The Irish standard., 1896-12-26
PROMISING STATESMA||N
Canada's Contribution to the Ris-
ing Young Irishmen of
~ G 'H-. ht
America.
An Orator, man of Learning,
Force, Character and :;
Determination.
Such is G.. r. Devlin, a. Gifted,
/ member of the Dominion
Parliament.

Parliament.
::
Our American exchanges are publish
ing timely and well-deserved sketches Of
Mr., G. r. Devlin, the brilliant and elo-
quent, as we'll as very popular mem Der.
tor the vast and resourceful electoral dis.
trict of Wright, in the Province of Que:
bee, writes "Historicus'' in the Canadian
Freeman Mr.. Devlin comes of a most
distinguished family, his father Charles
Devlin, Esq, being one of the best
known, highly esteemed and successful
citizens of the great Ottawa Valley. For
years which we cannot count Mr.: Devlin,
Sr., served the dourishing town of Ayl-.
mer as mayor, and so closely identified
has he been with its progress and pros
: psrity, that if that town is, today. one
of Canada's most promising municipal
communities, it is, in a very large meas.
ure, due to his foresight, his consistency,
and his singleness of purpose. Mr.. Dew"
lin has given freely of his time and mon
ey and most judicionsly of his counsel,
to the welfare and advancement of the
beautiful town, which Ia produ to claim
him as it's most venerated citizen, and
may now with reason feel honest gratifi-
cation Of hopes realized and labors re-
Warded. At most critical time, in it's
history, Mr.. Devlin, Sr., was called upon
tospreside as warden over the whole
county of Ottawa, the largest municipal
organization in the Dominion of Canada.
Well and wiself during his term Of office
did he safeguard the peoples interest.
For years, did his multitarious and most
urgent business calls permit it, have held
this high position of trust and RESPONSE
bility,,, but true to conscience, Mr. Dew
lin could not consent to mold any office to
whoses duties he might not give all the
attention required. ,..,,,.yx ~. ,.....-
Time and again, requested BY the peo-
pie, Irrespective Of politics, OF the col1n-
ties OF Ottawa and Pontiac, to accept leg-
islatlEe honors at their hands, Mr.. Dew
linaiways made way for more ambitious
but less popular and successful men l4
1881: however, when dark clouds had set
tied upon the fortunes Of the Liberal
party OF Canada, when boodling rode
rampant through Legislative halls at Ot7
tawa and Quebec, Mr. Devling, sr., aci
cepted a candidacy, at the hands of the
Liberals of the County Of Ottawa, for a
seat in, the legislative assembly OF Que!
bee. His opponent was DR.. Duhamei, =;
narrow partisan of the corrupt Tory!
regime, "a man Of little merit in hiraself.i
but Il having accidental elements Of
strength that other candidates could not,
have at command. Against these tn
fluences and against the power and pat
ronage of the federal government at Or
tawa: and the provincial government att
Quebec, power and patronage, used, in
numerous instances, corruptly and un-+
scrupulously, Mr.. Devlin made magniH-
rent fight. His was, indeed, the fight Of
the campaign. And if he fell fighting,
the standard of his party clasped tightly
III his hands, he fell with such honor and
such inspiration to his party. as to pave
the way for the overwhelming success,
since achieved in the same constituency,
by the party of reform. !
We may here, mention that Mr.. Dew,
lin, ST., is not only true Christian citi-'
zen. esteemed by men Of all denomina-s
tiong. but a devoted Catholic parent, just-1
" revered by his co-religionists OF ALL
races. whom his untold examples OF char
ity and zeal stimulate to like noble deedsj
Tor faith and fatherland. With every;
project for the betterment Of Catholic,
s educational conditions in Aylmer, and
for the advancement OF the cause of his;
religion, Mr.. Devlin. ST., mas been most.
nobly identified If the Catholic Church,
is, today, in the flourishing town OF Ayl-!!
,nAr equipped and blessed with institu-i
1 ttons and establishments second to noneII
III Canada, how much of this solid and;
ben4fcial progress of religion is not due
fo MI. Devlin's generosity, his zeal and,
hfxtnfuence? His life, both politics and
selixion, illustrates the truth so we'll ex-t
0resSed by the great AWeI1cdA dooAaA =
Quincy: "Human happiness has not per-
fectssecurity but freedom: freedom none
hut virtue; virtue none but knowledge;
aad neither freedom, nor virtue, noss
knowledge has any vigor, or immortal
hope, except in the principles of the. q
christian faith, and in the sanctions tof
thsa christian religion. .f
S. MI. Devlin's faith in his church is OF
the intelligent but unswerving characterss
aeeepti,,g Gods own promises. He be4
lievs his church 4
/ z. u F,ounded on rock!
her promises are sure; a
s ae1Y SSbulwarks who can shock ii
bunt her every precious shrine;
#s5s tO after ages toll
s 4tfed by powsr divine, 3Ss
Sssss sTKe Church can nsver fail.
sol our readers will