The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-05-03
ATYPE OF THE TRUE AMERICAN.

t1FE Of ! ne NUE. AMENINAN'
The Panama Star and Herald informs
us that the Peruvian Government has
authorized Mr. Meiggs to form compa-
ny-capital, two millions and half
sterling, and guarantees to it yearly
interest of seven per cent. The purpose
is to finish up a railroad and drain and
utilize the inundated and abandoned sill
yer mines of Cerro de Pasco. This he
willldo by tunnel forty feet beneath
them, and where geological law indicates
a great yield of silver. And this man
to day is in his 18th year!
Now, Mr.. Meiggs is, in one respect,
the most extraordinary man of the age. or
indeed of any age after the building of
the great Chinese wall. South America
was an untrodden desert-untrodden at
least by the iron horse, till Mr.. Meiggs
laid his hand upon it, What ne accom-
plished, what forests he pierced. what
mountains he cut down. what swamps
he filled up-to describe them would
take up the whole of the Irish World
Besides, every man who keeps up with
the grand advance knows already about
| them.
But there IS an earlier history of Mr.
Meiggs. less seen though not less
honorable; history. In 1910 Henry
Meig-s was President OF the Trustees Of
Village fWiliamsburgh, Kings country
n. Y. What are now crowded thor
oughfarcs were then picturesque hills
and glens and cornields and orchards.
Few people lived in it, and those few
were mostly poor. There were some
rich and ars' ocratic enough. however,
10 take exception to poor mems pigs, and
and even goats wanGerering along the
were-lo-be sidewalks. Ordinances were
promulgated, pounds built, poundmas-
tiers elected, and the vagrant animals
shut up. Petition came tor release, and
Mr. Meiggs volunteered as their counsel.
Il don't like myself to meet them. The
would say, ''but then think they are Of
) more use to the poor owners than they
| are of Inconvenience to me. That's my
motion, what gentleman will second it,
1t never wanted n second, and never
failed to pass, to the great consolation
: both of the pigs and the goats and the
, owners. The goats, indeed. paid fol
this goodwill by eating up and extermin
| atiny, the forest of stramonium poison
l weed that overshadowed the fields. anC
l one leaf of which would poison you or me
However, the goats got dominion over it
i. But Henry Meiggs did more than that
| He helped every thipg and every mar
: who was in need OF help to more thar
, the extent of his ability. And he dit
I, more than even that. In 4S, when ib
i. great agitation in Ireland and here 70
| 1 -
$ foremost man in that sympathizing move
:. ment. He favored rifle organization
$ here to meet weekly for military drill
g and target practice. He maintaine
o that it was by an armed descent from thi
b country that Ireland ought to be rescue'
I from her slavery, and he inspired an
d got printed at his personal cost a pam
phlet to enforce his views-2,OO copie
II of it. 1t was entitled Revolt in tn
e British Islands-How to Aid It, On
l. copy OF it still exists, and the though
e then put forth by Mr.. Meiggs is or ougt
); to be the thought of the present daJ-lh
ir thought that ought to precede the aci
n and that we trust will precede it.
n We claim MIR. Meiggs, therefore, a
'e one OF us-claim him by tie eve
rs stronger than the tie ofbirth. We clair
n him by the tie of brotherhood. Blade
ct can now lift up their fronts in New Yor
le and all round and affect airs of pride an
\ almost of insult to the very men to whor
ID they owe all they possess Of real o
4. imaginary position. Let them-let th
s. whole batch of them-go into one scale
a. We will put Henry Meiggs quietly int
De the other, and he will outweigh them al
h It was true greatness of soul that SCI
N him to our side. To the side of IRELAND
A. Him and America growing up out
4. settled centuries. That greatness hs
&. since commanded the world to look o
Of and wonder. Tha little men, too, hay
kept in their sphere A diminutiy
ID audience looks at their little selfish NOV,
IS ments. and even that limited audiene
r looks at them with contempt, in tryin