The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-27
Q'REILLY'S rlEr1ORIAI.

On last Saturday magnificent menu
orial was unveiled in Boston, to the late
John Boyle O'Reilly, who at the time of
his death in 1890, was editor OF the Bos-
ton Pilot. The following tribute to his
memory is taken from the Pilot of that
date written no doubt by his intimate
friend and editorial successor ON the
paper, James jeffrey Roche:
The monument to John Boyle O'Reilly,
to be unveiled on Saturday, June TO- is
not only memorial OF his genius, but
also a tribute of affection to a person
atty which, commanded universal love
and admiration. When the final account
is taken, it is not, as the poet tells us,
the ''unco' guid' man, nor the eminent
citizen, nor the fireside philanthropist
whom love Of God has blest; but "Lo!
Ben Adhem's name led all the rest,'' be-
cause he had said: Write me down as
there has been no man in our time who
loved his fellow men with more Chris
tian kindness than John Boyle O'Reilly.
He forgave and aided the wretch whose
false testimony condemned him to death
mo thanks to the perjurer that the SEN
tence was afterwards committed to penal
seryitude He loved all men and hated
none, though his hatred Of wrong-doing
was fervent and undying.
The country of his adoption honors
him with one of the most beautiful mon
uments in its domain, because he was
greater than anything which the mere
word greatness implies. He was a
unique figure in American history. Had
an inspired seer been at the bedside
when the child of gentle but poor parent
age was born in Dowth Castle, on st.
Johns Day, 81 years ago, and predicted
that the infant would live to take part
in a revolt against the empire of Great
Britannia be sent an exile $4,000 miles
away to the antipodes, thence as far
again to an American port where ar
irving friendless and penniless he
should become in less than a score of
years a personality important enough to
influence the election Of the ruler Of co.
900, 900 people-the prophet would have
been secuted as mailman or an Inn
poster. -
Yet the fugitive from an Australian
dungeon came, in that short space OF
time, to be no mean factor in the policy
of the greatest nation Of all the earth
without ever holding an office or COM
hitting himself to the realm Of politics
save on the high plane of patriotism.
John Boyle O'Reilly. was not only an.
American-he was an American Of the
best type, one who like his friend, Wenr
dell Phillfps knew that God was greater
than government; that no question can
be settled permanently unless it be set
tied rightly; that not the heavier bat
talions'' Of Napoleon, but the invincible
battalions Of Heaven, determine every
question.
It has been asked why give him mon
umenty rather than commemorate his
name BY some great charity or useful
public building? The answer is: Be-
cause had any man as worthy Of one died
ii hiss time, he. Of all men. would have
been first to say: Away with unitarian
memorials, nonrinally honoring the dead
while practically enuring to the benefit
of the living Or ostentatiously clarifying
his atl nllirers''' Any owner of mere.
wealth can he irnnort alized In that
cheap way; but this man was 9 Poet, and g, d
the Fame Of the City is his. The spirit
81 Utility; "a rs Honor your great ones
~ Wofk s Of ,rsefilness. The spirit Of
Love says Sacrifice your nliseFable
profit on the shrine Of non -produc tive
sent God Is creator thai, Mann
erishable flowers q, = sra v t|s g !,
xoDrtl1 81 cre than Nd s1 IhsI