archdiocese,
who, with many otter prominent priests,
sat on the platform at each of the five
addresses wherewith Father Burke
auewered Mr.. Froude came to the front
and said:
''Ladies and gentlemen: Ihave merely
few words to say to you before you
separate this evening. You all know
that this is the last lecture of the course
by the, Very Rev. Father Burke in reply
to the lectures of Mr.. Froude, the EGG
lish historian; and I know very we'll that
you must all feel satisfied with the
manner in which he had replied to the
lectures Of that distinguished gentleman.
Nevertheless, I take this opportunity to
move vote of thanks to the Very Rev.
Father Burke for the able, dignifed and
learned manner in which he has ac-
complished his purpose IN the course of
lectures which he has just completed.Y
The Vicar Generals motion was speedi
ly seconded and put to vote, when, said
the newspaper accounts of the day,
tremendous aye resounding through the
vast auditorium, testified to the fact
that it was carried unanimously.
Great as were Father Burke's popular
ity and reputation before he undertook
the task of replying to Mr.. Froude, the
successful manner in which he demol-
ished that individuals charges, added
largely to his fame; and universal regret
was expressed when, the following Feb
ruary, he was recalled to Ireland. The
sorrow which the news of his death, in
1883, awakened here was profound and