The New York herald., 1873-12-04
I r e T. a N d.
The Agitation for
Home Rule.
THE JOURNALIST OF THE MOVEMENT.

I was told that Mr.. A. NJ sullivan. the editor OF
the Nation (newspaperl, gentleman VINO, all MS
life, has been engaged In Irish political contro-
yersy, and who is Justly regarded as one OF the
leaders OF Irish national opinion, could give me In
formation to the present state OF anairs and the
Intentions hopes and prospects OF those pledged
to the accomplishment of home rule, which would
be fuller and more reliable than could be obtained
from any other person. i accordingly called upon
Mr. Sullivan, at the office OF his journal, In Middle
Abbey street. Dublin and was very courteously re-
ceived by him. He is q man apparently OF between
45 and so years OF age. OF spare figure, and with
careworn but very intelligent face. When he
learned the object OF my mission he promised me
all the aid in his power, and the following CONVEX
sation ensued:-
CoRREsPoNDENT-Wi you, Mr.. Sullivan kindly
give me some particulars OF your life Your name
is well known in America, and | am sure that
some details OF your biography would be interest
ing to the HERALD readers.
MIR. SULLIvAN.-With pleasure. believe may
say that / came OF family that is very much
respected in the county OF Cork, though my imme-
diate relatives filed but very humble position.
The regard with which we have always been held
by the peope has, believe, its cause mainly in the
TACT or idea that belong TO one OF the old fami-
lies OF the district-some minor branch OF the Bere
haven O'Sulvan's the Celtic peasantry, and, in
deed in the Celtic districts all classes more less,
attaching exaggerated Importance TO the idea OF
family or stock. My father in education and nhu-
ence was much above the station he filed. He was
decorator, house painter, &C.. and his great am
btion was that ! should become a great
artist; SO l was taught drawing. He was
rulned-I may almost literally say beggared-by
the events OF 1s4s, in which he took
q part. and our family from a respectable
wa In a
set of to Dublin, mere lad, full OF the vague de-
sign of pursuing my studies at the Royal Irish
Academy, supporting myself meantime best |
could. becoming q great painter and lifting my
father out OF his trouble. ! found ready employ
ment an artist in the great Exhibition OF 1858
la making drawings for the illustrated papers, and
then crossed over to London on a similar engage
ment This was my start in life. While working as
an artist made the acquaintance OF several literary
men, and began to contribute to magazines and
weekly journals, among the latter the Nation.
When Mr.. Duffy, in 1856, resolved TO quit Ireland
Tor Australia he offered TO dispose OF his share in
the Nation to me, Mr.. John Cashel Hoey, his part
ner remaining editorin-chlek One OF my
lathers friends supplied the means, and became
one OF the proprietors and editors OF the Nation,
Che entire property passing into my hands on Mr..
Hoey's retirement shortly after. In 1851 visited
America and travelled there for i've months. l
went through the whole 0: the Valley OF Wyoming,
knapsack on back and sketchbook IN hand, col
ected store OF valuable information about the
massacre and made sketches OF every point OF in
terest. published the result q little book, "a
Visit to the Valley OF wyoming" which was
readily bought up and is out of print
IN 1867 tue execution OF Allen, Larkin and O'Brien
In Manchester, for what the English people con-
slider s'the murder OF Sergeant Brett.n involved in
fhp NJ tyynE For u-f,d
element in Ireland, where the death OF poor Brett
was helteved-l might say known-to have been
accidental and the trial OF the men iarce. 1t
ceased to be a Fenian question Men, ike myself
who had incurred the fierce hostility OF the Fenians
IN reprehending their idea of1ghting England,
out vehemently on '.The Judicial Murder at Man
chester.u monster luneral procession, at which
10000 people either looked took part, came
OF IN Dublin, John Martin, NJ. p. and myself march
Ing at its head. For this we were a few days SUBJ
sequenty arrested and indicted, a second indict-
ment being laid against me Tor writings in one OF
my papers. AS it happened the incriminatory
articles were written by my brother, and had never
seen by me until they were read against me
In Court ON the application for my commttal. On
this press charge was brought to trial first, and
convicted. On the funeral procession charge was
brought up the next day but one. This time | de-
Tended myself, the jury disagreed and the prosecu-
ton fell through; but on the conviction against
me on the first trial l was sentenced to six
months Imprisonment in Richmond jail. And
here is droll feature in the case / found
myself prisoner in jail over which ior six years
(three years previously to that time had been
myself a ruler, having been elected a member OF
the Board OF superintendent OF City Prisons.
And helped to administer the affairs oil the prison
while experiencing its rigors For though volun-
tori of he oard i'm lam
the prosecution at hand, the officers knew should
come on again. and in their personal relations to-
wards me treated me a governor still. was
thus spared humiliation, which is the real sting OF
imprisonment; but, apart from this, was treated
as a common thief or burglar, with the exception
that, by special request OF the Board Of Superin-
tendence to the Lord Lieutenant, / was ex-
empted from wearing the prison dress. / was
kept In solitary confinement, in stone
floor CELL II feet by s. with only log
OF wood chained to the floor for my
wife-an American lady whom married In 1851
TO sit on on the one day in the week she was al
lowed to see me. Ny interviews with my mother
were conducted through grated window, with
prison officer either side. In my fourth month
was liberated in compliance with the PRAYER OF
memorial, which was a curiosity, being signed by
conservatives wings, natonalists, Orangemen and
utramontanes. Instantly on my release a commit
tee was formed to present me with q service Of
silver or some such testimonial, but having hor-
ror Of this kind Of thing / declined the proffered
offer, and my friends ceased their exertions not,
however, until they had collected some f4Oo. This
sum handed over as my subscription toward the
erection OF statue to Henry Grattan in College
Green.
IRISH LITERATURE.
CORRESPONDENT understand Mr.. Sullivan.
that YOU have devoted a considerable amount M
e6ertion and capital to the advancement OF popu.
lar literature in Ireland, perhaps more so than any
man now in this country Is that 50 2
Mr.. SULLIVAN think that may be said with
truth. For many years have been engaged in the
writing, compiling, editing, printing and publish.
ing (all under my own hands, In my own establish.
ment) OF a series OF national publications. These
efforts OF mine, humble enough, have been almost
the only ones during the last 10 years to employ