The Irish standard., 1908-04-25


along the boundless horizon. No man
can ever again take his place. He filed
the whole world with his fame-he was
the light Of our skies, the undying
creation Of our age. the ornament to
the name and character of Ireland.
There can be no doubt that he has
placed all mankind under an obliga-
ton to him which they never can re-
pay: and his name will go down
through each successive generation Of
his countrymen, gathering accumulated d
honor. as it is heard through coming
time. The poor Irish did endeavor to
give their devotion to him while living;
the poor man contributed his mite, in
his yearly duty to the national graft
tude.
But whatever the nation gave this
nation received back again; their ne-
tional devotion was annually repaid:
what they bestowed on the patriot, the
generous patriot refunded the same
year; and thus our nation stands at
this moment charged with the whole
debt due to the impcrshable success
of O'Connell If Ireland purchased an
estate in fee for O'Connell, and that
his children's children inherited it, and
lived on it, could place craven plate
on the gate Of the family mansion. to
commemorate the sciences Of the de-
parted orator, and the honor of my
grateful country. But l protest. when
consider the disinterestedness which
returned the gift each year to the
poor who bestowed it, place the no.
bility, the honor the pride of this act
alone, the highest point of the patriots
fame and his memory stands before me
unsulhed in it's purity. by retaining for
himself not one penny of the money
to the nation. Mr.. o'Connell died with
out being indebted one shilling to our
nation; and consequently we still owe
to him the full amount of his services
He lived in comparative poverty on our
account and we therefore stand in
debted to him for his sacrifices. Not
one of his sons or family wear a sim
gle glove or ribbon purchased from the
donation from Ireland; and hence,
while I value his success, while l am
grateful for his sacrifices, while l VEN
crate his patriotism. while l admire
his genius and worship his eloquance.
there is one point higher than all, and
that is the lofty pride OF his heart.
by which he descended to his honored
tomb without one nail in his illustrious
coffin purchased with the money Of
Ireland. The only act Of his glorious
life with which the future historian
will find fault, is that he deprived his
family of the large resources of his
profession, and that, in fact, he rob-
bed his sons of their just hopes, their
expected fortune and merited position,
in order to devote his whole life and
resources to the services Of Ireland.
But when Ireland has followed his ex-
ample for fifty years, there is one part
Of his character in which our nation will
not take part in his career, and that
is, Ireland will not rob John O'Connell
of that just debt which Ireland owes
him. No. 1 thank you for this rap
turous enthusiasm. No, no; Ireland Is
too honest, too grateful, to rob John
O'Connell, on his own account; and on
this evening and in this place shall
begin our instalment Of the debt which
Ireland will certainly discharge.
John o'Connell need not point to the
statues OF his ancestors to prove his
claims on his country; he can show his
own achievements in the field, already
the tried champion of nineteen years.
In every battle for Ireland during this
eventful period he stood by his fathers
side; and wherever the heat of the fight
ragged most violently, there might be
seen the unflinching, fearless son, with
his sword drawn, standing in front of
the lofty plumage and glittering ar
mour of the giant father, as he repelled
the advance of the enemy. am de-
lighted to find that you are in such
good fiumor. They tell a tale Of an
Irishman once in France, and being
asked by a Frenchman what kind OF
a looking man was the great O'Connell
the Irishman paused for moment
5and then said: why, then, I'll tell you
that he is. for all the world, like the
Lakes Of Killarney"
Now. If anyone here has not seen my
friend. Mr.. O'Connell, 1 must tell them
that he ID descended Of the Lakes OF
Killarney; and that If you remove tho
father out of view, while you are look.
ling at him, his political honesty ant
national fidelity will not suffer by E
I.close comparison with any one Of hi:
age or standing. Since he commenced
his political career many recrean
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