FATHER O'DONNELL'S ADDRESS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 24, 20 October 1898, Page 2

FATHER O'DONNELL'S ADDRESS.

Father O'Donnell, on rising, was warmly applauded. After having explained the object of the celebration — to honour the memory of the brave Irishmen who fought and suffered and died a hundred years ago in the cause, of Irish freedom — the rev. speaker referred to the article in the August Review of Reviews by Mr. Stead — an Englishman of Englishmen. After quoting the words of Dr.ilngram's famous poem : ' Who fears to speak of '98, Who blushes at the name,' etc., Mr. Stead w rites : 'To which question asked by Dr. Ingram, I, William Thomas Stead, humble and unworthy representative of the predominant partner in the union with Ireland, hereby make answer : Yea, verily, if there be no other man in this world who will say, then will I solemnly protest and declare : " I fear to speak of '98 ; I blush to hear the name, and I hang my head for shame, and am covered with confusion of face at the thought of the deeds that then were done by those who stood for England before the world."' ' 'No Englishman,' Mr. Stead continues, ' ought ever to mention the word '■ Ireland " in the hearing of the civilised world unless he first arrange himself in the sackcloth and ashes of the penitent. If ever it was in the annals of the human race for one nation to stand convicted of crime against a neighbouring nation. England stands convicted of crime to-day in her relations with Ireland. . . And that crime, which had its origin in centuries far beyond our present survey, culminated in 1798. lam not stating anything that can be gainsaid. The indictment is overwhelming ; the evidence incontrovertible ' (applause). So for Mr. Stead. The crime of England was then the cause of the insurrection of 175)8, and that crime, as Mr. Stead says, was being committed for centuries. Look at the