The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-03-17

as accurate o. their reports 20 me.
The above Il. gross libel on the fame
and patriotism o General Shields. Why
did Capt Tobin wait until the death OF
General Shields and the death Of many
ofS the leaders Of the rebellion Of 1848,
when those patriots could defend them
selves. "A living hare can insult a dead
lion!''
For several years I was the confi1en-
tial friend of General James Shields. 1
frequently asked his opinion Of the Irish
rebellion of 1848. He told me that be
had not taken an active part in that
movement. He said that il Le had 40, :
900 veterans, equal in discipline TO the
army which he commanded in Mexico,
with Athlone and Limerick in his pos
session, he could free Ireland! He
made no allusion to the alleged two
agents mentioned by Capt. Tobln or his
private interview with the British Minis
ter at Washington, for the very good rea-
son that no such after dinner converse
ton took place. General Shields knew
well that his agents sent over FROM New
York to Ireland would be followed by
English detectives, VINO were then III
New York Watching the irish movement;
that the Irish in Ireland had their arms
concealed from the police; that the or
ganizations in Ireland should be Kept &C.
cret until military camps were formed
with strong army in the field.
1t is not true that General Shields was
intimate with the British Minister before
he went to Mexico as he lived for several
years in Illinois before the Mexican war.
1t is not true that the British Minister
called General Shields "Jlm", as General
Shields was prominent man before the
Mexican war, having held the office OF
land commissioner under President Jack
son, and he was member OF the legisla
ture of Illinois, state auditor and Judge
of the supreme court. He was no
ordinary man. ....
Pray, Capt. Tobin, by whose authority
could the British Minister have pulled
the uniform off General Shields back?
Was it by the authority Ut the Queen Of
England or the President of tue United
States? You certainly ought t. know
that neither the Queen of England, the
President of the United States, nor the
Secretary of War could pull the uniform
from General Shields back without q
sentence of court martial.
1t is absurd to think for moment tina,
General Shields, who was asplri ag to the
office of United States Senator, would b.
holding private interviews with the Brit
ish Minister, when his countrymen were
organizing an Irish rebellion. Not hkel,
that democratic administration, on tn.
eve of presidential election, would ,wher
the British Minister raised his finger
oourt-martial General Shields for send
ing two men to Ireland to ascertain thu
military preparations Oh the eve Of re-
bellion. The sending of the two agents
was no violation of the rules and articles
of war, of the constitution and laws of thu
United States, of international law or ou1
obligations under treaties with Grea'
Britain.
lived in New York in 1848, and Cor
| tainly know considerable about the pre-
partitions for the rebellion of l848.
know that General james Shields was ar
honorable man and would not hold pri
vate interviews with the British Minis
ter. I pronounce the whole charge us {
fabrication on hear.say evidence or gene
raj rumor of some story teller. .
P. CuDMoRE, 3. H.