The Irish standard., 1899-09-30
The London Times Slandered
The Brave Tribune.
REPORTERS BANIsHED FRoM..GALLERY
What Famous Critics Thought of
His Superb Gifts.

Under date OF Aug. E, in this depart
ment, we recountcd the birth OF Daniel
O'Connell, his efforts for Catholic
emancipation, his success, and his final
triumph, by being elected a member of
parliament 10 represent Clare, says the
Irish World. The great crowning act
OF his life being thus accomplished,
O'Connell did not rest one moment,
but turned his thoughts to the other
great object for which he lived-thc re-
peal OF the union. Twenty years before
emancipation was won, the libcrator de-
clared that he would labor to the last
hour Of his life for the one purpose of
repeating that accurscd union"
From 1920 until 183o-a period OF ten
years-O'Conncll stood in the British
House OF Commons exposed to all the
ribaldry that the bigotry OF English
ribaldry OF the opposition, all the con-
tempt that the bigotry OF English
Professionalism could bring to bear upon
him, for the one purpose OF seeking
how he could conquer fierce hate and
best achieve the legislative independ-
cnce OF his native land.
When O'Connell entered the House
he had only one vote and his own, and
every man in that House hated him with
the fierccst hate. Outside the House
the government thwartcd and harassed
him by every means in their power.
They proclaimed with menace OF prose-
cution now the Friends OF ireland So
cety,' now the anti Union Society,""
and now the Irish Volunteers for the
Repeal OF the Union" 1t was on the
occasion of his arrest for refusing to
dissolve the latter society that he spoke
these memorable words:
Yesterday | was but half an agi-
tator-to-day ] am a whole one. Day
and night will now strive to fling off
dcspotism. to redeem my country and
to repeal the union
But neither opposition from within
nor from without, no matter how fierce,
could make O'Conncll despair. He had
in himself limitlcss resources. 1t has
been well said that patience is the pas
sion OF great souls" And O'Connell
had 4 patience that was incxhaustibIc.
He had invention without bounds, faith
in his cause which never faltcred, and
resolution which no reverse could daunt
and no encouragement subduc.
O'Connell stuck to his old courage
and to his old plan of giving names.
Stanley, Earl OF Derby, stood up and
opposed him, and O'Conncll turned on
him and said: "Sit down, scorpion
Stanley and until Derby went to his
grave he was known by the name OF
Scorpion Stanley" Disracli attacked
him, and O'Conncll turned on him and
said, Behold the lircal descendant OF
the impenitcnt thief" 1t has been al
legged. against him that he sometimes
used strong language.
True. But we must not forget that
he was the object OF frightful vitupera-
ton, and this was the only weapon with
which he could meet his assailants. Yet,
let this be remembered, never once in
that long and arduous struggle for
emancipation, did he utter one word
offensive 10 Protcstants OF any denom-
nation.
The Times attacked, maligned and
slandcrcd O'Conncll. In one article it
called him IAN assassin" In another, a
discounted Demon" The fact that
O'Conncll was assailcd by the Times
cndearcd him more and more to the
people OF Ireland, and was proof that
his patriotism remained intact and un-
tarnisllcd. O'Connclps wit was un-
bounded, and he had his revenge. The
Times, CALLED by O'Connell's sarcasms,
resolved to omit his speeches in their
parliamentary reports. Accordingly,
one day, when O'Conncll rose to ad-
dress the House, the Times reporters
threw down their pencils and leaned
back in their chairs. O'Connell, motto
ing this, called the Houses attention
to their action. "Mr. Speaker" said
he, 81 observe three strangers in the
gallery" The three strangers were the
Times reporters. OF course they had
10 leave, and the next day the London
Times had no parliamentary report.
And dozen years later, when he was
addressing the monster meetings for