O'CONNELL CENTENARY CELEBRATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4488, 7 August 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

O'CONNELL CENTENARY CELEBRATION.

The centenary of Daniel O’Connell, the Liberator, was celebrated by a banquet at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, on Thursday evening. The ball was appropriately decorated, and a very excellent spread was provided by Messrs. Grey and Light. Everything was comme ilfaut. The attendance -was fully as large as had been expected, every seat being occupied, and during the early part of the evening the guests did full justice to the viands and other delicacies provided. In the gallery were a number of ladies, and the band of the City Rifles, who performed with great efficiency, occupied the stage. .About 100 gentlemen sat down, the chair being occupied by Mr._ Travers, who -was supported on the right by his Excellency the Governor, and on the left by the Hon. Mr. Bowen, Minister of Justice, and Captain Chapman, of H.M.S. Dido. There were present, in addition to many of our leading citizens, including the Mayor, W. S. Moorhouse, Esq., and the ex-Mayor, J. Dransfleld, Esq., the following members of the General Assembly ; —Hon. Sir J. Richardson, Speaker of the Legislative Council ; Hon, J. Johnston, Hon. R. Hart, members of the Legislative Council; Sir George Grey, K.C.8., M.H.R., Superintendent of Auckland ; Hon. Mr. Stafford, M.H.R.; Messrs. Bluett, Creighton, Dignan, Hunter, W. Kelly, Mervyn, O’Conor, O’Neill, O’Rorke, Sheehan, Wakefield, Wales, Ward, and White, members of the House of Representatives. Messrs. Buckley and O’Shea occupied the vice-chairs. The different courses having been fully discussed, The Chairman called upon the assembly to charge their glasses, and drink to “ THE QUEEN,”

the first toast of the evening ; and he hoped it would not, as was sometimes the case, be treated as a formal toast, but that they would drink to her Majesty with the heartiness and loyalty of British subjects. Band—“ God Save the Queen.” “ THE PRINCE OP WALES.” In proposing this toast, the Chairman said they could express no higher hope, in reference to his Royal Highness, in looking forward to his future accession to the Throne, than that he should follow in the footsteps of his father and mother. (Cheers.) —His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Band—“ God Bless the Prince of Wales.” “ THE GOVERNOR.”

The Chairman : Gentlemen, I must ask you once more to fill your glasses, this time to drink to the health of his Excellency the Governor. (Cheers.) The manner in which you have received the bare announcement of tins toast, satisfies me that I need say little to commend it. The feelings entertained towards his Excellency since his arrival amongst us, have iu no degree belied the high reputation which preceded him ; and J feel justified in saying that all who have been brought in contact with him, either in public or in private life, have experienced that pleasure and gratification which inevitably follows from intercourse with a liigh-minded and virtuous gentleman. (The toast was drunk with enthusiasm). Band—“ King of the Cannibal Islands.” His Excellency : I thank you cordially for the manner in which you have just received the last toast. I assure you it is my anxious desire to associate myself with the feelings and inclinations of this province, and it affords me especial gratification to be here to-night, when yon are assembled to do honor to the memory of one whose recollection is retained with affection and veneration by all Irishmen. (Cheers.) Mr. O’Connell was undoubtedly a man who had thoroughly at heart the good and wellbeing of his mother country, and by his eloquence and perseverance did a great service for that country. He turned his mind to rectify the evil government which had prevailed for many years in the country, and the effects of which long survived his death ; but for the good that he did his name is revered by his own countrymen and others who benefited by the labors of his life. But it is not my business on the present occasion to discuss the merits of Daniel O’Connell; were Xto do so, X should be trespassing on the province of my friend on my left, who will presently address you. I -will rather turn to our own position, and remind you that while in this country—where there are Irishmen, Englishmen, and Scotchmen, and members of other nationalities —we are all New Zealanders. (Cheers.) And it is to New Zealand that we have especially to turn onr attention. It is a country which any man might well be proud to own. You have advantages, being a young country, in being able to see the errors of others. You have a Constitution which is as free and as liberal as any in the world—the model, the Constitution of England. I need say little to point out its excellencies, for the youngest amongst us must know of the convulsion? which have shaken Europe ; while in England, though the changes which have taken place within the past forty or fifty years have been greater and more radical than those of any country, yet those changes have been secured iu a peaceful manner, and by constitutional means. In England we have a quiet and constitutional means of adapting the government of the country to the times in which we live, and I think this is the main reason why the Constitution of England is so superior to that of all foreign countries. It has been for many years now the custom—and a very happy one —of the mother country to encourage the colonies to govern their own affairs ; and therefore if the colonies feel that there is a necessity for any change, they have it in themselves to make such change, and can do so without any of the evils attendant on force or revolutionary movement. (Cheers.) I by no means think that in this country you should in any way disparage or cease to venerate the old feelings and associations of the mother country ; on the contrary, I think that the more you encourage these feelings the better ; but I would especially recommend you to leave at home those feelings and prejudices which can have no head or foundation in a young country like this—antagonistic and party feelings, which unhappily produced so many evd effects in the old country. Whatever changes you may consider desirable, work them out in a quiet and constitutional manner. You have a right to give vent to your own feelings, but let them bo expressed without imputing any improper motives to others, and without casting any insinuations against those who differ with you in opinion. Remember that every man has a right to his own opinion. Be satisfied with the ruling of those who are best able to judge what is best for your own good, and be satisfied and contented until they see something better. (Cheers.) I must not trespass further on your time, as there are several speakers to follow, and will therefore conclude by again thanking you for the manner in which you drank my health. “THE ARMY AND NAVY.”

