Page:A Memorial of John Boyle O'Reilly from the City of Boston.djvu/56

50 city on the American continent, the only city that has traditions which she may guard with religious jealousy, make room amongst the vaults of her most distinguished sons for the dust of this, her adopted son, who entered as fully into her life as any of those in whom her own blood flowed, and who was in sympathy a true Bostonian; let her give him a niche worthy of his fame along with those who are allied with her history.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: Men that are oppressed, or denied the enjoyment of any of the rights that belong to them, are apt to feel, and most keenly, the hand of the Almighty when it falls on one who is not of their peculiar kind, if he was their friend and an outspoken defender of their rights; and so it was on that early Sabbath morning when the Angel of Death visited the pleasant summer home of John Boyle O'Reilly, and softly whispered in his ear, "Your troubles are over and your triumph is complete."

It is hardly to be thought that a people whose injuries he tried to have redressed, but who were still bowed down beneath the weight of wrongs, could understand at once that God doeth all things well; but after a little time spent in reflection, the fact did appear, and then they were prepared to