WANGANUI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 122, 27 August 1875, Page 14

WANGANUI.

In speaking of the various celebrations which have taken place throughout the colony in memory of O'Connell, the 'Wahganui Chronicle 5 says that although one or two spasmodic efforts had been made in that town to iuatigurate an-" appropriate demonstration, they all signally failed.-' We are glad to see, however, that the occasion was not allowed to pass without some tribute being paid to the great man's memory. From the columns of the 'Chronicle' we clip a most interesting discourse on the life and times of the patriot, delivered by the Rev. Father Kirk in the Catholic Church, in which the rev. lecturer drew a vivid picture of the surroundings and history of the times in which O'Connell lived. Father Kirk took for his text the passage from Hebrews xi., 4, c He being dead, still speaks." He said:— To-day we celebrate the 100 th anniversary of one of Ireland's noblest sons — the immortal Daniel O[Connell. From all quarters— from the Australian as from the i various important towns of our own colonies: from the Great Irish America, as from Europe — and in it, specially from • Dublin, the great mainspring of the movement — we learn of the emulation excited amongst irishmen, and all true lovers of civil and religious liberty, no matter what their differences or prejudices, to excel in celebrating most worthily the fame of the great Tribune, in doing honor to the illustrious dead on this auspicious occasion. Nor is it surprising that the memory of their chief should so live amongst his people. Irish hearts are warm, and their sense of gratitude delicate and fathomless ; and there was naught in the person or character of the Liberator but would feel their eager, devouring love of faith and Fatherland, of national tradition and social ties ; and should excite their respect for lawful authority, and the just claims of every persecuted being; Whilst the nourishing of these characteristic national virtues was for him a sure pass to their deep and lasting gratitude. Some of us can remember, and there are few in the colonies but have heard 6% whilst everyone who enjoys the great liberty of a Britain, musl deplore the cruel state of bondage under which the Irish groaned' towards the close of the last century. Their faith proscribed industry, property shackled ; and civil trust, privilege of office,' corporate right, or constitutional representation in a word, everything to which Catholics in Ireland (and even in England and the Colonies) could aspire, placed far beyond the reach of their just ambition. It was at this time, Avhilst the co-religionists "were "set apart from their fellow subjects as aliens in their n-itive land " (as he afterwards stated in 1810), in August, 1775, that O'Connell was born in Carhon, near Cahirciveen, in the County Kerry. Influence and teaching of his holy mother, local associations empowered him with love of God and eternal thina-s. In his early years he seems to have taken deeply to heart the state of his poor afflicted country and he yearned to give her sweet liberty — the deliciousness of which, as borne on the Atlantic breezes to his sea girt home, he appears to have already tasted. Nor was his patriotism cooled by his studies in foreign lands, to which- he was compelled to go to secure a good education. On the contrary, his blood warmed up to boiling heat, and his already keen sensibility received a finer edge by his absence from home. He bears testimony to this shortly after his return to his native land: "My days," said he, "the blossom of my youth, and the flower of my manhood, have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In this my native landin the land of any sires — I am a degraded outcast." In the year after his call to the bar, 1799, the Forum's Champion spoke nobly at the meeting in William-street, Dublin, held to denounce the

projected Union. But it was in 1800, at the meeting in the Royal Exchange, to protest against the Union, that he started out boldly on his grand career. And well was he fitted to bo the leader of his people, in securing the great objects of his life — Emancipation and Repeal of the Union. Of gentle birth, graced with every form of manly beauty, of generous spirit, and tender heart, and genius of the highest kind ; a man of stern integrity, of most temperate and \ industrious habits, and very generous to the poor, whom he raised to his own level, and gratuitously helped in their lawsuits : he had in his private character enough to gain the good-will of his people. - But when we think of his mighty powers, and consummate prudence ; of his practical knowledge of human nature, and of his greatness of mind, and largeness of view — which scorned to take even liberty of worship at the cost of those differing from him in belief, " for lie knew," he said, " that the Catholics of Ireland would never accept of any advantages as a sect, thab would debase and destroy them 4k a people.!' When we recollect the orator, who wielded an which gained the heart and raised the spirits; which provoked the hearty laugh, and roused up the smouldering fire of indignation, which moistened the eye with its touching pathos, or made it flash at his denunciations of tyranny and injustice. Yes, when we try to realise the power of that eloquence, so great that it could enchant even crowds of Scotchmen on their own Calton Hill, and Englishmen in their great capital — and by simple and earnest reasoning, and conciliating persuasion, draw thousands as the Tribune willed. "When wo remember his persevering heroic efforts for twenty-nine years, and the miraculous union secured by him, could we doubt his fitness for his noble vocation ? Could we doubt that he would join the nation, and with its strength secure, as he did, the great Belief Bill ? And had all circumstances continued as he then found them, and the patriot chief been granted length of days, would not Repeal of the Union have crowned with success his gigantic efforts, his splendid career ? Broken hearted on account of famine, and inability to relieve his people — makes-"his last act correspond to life — gives heart (noblest part of him) to Rome, nearest to God — body to Ireland, loved by him after God. He has left us the example of teaching humility and simplicity, the use of good and holy means to gain best ends, and great love for, and obedience to G-od and His Holy Church. It is not astonishing that such a man gained the heart of Ireland, and that she loves to venerate the name and extol the deeds of her great departed champion. And surely it cannot bo otherwise than consistent with the admiration of noble and heroic virtues, and veneration for sacred liberty, Religious and Civil — of which all of us British subjects partake, and with reason love to boast — that every one, without distinction of creed or country, should rejoice at the honor paid to the name of a God-fearing and justice-loving man, a noble patriot and eloquent statesman, and a great, and sincere, and cosmopolitan "Apostle of Liberty" for his own country, and for the enslaved of every race on earth, the long-to-be-remembered Daniel O'Connell.