The Chairman proposed “ The Army and Navy, including the Volunteers of the British dominions.” After passing a flattering eulogium on the two great forces comprising the defenders of England, he said ho hoped and believed that the Volunteers of Great Britain and her colonics would not be found wanting should their services be required. Captain Chapman replied for the Navy. Ho could assure them he was quite unprepared with a speech, because on a magnificent piece of satin which accompanied his invitation, the toast of the Army and Navy was not included. Had it been, he should have come with a speech which would have astonished them all. He could only say the occasion was one which caused him great satisfaction. Ho might say that Mr. O’Connell was the cause of his first going to Ireland. He went in her Majesty’s ship the Caledonia, and was at that time as fine a looking young boy as one could wish to see, being known as the spare topgallautmast. That was in 1813, when ho saw O’Connell, who was at that time teaching the people—what wo had since learned. Colonel Brett responded for the Army, and thanked the guests very much for the honor done the Army. He regretted very much that his Boyal Highness the Duke of Cambridge Commandor-in-Chief of the English Army, was not there to witness it, as he would have felt highly honored by Urn compliment. The greatest compliment which could bo paid to the Army was to merit the approval of the civilians of the country in whoso service they had performed their deeds of valor. Colonel Brett

then referred to the Navy in terms encomiastic, and concluded by saying that they must all agree that the most distinguished of her Majesty’s corps were the Irish National Corps. (Cheers.) The Duke of Wellington had said that of all men in the field he preferred Irish soldier-.?, but they were devils in garrison. But that was the love of the fair sex, and could be pardoned. Captain Wales responded briefly on behalf of the Volunteers. The Volunteers in the old country had never been called upon to defend their country, but those of New Zealand had, and it must be admitted that they had distinguished themselves remarkably—(cheers)—and should they ever be called upon to stand against a foreign foe, they would be found ready with their arms. (Cheers.) “ THE SUPERINTENDENT.”

