Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-01
When Does an IrIsbmnn Begin to he
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Chicago Tribune: 1.-THE Dublin papers
bring US the proceedings of judicial inquiry
by the visitors of Trinity college, the master
of the rolls and Judge Langford being pres
ent. 1t appears that Mr.. James S. Johnston,
who was at one time member of the bank
ing firm of Swift, Johnston & Co., of this
city, left Ireland and took up his residence IN
Chicago about the year 1854; that while liv-
ing In this city son, Swift Paine Johnston,
was born in 1857; that IN 1860 the father was
naturalIzed, and became a citizen of the
United States; that in 1872 the father and
sided there ever since. The boy was entered
at Trinity college, the students of which are
required to be Irish subjects of the British
crown. In June, 1873, at the annual distri-
button of honors, seven students were elected
to scholarships for science. These scholar
ships, besides being evidences of distinction,
carry with them an Office of income
or profit. At the head of the class was the
young gentleman born in Chicago. The
election was contested by the student highest
in merit among the non-elect, on the ground
that young Johnston was born in Chicago;
that his father was a naturalized American
citizen; that both were subjects and citizens
of the United States under the laws of the
United States, which laws were recognized
by Great Britain. The case was ably argued,
and after some days consideration it was de-
cided that the son Of British subject was a
of his birth; that the father by becoming a
naturalized citizen of the United States did
not denatlonalize the son; and, therefore,
the boy, born on Wabash avenue, in the CITY
Of Chicago, was, and had always been, an
Irish boy, and eligible to all the honors and
privileges of Trinity college. Under this de-
cision Irish citizenship in the Johnston
family stands thus: The father, though
born in Ireland and living there. is
an American citizen, while the SON horn
In Chicago; of parents who are American
citizens, is an Irishman and a subject of
Great Britain. During his lifetime and long
residence in Chicago there was no citizen
better known than the genial universally
popular IrishmRn, Daniel O'Hara. His fame
as an Irishman extendedIall over theland. No
son of Erin ever reached this city that stood
IN need of a friend to advise, to direct or
materially aid, ever failed to find all he
wanted at the hand of O'Hara. While he
had dollar it was at the service of any per-
son in want of it, and his heart and his
pocket were open to every one of his coun-
trymen. Ia 1873 Mr.. O'Hara went to
Europe, and then, for the first time in his
lite, did he see Ireland. He was born in
Scotland, and had never placed foot in Ire
land until that time. Now here are three
cases-the Walsh, the Johnston and the
O'Hara cases-and, taken sinely or together,
they present the question: When does an
freshman begin to be Irish,
and when does an Irishman cease to
be Irish7 in the Walsh case, he became an
Irishmau when he left London and took up
his residence In Chicago, and ceased to be
Irish and became an Engllshman when
he applied to be justice of the peace. The
elder Johnston was an IrIshman in Ireland,
ceased to be one when he came to Chicago,
and went back to Ireland an American. The