The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-12-21
Patriot and Orator in the Emerald Isle
and Gallant General in
the Union Army.
Thomas Francis Meagher, the Pure Patriot,
Lies in the Waters of the
Mighty Missouri.

When Smith O'Bricn entered Con
cilation Hall everything looked brigh
for Ireland. though the capital wa.
occupied by an English garrison of up
ward of ten thousand soldiers and Tho
state trials We're going on.
Dublin was filled With people, tho
thcatcrs were crowded. Numbers OF
magnificent balls were given every
night, and the hotels were filled will
foreign editors. artists, and reporters
But better than this-thc Repeal or.
ators tlunlcrcd forth day ana night
and golden stream of contributions
kept flowing into the national head
quarters-whilc above all Davis and
the men of The Nation were crcnting
n national poetry and q national liter
nturc which once more brought forth
all the ancient glorics of Ireland.
| When Mcnghcr entered the same
hall two years later, sad changes had
come upon the scene. Thomas Davis
was dead. his harp was stiIlcd for
ever more. and the shock almost para
lyZcd the national heart.
Already, too, the gnunt shadow Of
famine was stalking through the land
the forerunner of the dreadful doom
that was about to fall on our unhappy
people.
Nevertheless, the spirit OF the pco-
pie rose above these disasters and
struggled onward on the road to free
dom. The inspired words OF Mcaglcr
delivered with such intense fcrvor
that they burned conviction into mems
souls-promptly stamped him as the
first orator and patriot Of the nation,
says a writer in the National IIibcr-
nian, of Washington, d. G.
His opening speech before the Re
peal Association on February 6, 1916,
was filled with so many noble senti-
mcnts-so many bits of wisdom that
are as applicable to-day as they were
then-that we would fnin print It here
in full. Our space will not permit,
however, and our readers must rest
content with the following extracts.
After quoting Grattan's famous
words, 1--WE must tolerate each other
or we must tolerate the common en-
emy," Meagher goes on:
"After years of social disorder, years
Of detestable recrimination, bctweccn
factions and provinces and crccds, we
are on the march to freedom. A ma
ton organized and disciplined, in
|structed and inspired under the guild
ance Of wise spirits, and in the dawn
ling light of glorious future, makes
head against powerful supremacy.
On the march let us sustain firm, n
gallant and u courteous bearing. Let
us avoid all Offense to those who pass
us by, and, by rude ailronts let us not
drive still further from our ranks
those who Mt present decline to join.
"If aspersed, we must not stop to
retaliate. With proud hearts let us
look forward to the event that will re-
futc all calumnies--that will vindicate
our motives and recompense our Ia
bOrs. An honorable forbearance to-
wards those who censure us, will do
much to diminish the difficulties that
impede our progress. Let us cherish,
and, upon every occasion, manifest an
anxiety for the preservation of the
rights Of all our fellow-countrymen,
and we will cfface the impression that
we seek for repeal with view to
crush those rights-to erect church.
ascendancy, to injure property and
create slave class.
"But, whilst we thus act toward
| those who dissent from the principles
we profess. let us not forget the duties
we owe each other. Above all, let us
cherish and in it's full integrity main
tain the right of free discussion. With
his views identified with ours upon the
one great question, let us not accuse
of treason to the national cause the
associate who may deem his measure
advisable or that measure inexpedient
If the majority rule, let the majority
be heard. federation of opinion will
] generate confidence among all classes