Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-02-11

surpass all the others in magnitude and
importance, but on the evening of the
9TH a Government proclamation was is
sued forbidding the gathering. In order
to prevent any disturbance or any COLI
sion with the armed forces of the Gov
eminent O'Connell promptly dispatched
messengers i'll all directions to tell the
people to remain at home and make no
attempt to assemble. On October ii war
rants were issued for the arrest of Daniel
O'Connell and others "for devising to
raise and create discomfort and disaffec-
ton among the Queens subjects" In
dignant protests against the action of
the Government came from all quarters.
On November ''true bills" were found
by the grand jury, and after various de-
lays the traversers were put upon their
trial at the Court of Queens Bench,
Dublin, on January Is, 1874.
There were eleven counts in the long
indictments. The charges varied against
each traverser. Utterances at public
meetings formed the principal evidence
upon which the Government relied. II is
needless to say that there was not a
single Catholic OH the jury. O'Connell
was escorted to the court by large
crowds and almost in regal state, accom-
panied by the Lord Mayor and the Cath
Ollie Aldermen in their robes. The defense
of the accused was conducted by the
ablest lawyer ever engaged i'll any cause
either in Ireland or England. Besides
O'Connell and his son, who appeared for
themselves, there were fourteen of the
most eminent counsel of the time, among
whom were the famous Richard I.alor
Shiel and Thomas O'Hagan, who years
afterward became Lord Chancellor of
Ireland-the first Catholic who was per-
mitted to hold that Office since the per-
fidious violation of the treaty of Linz
erick. The closing speech for the defense
was made by O'Connell, and was one of
his most mastery efforts. Among other
things, he said:
II do not stand here my own client. l
have clients of infinitely more impor-
lance. Ny clients in this case are the
Irish people--my client is Ireland-and
| stand here the advocate of the rights
and liberties and constitutional privi-
leges of the people. Ny only anxiety is
lest their sacred cause-their rights TO
independent egislation-should be in the
slightest degree furnished or impeded
by anything in which have been the
instrument. am conscious of the integ.
rity of my purpose; ! am conscious of
the purity Of my motives; am con-
scious of the inestimable value of the
object had in view-zthe repeal of the
union. l own to you can not endure
that union; it was founded upon the
grossest injustice; it was based upon
the grossest insult-the intolerance of
Irish prosperity.
From the day first entered the arena
of politics until the present hour have
never neglected an opportunity of i'm
pressing upon the minds Of my fellow
countrymen the fact that was an
apostle OF that political sect who held
that liberty was only to be attained
under such agencies as were strictly con-
sistent with the law and the constitu-
tion--that freedom was to be attained
not by the effusion of human blood. but
by the constitutional combination of
good and wise men-by perseverance in
the course of tranquility and good or
der, and by an utter adherence of vio-
lence and bloodshed. 1t is my proudest
boast that throughout long and event
full life have faithfully devoted myself
to the PRONUNCIATION of that principle,
and, without vanity, can assert that
am the first public man who ever pro-
claimed it. Other politicians have said
Win your liberties by peaceable means
If you CAM but there always was a
derniere pensee in this admonition, and
they always had in contemplation an APP
peal to physical force in case other
means should prove abortive; but am