The Irish standard., 1897-01-09

the matter, for ths public does not
| blindly give it's confdense or regard to
any public man pnless his personal
character and abilities; deserve this ia
vor from the people,. the subject Of
this too brief sketch Hon. Edmund
James Flynn, @. G., LII. D., Premier of
Quebec. was born on the 18th Of No.
vember, 1s47, in .Ferce, county of
Gaspe Province Of Quebec. His father
the late James Flynn, was q trader and
farmer OF that place; his mother,
Elisabeth Tosteyin, was also a native
OF the district, her father being one of
an ancient stock, Of Guernsey, an isle
in the English Channel.
It is, then on his raternal side that
the Hon. Edmund james Flynn derives
kindredship with the Celtic Irish Cath
olic race, for it is said that his grand
father Flynn was born on the voyage
from Ireland to Canada about a CEN
tury ago. From this fact 1t will be seen
how powerful and sustaining is the
pure Celtic blood that courses through
the veins and aninates the heart. Of
Irish offsprings, no matter how far
they may be removed from the old
sanctifed mctherland by distance of
time or place. Hon. Premier Flynn, al
though separated from the Green
Isle" by gulf widened by the lapse of
a hundred years, has still the warm,
kindly, genial soul Of an Irishman, and
his traditional traits of vivacity of in
tellect. Besides, he speaks the Eng
lish language with the force and fuency
of a native Hibernian. This OF itself
is q notable fact considering that he
was born of a mother speaking the
French tongue, and that he first saw
the light in part Of the province
in which word Of English is scarcely
ever spoken, and that hardly a SEN
tence of the dialect was -breathed by
any one of his school or college compan-
ions. And yet in sociaIcenverse or in
the delivery of his set public speeches
you would think that he Shad made
life study of that Language. OF course
he is finished master of the French
dialect, and when his public utterances
are made in that tongue you could not.
detect a. trace of another accent In
spite, however, of race characteristics,
and early education. Premier Flynn Is
first and foremost andR alhsve all a Ca
madam pure and simple. He has
strong and patriotic attachment for
the land of his birth, but this is a legit-
innate feeling which a1asess from a gem
erous sentiment in anatu: and while it
has predominence infh his mind it does
uot exclude a tender and warm regard
for the race from which he sprung, for
in his government, as provincial secre-
tary, he has the Hen. Michael Felix
Hackett, a splendid type of the Irish
race and man Of strong personality
and commanding ability. Then, in the
person of the Hon. Mr.. aAtwater, he has
an English speaking, provincial treas
urer of eminent financial ability, whose
recent budget statement showed the
ancient province to be- in a sound, pro-
gressive condition, a 4 pleasing and
healthful contrast to what it was some
years ago under an administration
which either misconceived the resour-
ces and capacities of the province or
else was too lavish in their expendj-
ture. While the solvent and improved
position is partly due to the wise and
conservative management Of each Of
the governmental departments, the
prime credit belongs to the eminent
statesman-like foresight and capacity
of the honorable prime minister himself
for to him falls the task of selecting
colleagues and instruments capable of
rendering efficient service to the state.
Apart from this essential feature of
Hon. Mr.. Flynn's administration, his
own intimate knowledge Of the inward
and outward working .of each separate
branch under his control insures an ac-
tive, thorough and honest discharge Of
public duties, for no official would
have the hardihood to administer his
office slovenly under the eye of a prac-
tical master whose experienced vision
penetrates into the reinotest official
corners.
Some twenty years ago OR there
abouts, the Hon. Premier married a
worthy French Canadian lady whose
companionship has. made his life one
of pure domestic happiness, for in spite
of his dozen or more hafdFought polit-
ical battles, his geniaas mature remains
intact. The Irish ana French people
of. Canada wish long ysaraf of life and
usefulness to the distinguished Premier,
for both claim heredtit1 fry interest in
him.
.,s1as Odds and Ends.
What are you doinsssnow?" asked
one Yale man of anotlsr. aI am writ
ing for living" .,Whsk dosyou write?''
Letters to the goyerndx.r
Don't be afraid. Come night in-my
wife's out. Have 4 Httaa something?
Here's nice quality msoa "Good
hnovona man you've z,.tct & tho wrong