THE O'CONNELL CELEBRATION.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2087, 11 September 1875, Page 2

THE O'CONNELL CELEBRATION.

It seems to hare been generally anticipated that the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the great Irish " Liberator " would not pass off without some unpleasant features. We regret to learn from last evening* cable dispatches that these anticipations have been partially fulfilled. . The account furnished by telegram is not so explicit or so clear as to enable us to un- M derstand the precise nature of the difiV culty. The reason for the display of American flags by the one party and of " a black banner" by the other are not explained, and possibly the alleged facts may not be confirmed by later intelligence. But-aside from these occurrences, there were other features of the celebration which possess much significance. On the morning of the 6th of August Dr Croke, new Archbishop of Cashel, spoke in the Cathedral. Four Archbishops, torty Bishops and five hundred priests participated in the ceremonies. Dublin was in grand holiday humor. The great majority of private residences were -brilliantly illuminated. The streets were filled with animated throngs. Dr Croke's address was in some respects quite different from anything expected on such an occasion. He is evidently a man of an independent turn of mind and altogether in advance of the times. He ventured to say, among other things, that the .Irish people were being educated under a system which, if not alUhat they could desire, was " much superior to that of the past." He further declared that the "foreign Church" (the Church of Englaudjhad been " humbled," and the rights of occu- t piers of the soil had to soino extent been recognised. The Doctor wound up his discourse with a vory handsome tribute - x to the British Government, in which he declared that the Irish were " fast working into a position of eqiujity and inde* pendence," under tho protection, of what he was not afraid to call the «best balanced Constitution in the world..'^ We are not as yet advised what sort of an impression Dr Croke's address pro*

duced onhis audience. If he gave a fair expression to the sober judgment of a majority of Irish Catholics we-may safely assume that the relations of the people of the Green Isle to the British Government will in the future be much more agreeable and pleasant than they have been in the past. —American Paper.