The Irish standard., 1898-02-26
LECTURE ON GRATTAN.
Lord Cnstlctovvn's Views of the Great
Irish Patriot.

Lord Castletown, of Upper Cissory
lectured on Hentry Grattan to the mem
bers of the Irish Literary Society at the
Society of Arts, John street, Adephi,
London
Mr. II. Larry OBrien occupied the
form by Mr.. A. p. Graves, honorable
secretary; j. F. Taylor, Q. c.; w. B.
Yeats, VIM. Cooke, Mrs. Sophie Bryant,
and others.
Mr.. Graves, honorable secretary, an
nounced the delivery of the following
lectures during the coming months
9th February, by Mr. Graves, on Man
gan; March, Mr.. ]. F. Taylor @. c.. on
Owen Roe O'Neill; April, Prof. Savage
Armstrong on The Two Islands in Lit
erature;;" May, Mr.. Barry O'Brlen on
Wolfe Tone; June. Miss O'Connor Ec-
Giles on "Old Dublin"
The chairman in introducing Lord
Castletown, said he was one of the
earliest members of the society, winch
he had joined in it's struggling days.
Lord Castletown, who was received
with applause asked the indulgence of
his audience; he had never delivered a
lecture before. Grattan, he said, was a
name that exactly one hundred years
ago was in the minds and on the lips OF
every Irshman. The man who bore
that name was standing aloof from the
great tragedy of honors that had made,
1898 and the succeeding years one OF
the suddest cpochs in Ireland's very UNI
fortunate history. When he was accus-
ed by Lord Glare of sympathizing with
the rebellion, he replied that 1.-The trea-
| sen of the minister against the people
! was infinitely worse than the rebellion
of the people against the minister"
Grattan was absorbed by Il deep and
fervent love for Ireland. His whole life
| was passed in an Ireland of which we
| can have no conception. The country
| was governed by Protestant oligarchy.
| Glattan's appearance was not striking;
| no was below middle height; he had
| charming manner, and was most engaS-
| ing in private life. In public, those who
knew him Intimately said he seemed to
move with a destined force. while his
| constrained and curious gestures in
| speaking, and his coquence was so
| marked that all considered him likely
to become great political chief. He
lived in an age of giants, and in his
! sion
them all by his fiery cloquence, his SIM
| plicity OF nature, his singleness of pur-
| pose, the tenderness of his love for his
| friends, and his loyal fairness to his foes.
| When Grattan entered the Irish house
| of commons Ireland was mere adj"
| jllnct of England; the Irish house of
| commons WAS n mere registry office for
| English acts. The country was w.,AouL
| a constitution, without trade Or COM
merre What did he do? He opened
| her ports to free trade, encouraged her
| commerce, and made her legacy and
constitutionally a nation. (Appause).
1t was their solemn duty and task as
| Irishmen to maintain that request OF
this great lrishman. and to
preserve in the act the
constitutional rights he obtained for
their native land. (Applanse).
Lord Castlctown went on at length
through Grattan's career in the Irish
parliament. and quoted literally from
his speeches. Grattan was, beyond
doubt. the forcrunncr OF Golden and
Bright on the question of free trade.
His political foresight was remarkable.
He U4ord C;stlctowm took pride in the
fact that his own grand uncle Mr.. IHitZ.
patrick was chief secretary for Ire
| land when she won her independence.
1t was to Mr.. Grattan that they today
owed the fact that they could legally
and constitutiunally tell any minister
OF the crown who talked OF gift
to Ireland that they did not crave for
dolcs or charity. but that they could ant!
would demand rights. (Appalse). Dur
ing the years. preceding the rebellion
Grattan fought heroically, with all that
was best in Ireland against the BIRTH
cry and corruption and against the Sc