The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-12-18
EDMUND BURKE HONORED.

Last summer the fiftieth anniversary
of the death of Daniel O'Connell was
celebrated by Irishmen the world over,
and panegyrcs were pronounced upon
him by the most eloquent orators for
being the great champion in his day
of civil and religious liberty. The CEN
tenary of the death of another great
Observation-Disclosures Burke-who was
also the advocate Of freedom for all men,
was celebrated the other day in Dublin,
the city Of his birth, by Irishmen of all
religious creeds and political parties,
the orator on the occasion being Rev.
DR.. Barry, a Catholic priest, and the
chairman Of the meeting being Lord
Dufferin, the lineal descendant of Rich
ard Brlnsley Sheridan, who was Burle's
colleague In the historic impeachment
Of Warren Hastings. We give today on
the first page the address of DR.. Barry,
and also an extract from the speech Of
Dr. Healy, the Catholic bishop of Clon-
fert, both of whom paid eloquent trib-
ute to the memory Of their Protestant
countryman.
AS 1t would be affectation ON our part
to give an estimate of Edmund Burke,
either as a statesman or an orator, we
will present to our readers the opin-
ions expressed OF him by men eminently
qualified, who were contemporaries Of
his. Tho first is Dr. Samuel Johnson,
who is acknowledged by every one as Il
competent critic. "He is an extraordn-
airy man" says the burly Englishman
mo man of se,nse." he continues, could
meet Burke by accident under gateway
to avoid shower without being con-
WINGED that he was the first man in
England"
Allbone, the American photographer,
says Of him: so long as virtue shall
be loved. wisdom revered, or genius adj
mired, so long will the memory of this
illustrous exemplar of all to be fresh in
tho worlds history: for human nature
has too much interest in the preserva-
ton OF such a character to permit tho
name Of Edmund Burke to perish from
the earth"
Lord Macaulay says: Gle was the
greatest master Of eloquence and was
superior to every orator, ancient or
modern"
Henry Grattan declares that che was
n prodigy Of nature and Of acquisition.
who read everything and saw every
thing"
Sir James Macintosh asserts: "Shak-
speare and Burke are above talent.
l'urkes works contain an ampler store
OF political and moral wisdom than can
DO found in any other writer whatever"
Campbell says Of him that "venality
and mcanness stood appalled, in his
presence very high compliment, in
deed
We could quote several other bear
ing testimony to the high moral and
mental attributes Of the great Irlshman.
but will close with Hazlitt, who saws,
TO do him justice 1t would be necessary
to quote all his works: the only specl-
men of Burke is. all he wrote, He has
been compared to Clcero-I don't know
for what reason. Their excellences are az
different, and indeed as opposite, rs
they could we'll be. Burke had not the
polished eloquence the glossy neatness,
the artful regularity. the exquisite
meditation Of Cicero; he had a thous-
and times more richness and originality
of mind. more strength and pomp OF
diction."
No wonder that 1rishmen are proud of
claiming Edmund Burke as their coun-
tryman. Any people would be proud OF
him. The world is proud Of such a no.