The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-04
A Distinguished Carolinlan.

nor, issued from the publishing house
Of Dempsey l. Carroll, New York, aud
written and edited By his daughter
Mary Doiine O'Connor. 1t is now
ON sale in this city. aud is volume
which merits more than passing at;en-
ton both for the entertaining manner
in which it has been prepared and for
the charming aud distinguished life
which it is meant to embalm.
VI P O.Connor was a citizen of
whom South Carolina was justly proud.
and an Irisbman who was always loyal
to Erin He was we'll known in
Augusta. aud it was in his eloquent
address delivered here in 1870 before
the Hibernian Society that he thus
spoke of that trait in Irish character
which his own life so we'll illustrated:
Love Of country is Distinguishing
trait Of the Irish character. that senti-
ment which is called patriotism-aod
which can only exist where truth.
honor aud sincerity prevail. 10 all
the wanderpgs of that oppressed aud
expatriated people that true 6lial de-
votion to the laud Of their nativity has
never been wanting, and with what
tender emotion and deep patbos may
tot the poor emigrant as he tolls his
lonely way westward over the rugged
slopes Of the Oregon, looking back to
old Ireland. pour forth this day the
lament Of his countrys bard:
Though the las, glimpse Of Erin with sorrow
see,
Yet wherever thou ART shall seem Erin TO
me:
In exile thy bosom shall s,i:! be ny home,
Asd thine eyes make mv climate wherever
roam
''Space has no, been able to over
come, nor time TO subdue this spirit.
Chilled by no foreign atmosphere, but
communicating its genial warmth by
alliance to other nationalities, like the
vestal fires of old guarded by the i'm
mortal virgins, it has been kept alive
and burning by the purity and chastity
Of her children. y
There are uany members of the
Hiberpian Society who will recall the
splendid oration of that day, and who
hold iu fond remem brance the eloquent
Carolinian He was man of rare CON-
pauionabili,y. aud his warm, genial
nature was mirrored in his face He
was always ready Of speech and the
orations which he delivered on many
public occasions, at home and abroad,
show in what esteem he was held as a
public orator His speeches which are
preserved in tie volume make it
exceedingly attractive and valuable.
Above We gave his tribute 70 Irish
character, and here follows tribute to
Ireland
Her monuments and towers are as
ancient as the pyramids her legends
and traditions as old as the Drulds.
The line of her monarchies surpasses
in antiquity the proudest royal houses
Of Europe. She was renowned before
the Saxon invaded Britain. or the
Frank crossed the Rhine. From her
secluded isolation she has beheld the
Roman legious pass 10 triumph the
gates of every capital u Europe, and
her triumphant eagles, sustained by
Agricola, waving over the wall Of
Aptouinus. Greciau elcquepce is no
LONGER heard in the AcropoIis at Athens,
aud the turbaned Turk now tramples
the soil which shook with the thuuders
of MacedoH Peace reigus a, Warsaw,
and Polish independence sleeps for
ever: while Ireland, prolific in her
children, constantly renewing her
youth in the ublquity of her progeny, is
pregnant with vitality.
But though loyal descendant Of
! Ireland, he was none the less devoted
son of South Carolina. and MS loyalty
! to her best interests was as marked as
his Irish patriotism In the dark days
Of &c, aud before, he was a staunch
and trusted lieutenant in the fight to
throw off the chains which bound
his native State. and his voice was
often raised with 10 uncertain sound
in her behalf. Hear him
I'VE are ;u the crisis of our destiny.
The signal bells Of alarm and prepara-
ton from one end of the State 70 the
other are tollipg: the drums are beat
ing, and South Carolina, appealing to
ali her sons. in the worGS of Epglapd's
brave admiral. expects every man 20 DO
his duty The incubus of radical
misrue is weighing down and crushing
out the energies Of the people. We
have borne outrages in Government
without parallel III the history of any
civilized people.
And bear hlm before the New Eng
land society in 1871. after South Caro-
lima had been reclaimed