The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-11-23

About twenty years ago the British
Government discovered that bright,
intelligent Irish lad who had joined
the Eighth Hussars was endeavoring 70
make certain members Of that regi-
ment disloyal to the Queen. Indeed,
he had succeeded 80 far as to induce
several of the Hussars to throw off
their allegiance to the crown and swear
fealty to the cause Of Ireland, with the
explicit understanding that they
would fight for Irish Independence 40
soon as the time was ripe to strike the
blow. The youth who had undertaken
the dangerous mission OF making revo.
lutionists of the Queens soldiers had
been student of history and gloried
in the career of George Washington
and the other American patriots who
shook off the British yoke, and he felt
that the only hope Of bringing pros
perity back TO Ireland lay in making
that unhappy country free.
The English authorities did not ap-
preciate his efforts, however, because
they were not employed in the inter
ests of "the mother country" and he
was tried for treason and sentenced to
death. His extreme youth, his talents,
and his noble qualities all pleaded
against bis execution, and so, after q
long time, the death sentence was
commuted to banishment for twenty
years in the wilds of Australia. In
those days such sentence was regard
ed as worse than death, and when the
young soldier went away there were
heavy hearts among his friends and
admirers in England and Ireland, for
they thought they would never see
him again. Even at that time his
writings had won recognition and
made him popular, and when be went
away it seemed to the readers of his
poems as if they had lost a dear per-
sonal friend. The British aristocrats,
Lionel Sackville West among the num-
ber, viewed the matter in different
light, and felt that another of Eng
lands enemies had been disposed of
forever. But the young exile, after
weird experience among the Australian
wilds, where freedom whispered hope
even to the oanished, made bis escape
at the risk of his life iu an open boat,
was picked up by an American whaler,
and brought safely to the shores OF
America. Here his talents won spec
dy recognition among the brightest,
and the young man who was sentenc-
ed to death by England for his love of
country was hailed in cultured Boston
as poet, patriot, and author.
A few days ago the British Minister
at Washington, Lord Sackville under
took to advise naturalised citizen as
to how he should vote in an American
election to promote the welfare of the
"Mother country" and the young man
who had been condemned to death by
that same "mother country over
twenty years ago called on the Presi-
dent of the United States and urged
the dismissal of England's diplomatic
representative for his interference in
American affairs. The President list
ened and became convinced, and Great
Britain's lordly Minister was bounced.
Our readers would doubtless like to
know the name of the young man
who was condemned to death by Eng
land "twenty golden years ago." and
who now wears Lord Sackyille's scalp
in his belt. Well, his name is John
Boyle O'Reilly, and he lives In Boston
town, within stones throw of the
Bunker Hill monument.-Scrantos'
Truth.