The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-11-22

Ireland, in all ages, has given to the
world some of its greatest poets, orators,
statesmen and philosophers. The Word of
God, AMI the teachings of his divine son,
have penetrated the hearts Of thousands
by the burning eloquence with which they
have been enunciated by her divines. The
Irish Bar is remarkable for its forsenic elo-
quence, wit and humor. Whether in
the Irish OF English Parliament the
Irish members have been and are
noted for their broad and liberal views !;
our schools of science also bear abundant
evidence Of the research, erudition and
wisdom of the Irish student.
A series of expressions, which Ireland
has undergone for centuries, has implant-
ed in the Irish mind an aversion and ha-
tired for tyranny and oppression and
hence wherever we find an Irishmsn, we
find him, with few exceptions, taking the
side of the weak against the strong.
With these few preparatory remarks the
subject of the following sketch is intro
duced to the readers Of the ADVOCATE
Mr.. JOHN SNEY, whose portrait is here
with presented, is the son of Patrick and
Catharine Siney, of the Parish Of Nam
mellick, Queens county, Ireland, and is
tho oldest of seven children, four Of whom
were boys, and three girls. He was born
1880, in the old house which had
been the homestead of the SINEY
family for century and a half, and
in many of the struggles for Irish freedom,
had given aid and shelter to the Irish pa
triots. The old mansion had thus become
an object Of suspicion, and close scrutiny
was kept over it by the aiders and abetors
of Irish oppression. The year 1885 was
sad one for the farmers of Ireland. The
crops failed, and as the farmers had moth
else to rely upon, many of them were un-
able to pay their rents. Among the latter
was farmer Siney, the father of the sub
ject Of our present sketch. In the general
election which ensued, for members of
Parliament, a great deal Of feeling was
manifested on both sides, and a strong ef-
fort was made by the Government party to
carry the day. Mr.. SINEY voted with the
opposition, and by SO doing aroused the
ire Of his landlord. A reconciliation was
impossible. Mr. Siney rejected all dis
honorable advances, rather than bring dis
honor and disgrace upon his little family.
That most cursed of all the Irish laws
or rather of all the laws made for Ireland
BY an English Parliament-the Law of
eiectment-a law which in its operations is
the scourge of all scourges to the Irish
peasant, and one, too, which has driven
many an honest father, aye, and mother,
too, with her sucking babe upon her breast
to die, unpitied, BY the way side, in view
Of the home which had sheltered them
from infancy it is the landlords instru-
ment of persecution, Tyranny and repeRge,
and in this spirit it was brought to
bear upon the Siney homestead.
Mr.. SIEEY was served with an eight
days ejectment notice, at the expi-
ration Of which time he was ruthlessly
driven by an exasperated and vlndictive
landlord, aided by the minions of the law,
| from the home Of hisforefathers, apenniless
man, with wife and children depending
on him for the sustenance of life. 1t took
but a few days for him to make up his
mind. He resolved to make England his
future home Arriving in the little town
of Wiggan, in Lancashire, and meeting
with a few acqusintsnces, they were in
duced to settle there.
The reader ) Of the ADvoCATEmu pardon
the diQression which has been made. 1t
was done that they might understand how
and why the subject Of this sketch should
have commenced his career on English soil.
1t was from this little, but lively, town
that the boy JOHN SINEY first commenced
his march in life. His father had been
two wears a resident Of Wiggan, his family
had been increased, and finding his means
somewhat limited, it was agreed between
the parents to place JOHN, his eldest son,
at work. He had now attained his seventh
year. and readily obtained employment in
Ackerly's Cott IN Mills. Previous to this
time he had been kept pretty close to the
house. as there were but few Irish families
in the town, and his love Of native country
made hi.a an object Of attack by his Eng
lish plavmates. When from under the
portals Of his own home he was seldom out
Of difficulties, but was invariably found on
the defensive. His prowess and determi'
nation, however, soon made him favorite,
and it was not long before he became q
leader among his playmates. Whenever
any difficulty would occur among the boys,
whether in the mill or out of it, JOHNNY
SINEY would always be called upon to aci
AZ referee, and while acting in this capac
ity his decisions were generally acquiesceC
in. He worked at Ackley's about eighteeT
months when he left to accept situation
in Woods mills, at an advance OF thre'
pence or six cents per week. Here h
worked for several weeks, without any
thing very remarkable occurring if W
except few occasional rollings in the cot
ton he received at the hands OF his femal
companions, and Of which to this day b
has q very sensitive remembrance. II wa
not expected that Q child under thirteel
years Of age would be compelled to worl
more than eight hours per day but th