SPEECHES AT THE DUBLIN CELEBRATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 130, 29 October 1875, Page 12

SPEECHES AT THE DUBLIN CELEBRATION.

The Most Eev. Dr. Amherst, Bishop of Northampton, said : It had only happened to him twice in his life to be brought in relation with Daniel O' Connell. The first was at the college with which he had been connected for twenty-five years. The Liberator dined at the college, and after the dinner three young students were invited into the library, where the dinner was given, to drink a glass of wine to the health of O'Connell. He remembered that after tlic wine was drank O'Connell got up to make a speech to thorn. Ho said it was the duty of Catholic young men to form their political opinions as early as possible in life— not to take them from the public papers — not to be influenced by what men of party politics might say to them, but to found their opinions on truth, justice, and true religion, and then they could not be misled. (Heur, hear.) He told them, at the same time, that a man was as responsible for what he did politically as for the discharge of his daily duties. He believed that that speech had made a lasting impression on. them, (hear, hear). The next time he was brought into relation with O'Connell was at the Rath of Mullaghmast (hear, hear.) Ho was a very young man at the time. But from the time ho humd O'Connell he made up his mind to visit Ireland at the earliest opportunity. Ho should never forgot the fascinating geniality of O'Connell's manner to him, a young Saxon stranger, recommended by he forgot whom. O'Connell said to him :•' You are welcome. You will hoar Mass with me in my room ; then you will take a chop with me, and I will take you to Mullaghmast ■where you ■will see a sight you never saw before " (hear, hear.)

They went to Mullaglimast, and he saw a sight he never saw before, and he believed he would never see again. He witnessed the power of O'Connell over the masses of the people — a powerthat was so great because his political principles were founded upon maxims of truth and justice — principles that were propounded in the light of day, not hidden in the darkness of a conspirator's den (hear, hear.) Ho must confess that he was surprised that any jury could be found to bring in a verdict of guilty of conspiracy against O'Connell, or that a judge of the land could be found to condemn him upon such a charge. Prince Eadziwill said : My Lord Mayor, my lords, and gentlemen, the late Cardinal Archbishop Diepcnbrock, of Breslau, in Silesia, when he came to the Polish part of his diocese, said that he could gladly give a finger from, his hand if he coiild speak to that brave people in their national language. lam to-day in the same position as he was, since I have witnessed the enthusiastic reception that has greeted the great and splendid procession in the streets of the Irish capital. On this account, I desire to express to you the friendship of the Polish people (applause.) However unfit.. I make this effort this evening to coniinunicate to you in Eifgiish something of my sentiments of gratitude, speaking in the name of the other Polish members of the German Parliament, whose sole representative lam to-day (loud applause). It was, lam sure, the sentiment of fraternal love, which always inspires noble hearts that gave you the idea of inviting us to the festival of the Centenary of your great compatriot (cheers). It was also, I should think, the sentiment of sympathy, which is necessarily established between those who suffer. The Polish nation was always united with the noble Irish nation by the bonds of common suffering. Amongst such nations those are not always criminals who endure imprisonment (cheers.) Your great compatriot, the immortal O'Connell, was in prison ; and I come from a town where abides in prison, like another John the Baptist, his Fminence Cardinal Ledochowski (cheers.) O'Connell combatted for the liberty of religion, for the integrity of your nationality, and for freedom of conscience (cheers.) Such has been the conduct of his Eminence, and so he strives in his silent suffering. The conflict which resulted in his being placed in prison — where, like Fisher, he became a cardinal — commenced by his defence of the freedom of religious instruction (cheers) . Poland has often striven, for the restoration of its liberty, but its condition has often been rendered worse. The power of peaceful suffering is greater, however, than the power off arms. In a word, we have not yet had in Poland a man like your O'Connell, who was able to unite in perfect harmony the love of faith, the love of freedom, and the love of fatherland. However, my lords and gentlemen, we trust that God has raised up a peaceful victor in the person of his Eminence the imprisoned Cardinal Ledochowski (loud cheers). I know that these words may expose me to the same accusation which O'Connell could not escape, though frank, loyal, and true in all his conduct — I mean the accusation of following revolutionary tendencies (hear, hear). To any accusation of that kind 1 think it beneath my dignity to answer. The Polish Catholics will never make a revolution. But what they will never do — what is forbidden by God, by the Church, and by their honor — is to bow to any yoke which would encroach upon the liberty of the Church, which destroys the liberty of conscience, and which would turn men into slaves. We will suffer what God permits, but wo shall never recoil, before armed force, from the path of honor and of faith (cheers.) Even should we fail, we trust we shall be worthy of the poet's words — " O bloodiest picture in the book of time ! Sarmatia falls, unwept, without a crime." (Loud cheers, which were again and again renewed) .