The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-06
ISAAC BUTTS LIFE ENDED.
THE DEATH IN DUBLIN or TINE IRISH
HOME RULE PdRTY'S LEADER.

Changed HI. Opinions - Personal Traits -
An Intellectual Duel with OConnen.
Tho telegraph brings word OF the death i'm
Dublin Yesterday OF Dr. Isaac Butt. tho leader
Of the Homo Rule party. Ho was born in
etranolar among tho mountains Of Donegal
a county Of most wild and melancholy beauty.
IN 1919. His father was It's incumbent. hard
working country clergyman In that land Of
moor passing rich on forty pounds n year"
The son was in due time indoctrinatcd in tho
rudiments OF the classics and the usual CYCLIC
prdia Of school literature at the Royal College
Of Raphoc and his entrance at Trinity College.
Of which he was so distinguished an ornament
took place in November. 1928 The tutor under
whom he entered was the Rev. Charles Boyton
n fellow OF tho college. OF splendid presence
bold and vigorous cloqucnce and uniiinchinR
mo surrender Professionalism the recognized
champion Of Irish Orangeism. and at his the
Young Butt took his earliest lessons In politics
as well rs ia literature. His college career was
highly distinguished. and tho clearncss and
dclicacy Of his powers were manifested in a
host Of academic honors. He enjoyed uni
yersity reputation which must have been
gratifying as prognostic Of his future fame.
tits perhaps TO be lamented that so many men
OF rare Sttainments are seduced into public life
by the tempting bats OF political ambition.
There are few attractions however which to
tho mind Of an ardent young man at the British
and Irish universities can compete with the
eclat and brillancy Of successful debut in
Parliament The power. the distinction. the
consideration he enjoys when his talents are
such as To qualify nm 70 take lead n debate.
moro solid cmincnce he might attain by quieter
lahors. There were few men of his limo OF
whom IL might bc more truly said that they
seemed equally qualified Tor succeeding in such
awriety o. dihsreni and even opposite pursuits,
have made a lrst-ratc historian, as his history
Of Italy. from tho abdication OF Napoleon at
Tontainehleau. published IN 1860. shows II no
sought Tame Us an essayist or novelist he could
have won %. rs his many able and political
ESSAYS and his productions OF the Imagination,
ters 81 college romance. which afterward
found separate publication, contrib
uted to the Dublin University Md0d-
snt Of which he was editor for some
Of ia brightest years. sufficiently testify. Had
h. chosen 10 M professors chair whether OF
mathematics or moral philosophy. there wcro
few. ~ his afternoon lectures in tho Berkeley"
series. who could hnvo illustrated the several
SUBJECTS that came under his review with more
coarncss. more elegance and perspicacity. The
peculiar prCmptituis Of his nj md and his I'M
falling read OF faculty. his two most re-
markable characteristics. both rs n writer and
speaker. all through life seemed TO make cor
tan the attainment u fellowship. had he de-
sired one. IN the examination for which those
qualities ar" especially required and at one time
uaie cours he contemplated dcvoting himself to
this object II would have been far happier for
him had IL been So. But fellowship In Trinity
College. unlike those OF Oxford and Cambridge.
imposes restrictions which connne its pos
sessor 10 strict collegiate duties, at that time
fortad marriage. and cflrctually barred an en-
trance IN any more ambitious career.
In ls3G he entered rs u candidate for Arch.
bishop Wh9teley's proiessorship Of political
economy. which. after close and interesting
examination. he obtained and filed with ac-
knowl edged distinction. Mr.. Butt aimed at 20.
H. BAR as pnh I To it, ReS P rot OF r o.
land gathered iheir authorizations round the
opening stages ~ a career which men even
then felt to brighten with Indications Of =
higher destiny 70 come. Shadows Of uncer-
some, after. seeing the change which came a
short lime before 10 their once cherished cham
piOn Sir Robert Peel and OConnell is known.
after his discussion with BUT. to have said with
prophetic vision. Butt will die a Repeater"
II was at an rnrly period IN the history Of his
Influence Of Bnyton. that those views were
formed Itch governed his political career for
when he first icit Parliament Before h. lad
boon long q resident m the university, and 49,
soon MS in that little world OF young amt ardent
minds he could measure himself with his bel
lows. he became tho vehement champion Of
ultra Ornngeism aud an eloquent defender of
tho most Infamous misgovrrnm"nt that over
chained down and degraded nation. At the
Trinity College debating society. of whose wise
saints he WIS the light and star. ne was con,
spiruous for calling out the kentish fire and
exhibited many Of the qualities which lately
N Ireland. lie almost WIN a pound D',Ah'
the leader in the successive associations
formed IN defence OF WDNt WIS termed per
He'd Professionalism" but what might have
rs ready and r2Pid e,oegtion; his easy rs
Racty. made him the leading spirit Of these
bodies. and II be could not repeat OF Irish
Orangeism Grqttans saying 81 irish indep"nd,
ence. that he had rocked lis cradle" he could
Bay with him that 90 he had followed It's hearse.
and was one Of the loudest walters at its grave
He defended 10 the last all the citadels Of in.
fanny and corruption. appealing IN speech OF
m Ilublin the llfl q EehrnnrV $50 totla
Duke OF Wellington, in his glorious and hon
ored old age. to stand forward 70 protect til,
his Victories" he said. shall grow dim BY
time, and the glorles Of the warrior be- coldl)
remembered. afetonate generations OF lrisi
freemen will bless his memory and revere his
name as the man who had saved them IRON
the old corrupt Dublin Corporation Of ireland
was OF such commanding power as To induce
thar body to place Mr.; Butt in situation alto
gether unprecedented for one so young in th'
profession Of their advocate at the bar OF tn,
House Of Lords. This trust ne executed viii
OF Lords. OIL May Is. 1910. will long be remem
bered. He WAS most enthusiastically checrct
at its close great number OF peers crowd
ing To the bar 10 congratulate him, the Duke o
Wellington compimenting him with unusua
His next xploit was an Intellectual duel will
O'Connell. whom he challenged 10 discuss viii
him before the corporation tho question OF re
peal. II was most memorable single bat
combat between an elephant and tiger. Tn
one possessed a strength which could annlhiat
his assallant Y he could only once get him int,
his power. The other an eager agility whicl
enabled him 70 evsde the might Of his giganti
adversary and 10 seize on him in such way III
t. render all his energy unayaing; Butt ha'
the advantage Of youth and health, and wa
surrounded by band OF ardent and merry youn.
followers. OConne relied on his intellectual
resources and the strength Of his cause. Hi
speech which occupied seven hours. bcinI
chiefly made ~ Of statistics. WAS heavy an,
embarrassing 10 tho listener. Butts. whicl
occupied six hours, was full Of spirit and AM
nation and dashcs Of ire. and was consequent
lar more elective To audience. Nntllnl