The Chairman proposed “ The Superintendent.” It was with some regret he stated that his Honor was not present on that occasion. His Honor had been invited ; but perhaps he thought the present was not an appropriate oocation for airing his eloquence on political matters, and had so declined to come. But his Honor was a keen politician, and an accomplished and hospitable gentleman; so that although they might think it would have been better for his Honor to have been present, they should yet be prepared to drink his health in his absence, and hope that he was enjoying himself as much where he was. Mr. Hunter, M.H.R., returned thanks on behalf of the Superintendent. “ THE MEMORY OP O’CONNELL.” The Chairman: I have now come to the end of the formal toasts of the evening, and will therefore ask you to fill your glasses and drink a bumper to “ The memory of Daniel O’Connell.” It is in no degree strange that Irishmen of all classes and denominations, but perhaps more especially those who profess the Roman Catholic faith, should bo desirous of paying a tribute of respect to the memory of their great fellow-countryman; and when I say great, I assume that Daniel O'Connell must be looked upon as being as much an Englishman, Scotchman, or Welshman, as ho was an Irishman, for I shall be able to show you that his labors were as beneficial to England as they were to his Roman Catholic fellow-citizens. It has been said of O’Council that he was actuated by personal ambition in pursuing the great object of ids life ; that while he had power, which he wielded with an iron baud, he used it for the benefit of a class, rather than for the general amelioration of the conditions of the people. Posterity examines with a microcospic eye the characters of great men who have lived in the past, and it is a significant fact therefore, that all denominations, all classes of people, have ever been and are desirous of paying tributes to the memory of I ■’Connell—(cheers) —a fact which should be an ample refutation of the charge that O’Connell was influenced by a narrow motive in the performance of labors which have made him illustrious. Ido not believe that any man could have inspired the faith and confidence—almost the enthusiastic love—with which O'Connell was looked upon, if he had not been actuated by far higher motives than personal ambition. The verdict of his countrymen before and after his death goes to show that he was a great character, and that, while patriotic in the extreme, he did a great work for the world at large—by establishing that principle of perfect liberty of conscience and perfect religious freedom which makes England a refuge and a safe asylum for the persecuted of the earth. We ought to judge men by the results of their labors. O’Connell may have been guilty of errors, but we can, I think, afford to forgive errors in consideration of tho large amount of good which ho performed. lam not going into a long discussion on the subject, because Bishop Redwood is shortly to deliver a lecture on “ Daniel O’Connell,” hut I think, nevertheless, it will not be without its use if I endeavor to bring before you a few of the salient events in his career. It is now very nearly 100 yeai-s since O’Connell was born, because it is within a day of it. His father was a thrifty man, but having a large family, would not in all probability have been able to afford his son such an education as enabled him to attain to the position in life which he did. However, his uncle, having no children of his own, adopted Daniel and his brother Maurice, and took the entire charge of their education. Daniel (/Connell was sent to the College of St. Omer's, in France, and afterwards to Douai, but he was compelled to seek safety in flight, leaving, I believe, when Louis XVI. was beheaded. Shortly after that he entered as a student in Lincoln’s Inn, and in 1798 was admitted to the Irish Bar as a barrister. He very soon began to take part in the affairs of his country, and made his maiden speech on the proposed union of Great Britain and Ireland, and the abolition of the Irish Parliament, which he opposed most strongly. lam not going into the whole question of reform, suffice it that he took au active part in passing the measure by which it was effected. In adopting the career of a barrister O'Connell was no doubt actuated by the fair ambition which should distinguish any man entering into a profession which requires a high development of intellect ; but O’Connell found an obstacle in the way of his ambition. He was not the man to abandon the faith of his fathers for tho sake of ambition. Ho determined to effect his object in a constitutional manner. Stopping some time at Dcrrynane, he afterwards, in 1810, took a leading part in the question of Catholic emancipation, and it may be said that he carried that measure, which gave religious liberty to thousands. lie received the aid of many, but to him was mainly due the success of those efforts which were ultimately productive of so much good. In 1829 he was elected for tho County Clare, and this brought matters to a crisis. The Lord Chancellor of the day said this must bring the question of Catholic emancipation to a conclusion ; and it did, for a little while after that tho Bill received the Royal assent, and O’Connell took his sent in the British Parliament, which he retained for many years. O’Connell was intended for the priesthood, and would no doubt have become au Archbishop ; but for the benefit of his country he became a lawyer. (Laughter.) He (Mr. Travers) did not wish to be understood as asserting that lawyers are made for the benefit of their country; but it was owing to that circumstance that O’Connell was enabled to take the position ho did, and to bring about that great reform. Lot mo point out, if in doing so I am not branching off from the principles laid down as to the conduct of tho meeting, the position which Roman Catholics of Great Britain occupied at that time. Every important office was closed to them, they were precluded from becoming officers in the army or navy, and all St>te offices were shut against them, and they could take no part in the municipal government of the country. This did not mean merely the exclusion of these people from such offices, it meant the shutting up from useful purposes an enormous amount of the intellectual power of the country. It was time that such a state of things was put au end to, and O’Council did it. We owe that liberty to him which is now part of tho Constitution of Great Britain. And the Roman Catholics were not alone effected. The Jews were encouraged to ask for the same liberty which was accorded to their fellow-citizcim of other persuasions, and every class and denomination now enjoys the same liberty. Ido not purpose detaining you longer iu speaking of O'Connell. As a politician ho held a high place in tho hearts of his countrymen during his life, and his memory is universally respected. As an individual he was courteous and hospitable in tho extreme, and was beloved by nil who came iu contact with him, either socially or politically. I ask you again to drink to tho memory of Daniel O'Connell. “ THE LAND WE LIVE IN."

