Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-29

patriot. Heb stood within the shadow
of the gallOws. When about to be sem
fenced 10 he banged, drawn and quart
cred for nigh treason, he made speech
second only in eloquence to that WDen
burst from the lips OF Robert Emmett while
awaiting his doom. Last winter he deneu
the English government by appearing In
Montreal at an Irish celebration and max
ing patriotic address. The handDills
announcing mis- intent bore IN mourning
borders copies OF his speech when ar
ragned for sentence. This man is Gen.
Thomas Francis Bourke. A more modest
and whole-sOued fellow never breathed.
He has endeared himself to Americans
even more than 10 his native countrymen.
Everybody admires and everybody likes
him. Barring Engishmen, 1t is safe to
say that he hasn't an enemy in the world.
Nominated tor country Office By any po-
lltIcal 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 the regular Republican nominee. For
the past eight years he has trained with
the County Democracy. He has been the
life OF many city delegation TO State con-
ventiOns. | remember OF seeing him once
heading a brigade of men arrayed in night
shirts. They marched through the corri-
doris Of Syracuse hotel TWO hours after
midnight beating tin pans and footing
horns. They tramped around the Tam
many cohorts like JOshua's army march
ing around the walls OF Jericho, and with
very nearly as much success. Well, this
same brave and genial Tom Bourke, in
this great city OF New YORK, where an
lrishinan in a fat Office is a rule and not
an exception, is earning bare living as
clerk in the Department OF Public Works.
Last week | spent an hour with a third
Irish patriot-tiorid-faced, light-haired
and hearted, as upright as an iron pillar,
and as genial as May morn in Mallow.
He was John Bresiin, the man who res
cued the Fenian prisoners from Van Die
mans land. To look at his face you would
hardly think that ne had not only the pa
triotism OF a Nathan Hale, but the grim
determination of a Baron Trenck. OF all
the Irish eXiles in New York Breslin Is
the most natty in dress and suave in man.
ner. In urbanity he eXcels the renowned
Maj. L. n. Hayerty and in attire he
throws the noted Bryan G.. McSwyny in
the shade. But Breslin, like nearly every
other Irish patriot who mas braved an ig-
nOminious death, is stranded on the bench
OF poverty. He holds a small place in the
street Cleaning Department. Yet, like
Bourke and Dewey, he would undoubtedly
throw away his last chance of living to
OF Ireland, If it were winged with a prob
ability OF success.
Yesterday spoke with the most rabid
OF all Irish patriots, O'Oonovan Rosa.
lie was moving over the City Hall Park,
wearing linen coat and a dun felt hat.
His face mad the rudy glow of health,
and his yellow goatee was nearly as
pointed as the Venetian beard of Roscoe
Conkling. Rosa looked rusty, but his
brain was as full of fire as ever, and his
tongue reeked with hatred of England.
he is as milo hammered, however, as a
Quaker. He has an eye as fun and as
serene as the eye Of an OK. When rising
in convention be is deliberate and I'M
pretentlous. Give him fair showing,
however, and lightning will fash from his
lips. Surcharged clouds will empty them
selves, and the roar of thunder will roll
over the sky. With all his bitterness
Rosa has an honest hatred of England.
No lrlshman has ever suffered greater in
dignities at her hands. Aside from his
personal feeling, however, he is the in
carnation OF patriotism. He hates an
EnRlishman more than d true Mohamme-
dan hates Gionar; more than the devil
hates holy water. de would lose not on ~
his life but has soul, .if necessary, to free
Ireland. No man has more devoted
friends. No man is governed more strict
ly by integrity. Every cent OF money
sent him in aid of his efforts against
England has undoubtedly been honestly
spent. To-day he is as poor as a crow,
aud living from hand to mouth, but ne re-
mains upon his LITTLE editorial tripod, I'M
daunted and hhed with hope, forging
thunderbOlts for The by5and-by, when the
days OF diplomacy are passed and the
hour for action is at hand.
M. AMOS I (,rrNrn,rNcs