The Irish standard., 1886-09-04
OlD-TIME IRISH PATRIOTS.

John Devoy's Undying Devotion to the
Land That Gave Him
Birth.
GEN, THOMAS FRANCIS BOURKE.
John Breslin, the Man Who Rescued the
Fenian Prisoners from Van
Diernan's Land.
The echoes Of the Land League con-
vention are rolling over the country.
The names of Irish patriots are en-
blazoned on it's records. Most Of them
are new men. Let me recall some Of
the old ones who are still living. The
new ones all seem to be rich ia this
worlds goods. The Old ones are the
reverse. On entering the rooms Of the
press club not long ago I saw plainly
dressed gentleman seated at a table
writing. He had black hair and NOUS
tache and close cropped black beard
streaked with gray. Ills eyes were hazel
in color, and his nose was neither Ro-
man nor Grecian. It was genuine Celt~
ic nose. His hands were strong snd
knotty, and he wrote with great rapid
ity. His physique was slight, but sin
ewy. He returned all salutations Ill a
low tone of voice, and he looked like q
man who thought much more than he
talked. The man was the Irish patriot.
John Dewey. He is the only Irishman
who has suffered Imprisonment in both
England and America for his devotion
to the cause Of his country. [ am sure
that he is to-day not worth penny.
He barely feeds and clothes his family
by writing for the daily newspapers.
DUvoy is an esteemed member OF the
press club. He is as silelb in words
and manner as a pool in the heart OF
the forest. No man has ever impugned
either his honesty or his patriotism.
All personal aspirations have apparent
ly been drowned in the depth Of his
love for his country. It is only when
the wrongs Of Ireland are discussed that
his eyes brighten and he eyinces a dis
position to talk. Even then he says
little unless tloss who are talking ex-
hibit an unwonted knowledge of Irish
affairs. On surface reasoners he
wastes no time. An active agent in
nearly every attempt to free Ireland
from the British yoke for the last quar-
ter of q century, no man more thor
oughly understands her needs and
wants. In view OF the desperate
chances that he has taken in her behalf,
it is certainly significant that he recog-
nizes the necessity of boxing England
to-day with the well-padaed gloves Of
Gladstone and Parnell instead Of with
hardened fists. Devoy is a man who
grows on you by association. He rarely
opens his heart even when in CONVERSE
ton with friends, but if he does do so
YOU always see in it's depth the glitter
Of pure gold.
A month ago [ met a n1assive-faced
and massive-b bodied Irishman Oh Broad
way. A. flowing black beard nearly
covered his brawny chest, and NOUS
taches of great length tluttered over his
cheeks. His eyes were gray, and sug-
gestive OF mirthful disposition. He
carried strong blackthorn, and ]imped
as though suffering from rheumatism.
This was another Irish patriot. He has
stood within the shadow of the galloWs.
When about to he sentenced to be
hanged. drawn and quartered for high
treason, he made speech second only
in eloquence to that which burst from
the lips of Robert Emmet while await
ing his doom. Last winter be defled
the English government bY appearing
in Montreal at an Irish celebration and
making patriotic address. The hand
bills announcing his intent bore in
mourning borders copies Of his speech
when arraigned for sentence. This
man is General Thomas Francis
Bourke. a more modest and whole
souled fellow never breathed. He has
endeared himself to Americans even
more than to his native country,nen.
Everybody ad0ires and everybody likes
him.
Barring Englishmen, it is safe to say
that he HASN'T an enemy in the world.
Nominated for country Office by any
political party, he would assuredly
sweep the deck. Indeed, he once came
very near being elected to congress in
the strongest Democratic district in the
United States as a regular Republican
nominee. For the past eight years he
has trained with the County Demo
cracy.. He has been the life of many a
city delegation to state conventions. I
remember seeing him once heading a
brigade Of men arrayed in night shirts.
They marched through the corridors Of
a Syracuse hotel two hours after mid
night beating tin pans and footing
horns. They tramped around the
Tammany cohorts like Joshua's army
marching around the walls Of Jericho,