Sir George Grey, who was received with prolonged cheering', said : To me has fallen the task of giving this toast—“ The laud wo live in." His Excellency the Governor has so recently described this country and its precincts, that I need not detain you long. But the real pith of the toast, I think, is those we live amongst—the inhabitants of the land we live in. These are men who have encountered many difficulties and dangers; men who, banded together, have made this now great country what it is, from a land inhabited only by a savage race ; men wljpsc fathers were

present with me in many scenes of clanger and in many scenes of toil—some of them here present, who can recollect the scenes of which X speak—and men whose families are endeared to me by a thousand associations. These thoughts appear to me to bo embodied in the toast, “ The land we live in.” . (Cheers.) And from that toast I may be permitted to wander to a certain extent, to pass an eulogium upon the great man whose name we come here to celebrate—(cheers). —showing you that the consideration of that will lead us back again to the land we live in. I have seen that great man, sir ; have heard him make some of his greates speeches ; but it is difficult to estimate the greatness of a man in whoso presence wo stand, particularly if the figure is a colossal one we require to withdraw to some distance, carefully to distinguish the proportions of such a figure. In retirement I have thought much of that great figure, and some conceptions have presented themselves to my mind, and which I have never seen drawn by my fellow-men. The great gift possessed by Daniel O'Connell was an estimate of the necessities of mankind—an estimate of necessities which have only recently been acknowledged by modern statesmen. 110 found his country in a most depressed condition. 110 found a race in a low grade of civilisation ; ho found a race with but littlo education. But in that race ho recognised every element of greatness, lying dormant—(cheers) —simply requiring to bo called into life. Binding this, ho felt and first acted on this groat truth : that civilised man, collected into great communities, is nothing without political knowledge—(cheers) —that in truth, a political education is that which most of all devclopcs man’s intellect and renders him useful to his fellow-man. And looking upon a people so sunk as his countrymen wore, and so littlo educated, ho believed that by educating them ho would fit them for great and noble occasions. (Cheers.) And you will find that his efforts were for years directed to this point : by visiting every part of the country, by addressing largo masses of his fellow subjects, to educate them in political knowledge, and in conception of the wants of their follow-men. Bor years ho followed this course, for years ho educated them in political knowledge, until at length, in truth, they attained to political power. We may compare them, then, to a nation shut up within the walls of a city, with the gates closed against them. In that city he held those masses quiet ; in that city, by his addresses, he educated them, until those outside the walls heard from within the murmurings of a vast multitude and the confused mutterings of discontented millions ; until he thought it safer not to let them remain any longer beleaguered there, but to open the gates and let them pass out. There were other discontented hosts outside, who watched with wonder that the gates so long closed were opened by the power of one man. And then from out those gates issued a great procession of great men admirals, generals, peers, soldiers, and sailors and issued forth, led by O’Connell, to spread themselves over the whole world. (Prolonged cheering.) There was no part of the earth containing even a small portion of the English-speaking nation, in which this countless multitude did not spread, prepared by the political knowledge they had acquired, to benefit the whole human race ; and in a short time, in every country in which the English tongue was spoken, the Legislatures were instructed by the eloquence of these men. There was no Executive Government not rendered stronger by their wisdom, by their quickness of thought and daring in time of difficulty and danger ; there was no battle fought in which they did not perform prodigies of valor. That was the result of O’Connell’s action. (Cheers.) He taught us a further great truth, and let us lay it to our hearts, for it is a truth little known or thought of —of great importance to mankind. He taught this ; that a race not allowed a fair and proper share of political rights and privilleges may become sunk in knowledge, sunk in domestic scenes, sunk in everything which can give one man a pleasing aspect in the face of his fellows ; and when thus sunk, those who sank them will attribute it to a peculiar religious faith, or to some incapacity inherent in the race to raise themselves from such a state, but in which, in reality, they have been held down by thraldom. They forget that it was their own oppressive laws which placed that people in the sunken state which they chose to attribute to a peculiarity of religion or of race. But that splendid host which O’Connell led forth have demonstrated that truth irrefragably to mankind, that men of whatever r.ice can attain equally great objects and ends if given a political education and endowed with equal political rights. This brings me back to the point from which I started. That agrarian race which went forth from the beleaguered city has a detachment here also. To that detachment we are in no slight manner indebted, not only for the prosperity we have as a nation attained, but for the hospitality obtained here to-night. Band—“ Cheer, Boys, Cheer." “the ladies.”

Sir John Richardson proposed “The Ladies ” in a humorous speech, iu which he referred to the support given by O'Connell to the movement for the emancipation of slavery, a subject which had not been referred to by tho previous speakers. Mr. Sheehan in a concise manner responded, and said if every thing they wore possessed of had as much truth in it as tho ladies of New Zealand, they would have no difficulty in raising loans to any extent. “ THE PRESS.” Mr. Buckley was called upon to give “The Press,” with which he coupled the name of Mr. Creighton, and in referring to tho changes iu which O’Connell had taken so active a part, said he was of opinion that those advantages would not have been so soon obtained but for the mediation of the Press. Mr. Creighton returned thanks briefly. This concluded the list of toasts, and those who were so disposed remained to enjoy a little social conviviality. Tho celebration was an undoubted success, and that success was chiefly attributable to the indefatigable exertions of Mr. O’Shea, to whom was entrusted tho management.