Washington sentinel., 1898-04-23
.,,l SENTINEL
Henry Grattan, Patriot and ImPer-
talist.
Lord Casflet0USi, in the " CoyThiH
MagGziNs."

name OF OIrattan was IN the nina
and on the lips of every man in
Ireland. Yet the man who bore
that name, the foremost the most
eminent of Ireland's sons, was
standing aloot from the tragedy Cf
horrors that have made 1898 and
the succeeding years the sad
dest epoch in Ireland'S unfortu-
nate history. He was undoubtedly
appalled, at the ruin OF the country,
heartbroken at the misery Of the
people and helpless in the face OF
the evil counsels prevailing IN
Government circles. His health
was falling and his hopes shattered;
vet, when attacked for his absence
from public life, and accused in
Parliament and by pamphlet OF
completely in rebellion, he turned
upon his accusers, and in the most
graphic words, l think, he ever used,
dissipated the suspicion and routed
his defamers. In answering Lord
Chancellor Cory, he said
"The charge is false. The civil
war had not commenced when l
left the kingdom; and ] could not
have returned without taking part.
On the one side there was the
camp OF the rebel; on the other the
camp OF tue minister, a greater
traitor than the rebel. The strong
hold of the Constitution was no
where TO be found. l agreed that
the rebel who rises against the
Government should suffer; but !
missed on the scafold the right
hon. gentleman. Two desperate
parties were in arms against the
Constitution. The right hon gen
tleman belonged to one Of these
parties and deserved death. could
notjoin, the rebel; ] could not join
the Government; ! could not Join
torture; / could not Join halt
hanging; / could not join free
quarter; 1 could take part with
neither. 1 was, therefore, absent
from a scene where | could not be
active without self reprach nor in
different with safety. And / think
now, as l thought then, that the
treason OF the minister against the
liberties ofthe people was infinitely
worse than the rebellion Of the
people against the minister.
In these few bitter sentences,
uttered during the darkest period
oil his existence, spoke ths man
whose glorious career / now pro-
pose to discuss. The fierce rhet-
orical struggle between Grattan
and his assailants ended in a duel,
in which Cory was wounded at
the first fire. Further shots were
exchanged, but with no effect, and
Grafton was the first to ask that
the combat might end. Within
the compass OF this episode we
have the keynote to all his life.
He was essentially and absolute ly
a patriot; he was opposed to all
unconstitutional acts, and yet most
intolerant Of Government chican-
cry; brave to fault, eloquent be-
yond all in a very eloquent age,
and absorbed by a deep, lasting
and perfect love for Ireland and
ms IelIow COUNT yIISn vi all
classes and creeds.
His early life was passed in an
Ireland Of which it is difficult for
US to form a true conception, and
at time in Irish history which
was most rep parkable and unique.
The country was governed by a
Protestant oligarchy; small viii
lagos returned one or two men,
bers to Parliament; certain great
lords held so many boroughs in
their power and pocket-in point of
fact, Iz4 members OF Parliament
were selected by 6fty-three peers.
The governing body and the social
life of that time were very culti-
waited, witty and clever, and num-
bered men who are now considered
worthy of the highest praise. Par
liamentary corruption was ram
pant, and freedom of the subject, as
we understand it, was unknown.
What desire to call attention to
is the surroundings and debased
political conditions out Of which
sprung this remarkable man. His
appearance was not very striking,
he was below the middle height,
but strongly built. He had
charming manners, and was most
engaging and fascinating IN private
life. In public, even at the outset
and TO those who knew him init
matelY, he seemed to move with a
destined force, while his con-
strained and curious gesture in
speaking and his eloquence were
so marked even al the commence
ment. and his application to poll
tics so keen, that all considered
him marked out for a great politi
cal chief. In this expectation his
friends were not mistaken. Within
a few short years the fame OF Grat-
tan filed the senate houses of both
islands, and the name Of Grattan
became a synonym tor constitu-
tional liberty within his own native
land.
His effect on Iieland was pro-
digious and lasts to this day. He
gave us the Magma Charta of our
liberties. Had it not been for him,
we should have been a mere ap-
panage to Great Britain. AS it is,
we stand, or can stand if our coun-
trymen are patriotic and wise
enough TO enforce it, on an equal
footing with the lsister kingdom.
Why can we not in our
respective spheres think, plan and
strive 70 maintain the constitu-
tinnaI lihertu Of our Land 20 mrna