The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-05-07
Rsoolloctions Of ls4s.

Rsoolloctions Of 1s4s.
WILLIAM SMITH o'BRlEN--NoBLE CONDUCT OF
THE IRIsH PEASANTS.
In l94e when the instruction broke ont
In Iipperary, in q very weak and wretched
manner, was living in Clonmel, the CAPT
tai OF that county. I we'll remember the
marching, countermarching and patroling Of
poi'ce and soldiers; the piercing of the
walls of the military barrack SO as to en-
able British troops to fire from inside on
the people outside, if they should attempt
to make demonstration; the fussiness OF
the stipendiary magistrate, one Ryan, nick
prisoniDg of Young men who we're suspect
ed of reasonable designs against the Gov
ernment; and the general inability of the
people TO offer any legal or effective resist
ance to the atrociOus measures which Eng
| land was then putting in force for the ex
| some Irisb," as they were at that time
called by tho London papers, and as it is
to be hoped they will continue to be called
until they have finally and completely
overthrown the foreign power that 'outrages
them daily-untll they are able to set up an
independent government of their own. l
well remember, too, during the heat Of the
agitation, hearing young men, standing on
the tops of lamp-pOsts in the streets of
ClQnmel, addressing crowds of people and
urging them to arm Themselves and fight
the English soldiers. Those young fellows
we're in earnest. One of them, clerk in
bank, was conspicuous by the powerful
language he employed in appealing to his
fellow townsmen to strike for the liberty of
their country. When it was announced
that an armed body would join O'Brien at
Ballingarry, this young man proceeded
there immediately, and saw the miserable
fasco at the "Commons of Farrinrory to
its end. To avoid arrest, after the affair
was over, he escaped to America, Joined
the Herald as translator of French; sub
sequently became editor of o weekly jour
nal, in which he advocated the Northern
side in the war; finally got n commission
In the Federal army, and is now in service
with his regiment somewhere in Texas or
Kansas.
Shortly after the Ballingary busiress,
O'Brlen was arrested in Thurlee. He had
been up somewhere in the Keeper Noun
tains, among those scenes where, hundreds
and hundreds of years before, representa-.
tives of his famiy-of his noble and kingly
amiiy-had reigned as princes and rulers. |
HE boldly walked into the town for the
purpose of proceeding by rail to Limerick, |
and visiting his home at Cahermoyle, if he |
could escape the vigilance of the police and |
the spies. A poor Irish woman, who made
her living by selling apples, recognized |
O'Brien. Though she knew she would OBJ !
tain f5OO as reward for his arrest if she !
gave the slightest intimation to the police, !
yet this noble hearted creature, destitute
10 she was, held her peace, and watched |
o'Brien's progress through the streets in |
sadness and silence. If knew her name
would publish 1t for it seems to me that
She is nearly as much an historical charac-
Ter as the faithful servant of Robert EN-
net, Anne Devlin, who, though tortured |
md brutally outraged by a rutfian soldiery,
and tempted with q reward of $500 to- be-
ray hsr MASTER, scornfully refused to
Jake the price of the patriots blood.
O'Brien walked on and on until he came
% the railway station. As he was about to
JAKE the train, he was arrested by an Eng
ishman named Hulme, a railway guard,
who was acquainted with Mr.. O'Brien's
personal appearance. This wretched man
claimed and got his blood money-the re-
ward of $4,000 for making the arrest. I
believe Hulne went back to England, set
Up public house, and soon drank himself
% the devil-so true is it that money badly
earned melts as soon as it is touched
The arrests Of Meagher, O'Donohoe and
hcManus soon followed that of O'Brien.
They were all brought to Clonmel for
rial. 1 was there-at the time. 1t was in
he fall of the year. The town was full of
soldiers, policemen, spies, magistrates (of
he real Cromwelfian stamp), grand jurors,
md lots of government officials awaiting
he opening of the Especial commission =
IL Ii
it will be remembered, was
composed of the Lord Chief Justice Black
,urne, man with blue nose and pudgy
ace Judge Doherty, commonly known as
Long Jack" and Mr.. Justice Moore, bro
her of Tipperary Cromwellian magis-
rate-all fit instruments for the execution
# British law on "traitorsn
was In court the day upon which the
Attorney General Monahan, Catholic
lave of the Wing Government, opened the
'ase against o'Brien. His speech was a
yretched affair. O'Brien stood in the dock,
With his cloak folded around him. He wore
hat air of dignity and reserve which was
peculiar to him. He looked fearless and
tern. In the Justice of things, this true
'earted gentleman ought to have been in a
position where he could have helped to
'unish the men who were about to try him
or "treason" as burglars and robbers.
After the Attorney General had concluded
ls opening statement for the prosecution,
lr. OBrien's counsel moved that all the
witnesses for the Government should leave
curt.