Year: 1875




| mean one thing in the mouths Of men who content
with such measure Of Independence" as while
ccding TO an irish Legislature control over purely
domestic affairs Of the island would still preserve to an


imperap Senate supreme control over all matters Of
general interest, military service navy, customs for
eign affairs, &c II would a different thing with
men who sought 10 establish the form government
which existed previous the union with England 1t is
this latter view, however, which appeal to the
thority Of o'Connell for countenancc, and would
best harmonize with centenary celebration In any
it evident that the proposer Of the toast and
the respondent might easily give it dscordant
interpretations Some members of the committee pro-
posed the difficulty by emitting the sentiment
altogether; but they outvoted by large majority,
who resolved that the should be retained From
that moment it was apparent that there no little
danger that the good humor and harmony Of the meet
ing would probably be disturbed The Lord Mayor TO
do him justice, gave notice that he would speak TO the
toast in the traditional of OConnels policy of
which he had always avowed himself a supporter He
was urged to allow Mr.. Butt the home rule leader
to respond but this he declined to do alleging that 1t
would be ridiculous for TO propose and another
to second toast in totally different senses, and also
that the home rule version of the sentiment was one
which not only opposed to 0'Connels views, but
had been expressly repudated by him so far back





but it is equally plain that Butt and his party could
not willingly allow that the only of Irish egsa
tive independence to be held up for popular support
was one which they had abandoned The outbreak
when the Lord Mayor called upon Duffy to respond to
the toast instead of Butt inevitable II not di
rected so much against Duffy against the Lord Mayor
Tor putting him in the place which the dissentlents
considered ought to have been assigned to Butt AT the
same time it ought not to be forgotten that Duys old
prestige has been much dimmed popular eyes Ire
land by his having accepted the honor of knghthood
| from the Queen. No loses caste in Ireland 80
| quickly as converted rebel who becomes 'loyaln
man. And yet it is said if they had only allowed him
speak they would have heard uncertain sound the
national question: and they would have found that "sir
Charles Duffy" had abandoned none of his old views
Irish politics.


| BAD MANAGEMENT.


Probably, also, the disturbance not little in
creased by causes which ordinary the part Of
| the managing committee would have obvated. Thus
the printed list of circulated time after
the dinner had actually begun instead of being placed
on the tables beforehand. Besides the list contained
no indication Of who were to be the speakers of the
| night, so that many in the knew not
| whether Butt to speak at all. At the
| Lord Mayors banquet the previous evening, the
printed list gave the names of the speakers;
|
the national banquet grave oversight the part
OF the committee, the because the discussions
within their body had given them ample notice of
the likelihood of disturbance. 1t is possible that if the
meeting was aware Mr. Butt to speak to the next
toast should not have to record the actual
OF disturbance 1t is not easy to say arguing back
| from what happoned; but there cannot be a doubt
that many persons honestly believed Butt not be
allowed to speak, and that the committee had so ar
ranged it, lest he should say things unpalaabe TO the
British government Many people have viewed this
Centenary Committee and its proceedings with great
dstrust looking upon revival of one of the worst
of the old excrescences oConnells policy-a sham
patriotism-which, under of seeking TO advance
the redress of Irish grievance was reality tending
only to promote seEinterest The Irish people have
been cursed by the unprincped proceedings place
hunters that it not unnatural of them should
suspect the honesty of some at east of the commit
tee And so occasion was taken by to represent
the movement as one for the resuscitaton Of "whg-
gerry" "Gladstonsm, and the supposed omission of
Butt from the list of speakers viewed as tanta
mount, not much to honest reassertion Of oCon
nePs old repeal policy to denunciation of home
rule which claims to be the legitimate representative
of o'Connels policy.


THIRD BANQUET.


But let us to the other banquet Long before the
|
Palace equally dsgraceful taken place at
the banquet of the metropolitan and provincial trade
bodies in the Rotunda The greatest rregularty pre-
vailed and the fesvity became at last complete
orgie The toast to "The Queen Lords and Commons"
received with some kissing; the toast Ireland
Naton'' was received with great applause, and I. D.
Sullivan replied Another toast proposed by the Chair
man. 'The Restoration Of the Irish Parliament as
Proposed by o'Connell, to which DR.. oLeary, men,
Der of Parliament, responded. When the Chairman
proposed the toast France the Shield. and the Sword
of Civilization Our Ally and Our Friend, scene of
great disorder ensued the guests calling on Mr..
o'Connor Power to respond, while the Chair
man refused to break the arrangements which
he had already made. 0Connor Power after
much difficulty obtained a hearing, and called upon
the trades assemble the following day 10 take part
in the home rule and amnesty meeting TO be held at
Glasnevin. Gradually the audience grew careless
about hearing any speeches, and filled with wine
amused themselves by singing and shouting and quar-
reling To make long story short, the proceedings
terminated in the utmost confusion, and the incompe
tent Chairman, an operative named Keegan, after a
struggle with defiant guest left the hall with his dress
coat torn round the collar and minus a sleeve This
ended the third banquet.


THE PROCESSION


The procession of the various trade societies. contra
terntes and civil dgntares was very interesting and
successful part of the ee though this marred
at times by the conduct of the amnesty men, who were
! apparently dying for fight with some Some
90 600 persons took part in the procession proper,
and 100000 were on the streets TO see it
| pass This part Of the festival presented
here and there some characteristic features Especially
interesting we're the gorgeous OF the guilds and
conraternties the of the Order of Foresters
and the inscriptions borne by the amnesty men. 1t
was remarked that not single English flag borne
by the processonsts, while the French flag appa-
rently quite popular and the Stars and Stripes
carried by least hundred bodies taking part was
especially interested in the many banner paintings sym
bolca Of Ireands past-Erin, with her harp, weepng
the void dog the round and the rising sun Ban
ner paintings with religious symbols, there by the
score Among them carried the banners of the
amnesty party, with inscriptions such as