MR. J. A. HANAN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 32, 15 December 1898, Page 28

MR. J. A. HANAN

gave a stirring address on ' The men of '98.' In the course of his remarks he said that it had been truly averred that -next to an Irishman's love of his God was his love ,of his country When driven from home, however beautiful the new land' might be and whether the emigrant were clothed in purple or rags he 'still cherished a warm love for his native country. They reacU'n history of the loyalty of Irishmen to the, Empire, but>therj was holSit of nobler sacrifice in history than that of ; , the great st£ug£e?ol 1798, which enlisted their sympathy and compelled their^admiration. What gave the greatest satisfaction to him, a Protestant, was the fact that the great majority of the promoters cf the movement were Protestants, and that the rank and file were largely of the same denomination. The insurgents had fought for the most sacred principle given to man : the principle of freedom. Their resistance was resistance of power usurped, and was due by each man not only to his neighbour but also to his God. He would like to nay a tribute of admiration to the patriots who had embraced the cause of the people. Prominent amoDgst these was Theobald Wolfe 1 one. In 1 791 he roused the spirit of the country by the exposures he made, and founded in the same year the United arfshmen's Society. The object was to secure emancipation and i ust representation. There was nothing treasonable in that. The movement had some effect, and the Relief Bill was passed in 1793. Irishmen were granted certain rights, bnt were not allowed to become members of Parliament nor to hold Government positions The club sought still further enfranchisement, and the Government passed a number of vexatious measures. To remove these, overtures were made, but with little effect. The policy of the Government at that time was that the most convenient method of governing Ireland was to keep her weak, and this policy must be held responsible for the trouble which followed. He would have liked to have sooken of Lord Fitzgerald, of Russell, of Rev. William Jackson, of William Orr, of Father Murphy, of liutler and Harvey and their brave associated, but time precluded. A conspicuous figure was Robert kiinniett, a brilliant oraror, soldier, and scholar, who had sacrificed his youth, talents, his great gilts, and life itself on the altars of hid country. The men of '98 struggled to remove-the disabilities of the people, to secure peace and happiness which, experience had proved were the foundation of national solidity and development The men of '98 died in the cause of freedom, and they should cherish the memory of that glorious band ; of the heroes who had given their gifts aad talents and lives in the service of their country Mr. Hanan's address was followed by an exquisite rendering of the Irish melody, ' The last glimpse of Erin,' arranged for three voices, and sung by nine young ladies trained by the Dominican Nuns. A song, ' Killarney so fair,' was next rendered in nice style by Mrs. Blue. The Rev. Editor of the N.Z. Tablet thentold l brief story of the '98 rising, which was received with marked favour by the audience. The closing piece of a fine entertainment was a chorus, • Avenging and bright fell the swift sword of Erin A social followed in Hanan's Hall, which was crowded. A fine supper wis provided by a committee of ladies, and thus was brougnt to a successful close a particularly enthusiastic demonstration in honour of the heroes of 1798. r

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