The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-05-26
IRISH GRAVES IN ENGLAND.
BY MICHAEL MAoDONAGH.
WELLINGTON,

WELLINGTON.
I know there are millions of Irishmen
who have no desire to boast Of the Duke
OF Wellington as fellow-countryman.
O'Connell, about SIXTY years ago, gave
expression to the sentiments Of the Irish
people On the subject, and nothing has
occurred since then to alter or soften
those expressions. "It is sad that Vel
lington is an Irishman,'' exclaimed
O'Connell but if a wolf was born in a
saeepfold would it be lamb?" On the
other hand, no one appears to have re-
GREETED that wellington was born 10 Ire
land more than Wellington himself. He
declared once that he was San English
man who had the misfortune to be born
III Ireland" and another Of the count
less anecdotes Of him to be met with al
most everywhere in print relates that,
when questioned about his birthplace,
he replied having il mind, NO doubt,
OtJCLESil IS S.luS5j1o ANY 40 ~
l,crn ia Ireland but, il a lamb vas born
in stable, would 1t be horsc?' How
ever, Wellington WAS born in Ireland,
and "a bis ancestors lived in the country
from the days of Henry the Second, we
may :fsy--though not in the way OF boast
- that Wellington vas an Irishman;
and a. he GRATED no little noise IN the
world and was man Of much import
ance il his day; we may, without any
serious uualms Of conscience, place him
in the list OF eminent Irisemen who are
barred across ST.. Georges Channel, aud
prcperly describe his resting place as
.san Irish Grave in England
7 will touch rather lightly On the life
Of Wellin gton, about whom, indeed,
very mnch ink and brain tissue have
already been used, and what I do write
Shall principally deal with his connection
with ireland and with his doirgs and
sayings in regard to the land that gave
him birth. The family, as [ have said,
came to ireland from England in the
time Of Henry the Second and settled ls
Dangan, near Thin, county Meath,
where the ruins Of their mansion may be
seen &C. clay. The family name was Col
lev. till tile father of the Duke assumed,
on his marriage, the name Of Wesley,
which vas subsequently, altered to We'll
lesley. Arthur Wellesley was born on
the 2oth April: 1889. "a Marrion-square.
Dublin, is mentioned as the scene Of The
event; but Of this there appears 10 be a
lio1bt. as Mr.. S. 9. Hall, III bis s'Retro-
spect OF a long life" says The birthplace
Of the Duke in Dublin is unknown. and
he adds, f<to the shame Of Irish archseo~
Iogists and patriots be that dismal fact
recorded. His elder brother, Richard
Cooley Wellesley, was twice Lord Lieu
tenant, Of ireland. he filled that office
III l7e2-~the Year Of Independence; he
SUPPORTED the Catholic claims, and en-
1etivoured to prevent the annual Orange
celebration round the statute Of King
William in College Green. Arthur, al
an early age, Joined the army, and ow-
ing 10 the political influence of his
brother his promotion was rapid. We
find him from 1874 to 1895 q member Of
tile Irish Legislature, giving modified
support 80 the claims Of the Catholics,
but opposing their admission to Parlia-
.nent. After some years military service
in FLINDERS and India, marked by re--
naarkable success Ill both places, he was
returned to the United Parliament by
an English constituency in 1906. and tile
following year saw him appointed Chief
Secretary for ireland, which office was
held by him till 1908. What his views
on ireland were at this time an extract
from a letter of his to Lord Hawkesburv
wall show.
''I am positively convinced that no
political measure which you could adopt
would alter the temper Of the people Of
yytlis country. They are ilisatfeeted to the
British Government; they do not feel
Che benefits of their situation; attempts
to render it better either do not reach
their minds or they are represented to
5hem as additional injuries; and i'll fact
we have no strength here but our army
Therefore it is incumbent upon us to
adopt every means which can secure the
position and add TO the strength of our
army
1t was Wellesley's belief then that
force was the only remedy for the Irish
difficulty, ana to THAT belief he held
through life with all The logged tenacity
Of hls nature.
When the French took possession of
the Peninsula Wellesley was selected
by Castlereagh, then head of the War
Department, to command the British
troops which were despatched to chal-
ienge tha r,pht of the invaders To fhe