New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-11-13
{ ALEXANDER SULLIVAN.
"a Succinct Review Of the Noted
CIansman's Life.

+ y IL q + !
Alexander Sullivan's career is
studded with startling incident.
small merchant, he was acc used and
acquitted of arson. "A politician. he
has figured in every camp, holding
some offices, seeking others. and as
Stunning to act as a local Warwick, now
an one party, now in another. Reduced
70 fiscal straits he scheduled as a bank
rupt, and then relieved by the cas- Y
process once in vogue of legal obliga-
zion TO discharge enumerated debts he
surprised his creditors by payment in
full with high rate of interest. In
the territories as. in Chicago he had
received and returned bodily menace.
He has exchanged shots. Thirteen
years ago in Chicago he killed a school
teacher Twice tried he was finally
acquitted of murder. Perseverance
and audacity marked his subsequent
career, ana his address can not be
better Illustrated than by the state
ment that in the Office of that journal
which denounced him with uns PAIRING
Wigor and bitterness and extended its
:animadver to every one connected
nearly or remotely with his defense
'I1e became a valued counselor. Even
Decking at it as a justifable killing
Hanford's murder would have daunted
she perpetrator had he a weaker
mature than Sullivan. He faced popu-
lar indignation with grim but quiet
resolve and had the satisfaction of
sinding himself courted where he had
been condemned and sought where he
had been repealed. Had Blaine sue
~eeedea in 1884 Sullivan success would
haave been complete.
Having method, industry, thorough
ness, and persistence Sullivan, once
embarked on the career Of an Irish
nationalist readily reached the first
peace. To gain leadership was not a
difficult task to the possessor of ambi-
ton guided by an intelligence unsway-
ed by the emotions. Opposition gave
way before man who wasted no time
In thrasonical bar-room discussions,
but studying men and situations, work.
ed while others slept. In the open he
supported Parnell and constitutional
agitation. Under the cover of a secret
society he was one of a triangle
preaching and practicing physical
force. Never wholly without enemies,
saccusers, and detractors he attained,
nevertheless, higher dictinction and
broader influence than any assumed
4eader of the Irish in America ever
commanded. Irishmen who would not
join a secret society and abh0rred the
use of dynamite applauded him as one
Wha implicitly accepted the leadership
OF Parnell, while the clansmen rejoiced
I In the knowledge that at the head of
the Irish league was dynamiter who
had taken the oath of the brotherhood
sand as one of it's directing minds was
projecting mysterious expeditions
against England. Sooner or later frac-
aionai differences characterized all
Irish organization. Large sums of
money raised by the secret societies
Were SO mysteriously disbursed as to
excite comment which led to accuse
GEon- Sullivan's influence commenced
to decline. The league had followed
him in American politics and
met disaster, but even if he were AL
.sexander the successful and the just
ist.the Irish would have wearied of him
ms the Athenians wearied of Aristides
Some incidents in Sullivan's life, his
known speculations on the stock ex-
Z. change and in the wheat pit, his Law
4 ish use of money in many directions,
gave color to the whisperings against
mis- fiscal honor. Chief among those
>.who challenged his integrity was DR..
Patrick 81. Cronin. Sullivan is Bit
tsfer and implacable foe. His animosi.
tSy was aroused. He appeared person
ally to prosecute Cronin as a clans.
man and procured his expulsion from
Che society. But resolute and persis-
atent as himself, Cronin, organizi ng
fractional camps, continued his charges
against the triangle" Of which Sulli-
van had been the controlling force.
A union of the divergent camps was
effected and Cronin was once again a
elansman. Prosecuted by Sullivan
she time came when, despite the Bit
ser protest of the accused, Cronln sat
sas juror on the trial of Sullivan.
Though in the minority he held to the
,truthfulness of his charges and was
sperhaps stimulated by the disclosures
s srnade because of the failure of the
Traders bank. The august meeting
of the brotherhood was to be per.
tturbed anew by the scandal, for Gro.
snin resisted all pressure to cease and
stood ready to renew the combat
which he feared would cost him his
life.