The Irish standard., 1909-02-27
GIVEN At THE ROMANTIC LAKES OF KILLARNEY
Another Noble Tribute to the Father of His Country From
the Eloquent Lips Of Bishop England of
South Carolina.

Charles Phillips, who delivered the
following eulogy on George Washing
ton at a banquet rendered to John
Howard Payne, author of Home,
Sweet Home" at Dinas Island in the
Lakes of Killarney, was born in Sligo
about 1887, At Is he went to Trinity
College, where he was graduated in
1906. In 1872 he was admitted to the
Irish bar and speedily made a reputa-
tion by his florid style Of oratory. He
took a principal part in the agitation
regarding Catholic emancipation, and
in 1918 was presented with national
Testimonial. and publicly thanked by
tire Catholics Of Ireland. O'Conneil
eulcgized him warmly, which COX d
turn Phillips reciprocated. Tbte eulrsy
on Washington is a masterpiece Of
cloan.ncc:
It matters very little what imme-
diate spot may be the birthplace of
auoh man as Washington. No peo..
pie can claim, no country can appro.
pirate him; the boon of Providence
to the human race, his fame is eter-
nifty and his residence is creation.
Though 1t was the defeat of our
arms and the disgrace of our policy,
l almost bless the eonvulsion in which
he had his origin. If the heavens
ttlundered and the earth rocked, yet,
when the storm passed, how pure was
the climate that it cleared; how
bright in the brow of the armament
was the planet which it revealed to
us. In the production of Washington
it does really appear as if nature
were endeavoring to improve upon
herself, and that all the virtues Of
the ancient world were but so many
studies preparatory to the patriot of
the new. Individual instances no
doubt there were; splendid exempli:
fications of some single qualification.
Caesar was merciful, Scipio was con-
tinent, Hannibal was patient; but it
was reserved for Washington to blend
them all in one, and, like the lovely
'.chef daeuvre" of the Grecian artist,
to exhibit in one glow of associated
beauty the pride of every model and
the perfection" of every master. AS a
general he marshaled the peasant in.
to a veteran and supplied by discipline
the absence of experience; as a states.
man, he enlarged the policy Of the
cabinet into the most comprehensive
system of general advantage, and
such was the wisdom of his Views and
the philosophy of his counsels, that
to the soldier and statesman he al
most added the character Of the
sage! A conqueror, he was untainted
with the crime of blood; a revolu-
zionist, he was free from any taint Of
treason; for aggression commenced
the contest, and = his country called
him to the command. Liberty un-
sheathed his sword, necessity stained,
victory returned it. If he had paused
here history might have doubted
what station to assign him, whether at
the head of her. citizens or her sold
iers, her heroes or her patriots. But
the last glorious act crowns his
career and banishes all hesitation.
Who, like Washington, after having
emanicipated hemisphere, resigned
its crown, and preferred the retire.
ment of domestic life to the alteration
Of land he might be almost said to
nave created?
a:
"IIow shall we rank thee upon glory's
Thou more than soldier, and just less
than sage? ,.
All thou hast been reflects less fame
on thee;
For less than all thou hast forborne
to bel" ..1
immortal man! He took from the
battle it's crime. and from the conquest
: -f't- b