Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-12-19
From the New Orleans Delta.
An Unknown Great Man.

In the most wretched country in the world, the
name of which is the synonym of slavery under the
most cruel and most cunning desposm Of the world;
amid starvation, and rags, and beggary-and, worse
than all, amid cowardice. and want of manhood or
faith-there lives Roman Catholic clergyman, who
is the solitary Republican Of defeated people, and
the last foe of their oppresSors; and the name OF
him is John Kenyon 1t is name known to few In
this country, but one reverenced almost worshpped
by those who are acquainted with the man who bears
Every one has heard of the unfortunate attempt at
revolution in Ireland, during the ''battle- summer
of 49, and ptied or ridicued according to the tenn
permanent of each, the who were engaged in it.
The revolutionary party OF the time was brilliant,
but inca pablo one. 1t contained only two men who
qualified to organize and direct successful in
surrection, (though it numbered in its ranks true
poets and gifted orators could be found in any
age Cline and of the two. one is dreaming his
proud life away in a prison beyond the sea,-hnn
we call John Mitchell-and the other, this Kenyon,
of whom we would speak, is alone, in mountain
home, amongst wild people, with hope and faith
in the future OF his country more at all, forever
The world has many in it, as great and as
good Kossuth of which it pirates much, of as
large utterance and of as deep thoughts and of its
unknown heroes there is none more noble than the
Tipperary priest aforesaid. He is original man
no imitation of man, mere locomotive clothes
horse, but strong bold, aggregate of muscles, anc
| passions, and IDEAS who. in any other country
WOulu De lGduef ana u ruler. lie appeared Ill pOI
tcs not from taste for that sort of thing but frou
a sense of duty, and an intense hatred of cant. His
/ first labor was a Herculean one he endeavored t.
clean the Augean stable of Irish afars-to sweep al
the filth and excrement out of them, that they Nigh
smell pleasantly at least, in the nostrils Of men
And how he handled his ptchfork, how he sweep
rottenness away, those who are interested in sucE
details may declare-not We.
He next placed himself John Mitchell, ant
raised the republican banner. Through all thu
struggle from the first gallant dash to the last SAT
scene he beside his friend. sharing his danger
and his hopes And when Mitchell sailed away,
chained convict he took the children of the felon
to his heart, and in that wild home of his, amid thu
immemorial hills, he taught them to cherish thu
memory of their father, that they might initiate hi
example. No canting hypocrite this. snoring on
dismal psalmody but true priest of Christ and Lib
erty bigoted fool insisting that every body shoult
go to Heaven He'll by his road and no other but
large, liberal nature. who regards kindliness anC
good will amongst the first and fundamen
tai principle of religion he took those noble boys
who deprived of their brave fathers care, an
! God of Augustin, and their God was the God of Lu
Their.
i ssWhat though ten thousand affairs bear
! From each to Heaven different prayer;
! By light of Moon or light of Sun
At Freedoms let all be ones
| This is his teaching; would that Ireland woult
give ear to it.
| And now he is the last republican in Ireland, TIL
sole representative of John Mitchels band. firm AM
desperately true to the last hating the bgots ant
the slaves--who will not hear Gods truth amid tn
babble of their impious tongues-and sternly con
templating the ruin round him.
Pass along his