We can each one of us do much to
revive the ancient name of our nation in those industrial
pursuits which have done so much to increase and render glorious
those greater nations by the side of which we live. I trust that
before many years are over we shall have the honour and pleasure
of meeting in even a more splendid palace than this, and of
seeing in the interval that the quick-witted genius of the Irish
race has profited by the lessons which this beautiful Exhibition
must undoubtedly teach, and that much will have been done to make
our nation happy, prosperous, and free."
Mr. Parnell, in the course of his speech, referred to the
manufactures which had at one time flourished in Ireland--to the
flannels of Rathdrum, the linens of Bandon, the cottons of Cork,
and the gloves of Limerick. Why should not these things exist
again? "We have a people who are by nature quick and facile to
learn, who have shown in many other countries that they are
industrious and laborious, and who have not been excelled--
whether in the pursuits of agriculture under a midday sun in the
field, or amongst the vast looms in the factory districts--by the
people of any country on the face of the globe."[1] Most just
and eloquent!
The only weak point in Mr. Parnell's speech was where he urged
his audience "not to use any article of the manufacture of any
other country except Ireland, where you can get up an Irish
manufacture.
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