The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-05-07
NO.. 19
A TRUE FRESHMAN.
Every Irish Heart Loves the
Patriot, William O'Brren.
New York Sun


New York Sun.
The man who has the heartfelt
admiration and love of every man.
woman and child in Ireland TODAY
IS William O'Brien. His bust in
plaster Is iii every cabin, and his
picture ornaments every wall. He
has spent two out of the past three
years in prison for making what are
called incendiary speeches, and his
confinement has made serious in
roads on his once vigorous health.
U Brien is ubiquitous. During the
season when Parliament is not in
session he is apt to appear almost
Unexpectedly in any part of Ireland,
Notwithstanding the surveillance of
the police. Especially is he liable
to appear in those districts where
eyictions are in progress or are
about to take place.
On these occasions he is IN the
habit of making speeches. These
addresses never take place in a pub
ilc hall, but are always made in a
locality unknown to the police. The
way in which he gets his audiences
on these occasions is unique. The
fact that he wishes to make an adj
dress is made known to some of the
prominent men in the National
League, and by secret means the
peasantry are notified of the place of
meeting. Barefooted messengers
often run fifty miles in the course
OF day carrying news Often the
courier is seated on a horse which
Jumps the hedges and bitches. where
it | i is impossible for a jaunting car to
follow with the police. The meet
lngs usually take place in the even
ing or on Sunday afternoon in a
field on the outskirts of a village.
1t Is not unusual for 10000 men to
gather at that place of meeting.
They come in little knots OF two
or three by unfrequented paths and
resorting to all kinds of subterfuges
to avoid the police, for these guard
ians of the peace are about to re-
press these demonstrations. When
the speech is made at night there is
a rough platform just large enough
to contain the speaker and Ii. by a
single homely torch. The audience
gathers around in a dense mass.
packed together like clothes-pines
in box. O'Brien climbs on the
platform, and is saluted by a SUBJ
dued roar of applause, which is
quickly hushed when the speaker
waves his hand and enioins silence
upon his listeners. O'Brien wears
a Prince Albert coat buttoned up to
his chin. He is seen to be Of slim
figure, about ) feet : inches in
height, and not at all an inn
posing figure. His face is pale with
emotion, and the light of patriotism
glows IN his eyes. He stretches out
his slim white hand, and every ear
in the audience is intent to catch his
words as he begins in the poetical
style so dear to The irish heart:
"FellUw citizens, Irish patriotism
: high as the round towers, deep as
The holy wells"
He does not get any further than
this for many minutes, fortFie pent-
up enthusiasm of the people cannot
be restrained, and a mighty roar of
assent to the lofty sentiment goes
up. When silence is restored he
resumes, and such torrent of elo-
Iuence pours from his lips that the
vast crowd forget their oppression
for the time being and become al
most delirious with joy. The very
lire OF his utterance weakens the
speaker, and in the middle of his
speech he is forced to sit down.
covered with fowery metaphor.
when some one on the outskirts of
The crowd exclaims:
"The boobies are coming!'
Two minutes later the field is de-
serted. Many Of the audience have
been caught, and some have been
aiken to prison, there to serve out
sentences of from three to six
When these meetings take place
n the day time a football is always
aiken along, 50 that when the police
Ippear the ball can be thrown into
he air and everybody makes believe
'lay the game.