The Irish standard., 1894-02-17
THE GERALDINES.
The Life of a Martyred Hero
Sketched by an Irish Mem
ber of Parliament.
LORD EDWARD FITZGERALD
An Interesting and Patriotic Lee
ture Delivered Before the
Cork National Society.

cure D0QV0r9Q BEFORE the
Cork National Society.
! M. Bodkin, Member of Parliament FOL
North Roscommon, and editor OF" United
ireland" at the time that paper was
grabbed" by the Parnelites, lectured
before the Cork National Society on Jan
26, on the life of Lord Edward Fitzger.
aid. The chair was occupied by E.
Cream, M. p, and the assembly room
was thronged with an enthusiastic audi
ence.
Mr.. Bodkin, on rising, was received
with great outburst of enthusiasm, the
audience cheering loudly for some time.
He said:
We have been, perhaps, too much ac-
customed to contemplate Lord Edward g
character in distant admiration. 1t may
we'll be said all Irish hearts are af1ame
with admiration of Lord. Edward Fitz
gerald's dauntless, devoted patriotism,
with wrath and pity Of his untimely fate.
His glorious stand for Irish freedom, his
miserable betrayal, have come down to
us as the brightest and saddest episodes
in the great uprising of '98. But may
be permitted to doubt if the story of his
earlier years. his earlier career, is SO fam
iliar. He had scarcely numbered eighteen
years when we find him fighting in the
army of England, of which he was soon
to be the most formidable enemy in the
War Of American Independence. But
there was romantic chlvalry about the
gallant young Irishman that half re-
deemed the cause he then supported.
No discipline could check his ardor.
| We find him on one oeeasion breaking
bounds like a schoolboy to engage, un-
aided, in a woodland duel with two of
the American insurgents. AT the battle
of the Utah Springs he was wounded
nigh to death, and was nursed back to
life by poor negro, the faithful Tony,
who thenceforth devoted himself to his
service. The startling change from the
| opening to the close of his career-from
the British soldier to the Irish patriot
is best illustrated by his own heroic
words, when he lay dying in prison in
1898, and was visited by q military friend
who reminded him of his battles and
wounds in the old time. 'Ah," cried the
dying hero with splendid enthusiasm, Il
was wounded then in very different
cause-that was in fighting against lib
erty, this is in fighting for it" (applause).
Still stronger and wilder are the subse-
quent vicissitudes of Lord Edwards life.
For time he moved q shining light in
the brilliant society of Dublin, then one
Of the most brilliant capitals of Europe.
A love sorrow drove him back into the
American wilderness. The simple life of
nature (mis named savage lived far from
the madding crowds tumultuous strife,
and had very powerful charm for his
gentle, wounded spirit. So far did the
longing carry him, that he was actually
adopted into tribe of Canadian Indians,
and the certificate of his adoption is still
extant. To my thinking, the turning
point in Lord Edwards career was when
the great war minister, Pitt, offered him
the command Of an expedition against
Oadiz, with instant promotion to the
brevet rank Of General. Lord Edward, it
must be remembered, was passionately
devoted to the military profession. So
far as one can judge without that posi-
tive proof which only experience can af-
ford, he possessed not merely the dash
and daring OF gallant officer but the in
stinotive genius of great general. This
plainly was Pitts view when he offered
him an important command. Can we
wonder that the first impulse of the gall
liant young soldier was to close with the
dazzling offer? But unknown to himself
he he'd, as the phrase then ran, been
brought into Parliament by his brother,
the Duke of Leinster, and when he
learned that political support of the gov
eminent was expected as the price of his
military promotion, he rejected the
tempting bribe with scorn (applause
Here was, indeed, the parting Of the
ways. A great sacrifice accomplished =
q great temptation overcome. From
that period I date the close Of Lord Ed
wards career as a British eoldier-the
opening Of his career as an Irish patriot
(spplsuse). We have now come upon q
more beaten track (applause). Il is no
disparagement to the heroes Of '98 to say
that il degrees could be found in cour-
age such as theirs, Lord Edward Fitz-
gerald was the brayest Of them all. His
spirit vas undaunted, his voice was tor
resolute action quick bold, decisive,