Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 20.pdf/579

 THE GREEN BAG [hear, hear, and counter demonstrations], Donegal, in which he gave such a brilliant when he flung open to all his fellow-country description of their landscapes, and also men the paths of honorable ambition, which their traditions, as must long remain among lead to the highest rank and dignity. Lord their most cherished memories. His speech O'Hagan would, I am sure, have charmed in 1878 in support of the Intermediate us by his eloquence, and roused still more Education Bill was a masterpiece of elo (if that were possible) our enthusiasm for quence. We regret that we have only the great hero of this celebration. As it space for the peroration: "My Lords, if is, however, he did not leave undone what the fair promises of this bill be realized, we he had undertaken. I hold in my hand shall yet see the Irish people self-reliant and the address which Lord O'Hagan prepared self-respecting, redeemed by the power of an for delivery, and which will be given to you awakened intelligence. Too many of them to-morrow morning through the columns of have mourned lapsed opportunities and the pubilc press, in the very words which baffled hopes. Too many have passed he would himself have spoken. And our from childhood to adolescence, and from regret for his absence will be mitigated when youth to age, and gone to the grave without we remember to how few of you the actual the culture which would have enabled hearing of the oration would have been them to rise to the level of their own capaci physically possible, few even among the ties, and improve and exalt their country. myriads I see before me, and mere units in A brighter day has dawned; a happier comparison with the millions and millions of prospect opens before them. Legislation our countrymen in Ireland, England, Scot like this will rouse them from their mental land, America, Australia, and everywhere torpor, and inspire them with courage for over the habitable globe, whom the labors of the battle of life. The pool of Bethesda the press will make partakers of the joy and was sluggish until an angel stirred it and glory of this day." The Lord Mayor said a healing grace descended on its waters. that Lord O'Hagan had commissioned him The bones were dry and formless in the to read the address or any portion of it he vision of the prophet, but the spirit moved chose [hear, hear, and cries of "Butt" upon them, and they grew to shapes of and "Home Rule"]. His Lordship re strength and beauty; and with God's marked he would not trouble them by blessing, the influence of this measure and repeating the address at that late hour those which may succeed it — with as of the evening [hear, hear, cries of "Butt"]. sound a principle and as wise an end — will He held in his hand an address which he launch Ireland on a great career, and help had received from Canada on the subject her to pursue it with hope and energy." It was said above that O'Hagan made a of the centenary [cries of "Read it," and fine speech when Tom Moore's statue was "Butt," " Butt," "hear Butt"]. In 1876 the Grattan monument facing unveiled in 1856. It is not therefore sur Trinity College was unveiled, and Lord prising that in 1879, on the occasion of O'Hagan was one of the principal speakers. the Moore centenary, Lord O'Hagan was In August, 1877, he delivered at Antwerp requested by the committee to make a an address at the opening of the fifth annual speech on the subject in the Exhibition conference for the reform and codification Building. When Gladstone retired in 1874, Disraeli of the Law of Nations, to which subject he had given great attention. In October came into power; but the swing of the of the same year Lord O'Hagan made an pendulum again brought the Liberals into eloquent speech on the opening of the office in 1880. Mr. Gladstone was again Letterkenny Institute in the county of Prime Minister, and Lord O'Hagan was