The Irish standard., 1909-05-22
SHOW COURAGE AND BRAVERY IN A HIGH DEGREE
That the Irish Eminently Gifted in Eloquence is
Exemplified in the Speeches of Galaxy Of
Brilliant Orators. ..~r

axy of wonderful speakers adorned the
Parliaments of England and Ireland.
and re-eminent among them were
Burke. Grattan and Sheridan-three Ir-
ishmen who were never surpassed in
their different spheres (applause).
Macaulay places Burke at the head of
all orators, ancient or modern; and
never was there a nobler Irish patriot
than that same Protestant, Edmund
Burke. And Grattan! What country
would not be proud of that heroic fig
ure? (Here, hear). A more gifted
tongue than, Grattan's never pleaded
a country's cause. Let us pass on to
another orator, the most<typical Celt
of all. Daniel o'Connell it. was. who
won the greatest victories for our race.
TO be the successful orator Of a peo-
pie one must embody the passions and
aspirations of that people. Now, o'Con:-.
nell was the very inesrDation 81 the
soul of ireland. physically. inte1leetu-
ally. and rnoraafs.. fsRoasse4hg ait the
traits ofithe Irish people: he exercised
a great influence over hie race. At
one time his language spared with
jest and honor, again he burst forth
into fierce invective against the ene-
mics of his race, and still again he
changed to deepest pathos. His cen
sure was simply appalling-and most
necessary was it when every squir cen
and petty agent trampled on the Ir-
ish people. Finally. the Irish people
are endowed with courage and brav-
cry in high degree, They were.
martial race before st. Patrick came,
and have remained such ever since.
The question is, therefore, asked: Why,
If the Celt is. SO brave and warlike,
is he always to be found in subjec-
tion? Alas, it is not bravery wins the
battle-ultimately- discipline, and
the spirit of discipline is lacking in the
Celt. But of his martial valour there
lis no doubt. Even the vainglorious
Cicero admits that the Roman sur
passed not the. Celts in valour. Livy
speaks of their impetuous charge which
the Roman legions could not endure.
An example of the Celtic charge is
that of Fontenoy. At the battle Of
Fontenoy the French army, under
Marshal SAKE, bid fair to be victorious.
The English commander ordered a col
umn of 5000 Of his veteran soldiers
to advance and take the French posi-
ton.
"six thousand English veterans in
stately column tread,
Their cannons blaze in front and flank,
Lord Hay is at their head;
Steady they. step adown the slope.
=. steady they climb the hill.
Steady they load, steady they hre,
moving right onward. STILL" d.
There is the disciplined, obstinate.
valour Of the English soldier, quite un-
like the impetuosity Of the Celt. And
tudL HldBIlHCeHL OcLdCIlHleHL OL EIIS-
lishmen made sad havoc Of the French
army. The battle was practically lost
when SAKE ordered out the Irish bri-
gade as last resource. Soon the tide
of victory changed, as
Like lions leaping at fold, when mad
with hunger's pang,
Right up against the English line, the
Irish exiles sprang."
The shock Of that fiery charge even
the valorous veteran ranks could not
sustain; they broke and fed. But it
is the warriors who drew the sword
for Motherland who live enshrined in
the heart Of Erin. Immortal Sarsheld,
and brave Lord Edward, and chival-
rous Robert Emmet, and the 'dashfng
men Of Wexford. who rose to defend
the honor Of Irish wolnanhood. and
O'Brien. Meagher and Mitchell. and he
who all but wrenched the shackles
,..s... -. ~. -::.s.:- rfe'