The Irish standard., 1897-12-18
A GRAND EUL0GY
Continued from First rase.)


commonwealth. They were not OF the
century Of Edmund Burke They lived
In different period. Burke stood be-
tween two eras. He forebcded a mighty
change. They had left of him some
imperishable literature. In his last
year America was safe. Thanks to Ed
mund Burke Europe was In the throes
of dissolution; India was on the way to
triumph over the system of Hastings.
Burke gave himself inseparably to In
dia, and it was triumphant thought
for our country that two 1rishmen.
Burke and Sheridan, were the great OPP
ponents of the Indian Cromwell. Burke
would not conbone oppression by q
monarchy or {, mob. Might there not
be two views OF the democracy, and in a
system Of tbs government of the people
by the people just laws were as indis-
pensible as they We're difficult. In the
French revolution he saw lawless
minorties not elected by the people,
trampling on their rights. They should
DO thankful that Burke's eyes were clos
ed before 1898 broke upon Ireland. The
sad chronicle Of that period was another
proof that he had Il deeper vision than
even some Of the men whom they lOveu
truly and for whom they had great
affection-and he mentioned Wolfe Tone
as one Of these-but Burke saw deeper
that he showed the place. where they
should distinguish between democracy
which was self-governed by law anu
equity, by reason and justice, and the
democracy which was mere tyranny
governing the many In tho hand of the
few. How great were those lrlshmen
of tho eighteenth century! Burke was
great among them all. He was quick to
see and criticise, imaginative, tender
passionate, full Of reverence. singularly
detached from the lower elements, and
a lover OF the ideal. Every class and
condition Of his countrymen owed him
peculiar debt. He was simply and
without color of faction an Irish patriot.
In his memory and in his writings they
should find sllctched out the law for the
new and prCspercNls Ireland he had
summed up in his great word-concili-
alton. He would, in conclusion, read
what Mr. Gladstone had done him the
honor of writing on the occasion or
their festival:
Il regard Burke" he says, "as to
Ireland and America, with fcrvent and
unstinted admiration; as to France and
the revolutionary war, with grief; ana
throughout with the reverence due to
that noble combination OF character
and genius AS regards Ireland, it Is
indeed painful to mo to see her bleeding
from wounds inflicted my her children;
but neither my faith in her eventual
dcstinics nor my anxiety for their &C.
complishment are in the smalle.;. degree
abated."
At the conclusion of Dr. Barry's adj
dress, the Rt Rev. Bishop Haaly, OF
Clonfert. offered this resolution: 'Ihat
a public effort shall be made to per-
petuatc the memory Of Edmund Burke,
and that the committee be authorized
to determine the proper course to carry
out this object"
In speaking to his resolution the
bishop dwclt on Brrke's hatred OF OPP
ri ession, as manifested even IN his
school boy days. He praised him as the
advocate of religious liberty, showing
his superiority in this character to
Bacon or Milton, or Locke. or Paley, or
Swift.
Burke, through his whole career, has
been an honor to his native. countrymen.
said the bishop. We are all proud OF
him, VIC can all join without amy sacri-
ice of principle in doing him honor
tho churchman, the Catholic. the Pres
byterian. every English speaking m;tn-
he rendered signal services to them all.
II Is: something that this poor country
OF ours has produced the greatcat and
most eloquent Of speaking
statesmen, one who is great not with
the passing greatness Of generation,
lut with a greatness 'hlt VIII lc
forever