The Irish standard., 1895-03-16
NOV EN- ENT OF 48.
A Pen Picture Of the Leaders OF
That Period Who Had Ireland's
Freedom In View.
SOUVENIRS OF HIS CAREER.
James Stephens, the Veteran Pa
triot, Adds Another Chapter
to Irish History.

to Irish History.
During my boyhood's days I used to
read books on mechanics and engineer
ing feats, and when reached my 2lst
year, I became an engineering student
under Dargan, who attained fame and
fortune in his profession, saye James
Stephens in Donahoe's Magazine for
April. I was on the point o. taking out
my diploma as an engineer, when the
news Of contemplated revolt reached
me from Dublin. I had been q member
of the Y Young Ireland Society of Kilkenny
before / joined the pupils OF Dargan;
and in order to explain the causes which
led to the rebellion Of 1848, in which I
took part, am compelled to refer to the
origin and history Of Young Ireland,
which was exclusively the pioneer Of the
movement for the separation Of Ireland
from England.
During summer day in 1912, Charles
Havan Duffy, Thomas Davis, and John
nlake Dillon, then citizens Of Dublin,
and followers OF Daniel O'Connell in his
agitation for Repeal Of the Union, while
sitting On bench in Phoenix Park, re-
solved to start weekly literary and tho
roughly patriotic journal in the Irish
capital. It was to be called The Nation.
Duffy and Dillon were to furnish mater
ial, and Davis was to supply the brains,
as editor of the projected sheet. Early
in the fall Of l842, in the first week of
October, the Nations first number
appeared. Never before in Ireland we're
editorials so ably and logically written.
It's stirring and patriotic lyrics, Davis
and Duffy's mastery ballads, eloquent
in style Of diction, and resonant as the
sounds of trumpet, caused thousands
of Irish hearts to throb more tenderly
with love for their native land, and
aroused the spirit Of patriotism in their
bosoms. Thomas Davis, who had the
personal magnetism Of leaders of men,
gathered around him in the Nation office
q band Of bright young itterateurs whom
his genius inspired with feryor in the
prose and poetry departments of that
Journal. Under the influence OF that in
spiration Denis Florence MacCarthy
{translator in his after life OF the Poems
Of Calderon), DARCY McGee, Richard
Dalton Williams, O'Hagan, and others
became the patriotic lyristso Of the Nation,
and wrote poems which, though simple
in style, were pearls Of thought, and so
imbued with the spirit Of liberty that
they aroused the emotional Celt to q
passionate desire to battle for his native
land. afs 81 II
4. Davis's death, in 1845, was q cruel
4 blow to the Nation, and to the Young
4 ireland movement; but Duffy took
possession of his dead friend's chair, and
his editorials and ringing Irish ballads
4 sustained the literary reputation which
Davis had won for that journal. Charles
Gavan Duffy was aided in his labors by
James Clarence Mangan, one Of the most
talented of the Irish poets Of that most
enthusiastic period, while the band
of other bards, whom Davis had organiz
ed, remained true and loyal to the destiny
and mission Of the Nation.
S Some time after Davis's death, dis
Il aensions arose in the repeal party. @ Con-
nell was growing old and feeble. His
former vigor had completely disappear
ed, and his son, John O'Conneu, was
really the leader Of the repealers. He
was jealous Of the reputation and the
Il popularity Of the leading Young Ire
landers, who were more radical il their
& professions of nationality than the
o. Connellites. Eventually the Young
ireland chiefs, John Mitchell, Duffy,
Smith O'Brisn, Dillon, and Thomas
Il Francis Meagher, seeded from the Re-
peal Association, and started the Irish
aQonfede ration. Their secession Was caused
by Daniel OK 'Connelps declsrat tion that
4Liberty was not worth tho shed ding &c
ono drop 81 human blood 4 theory
I which Meagh il his memo orable
..Sword speech Z refut whom he raid:
How did tho colonies off America win
their liberty from Fna land B the
sword How did the md Belgi-
Il ana asin Their ind pendiencef BY the
sword 10 Was q applsuded by'
his political - the M dienoe
IN 81 - - A1,ast