The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-06-26
HIS PARLIAMENTARY LIFE.
Arrested for Contempt by Order
of the Speaker.
GUILTY OF HIGH TREASON.
BaniShed for Life to Australia and
Liberated.

One of Ircland's noblest patriots of the
present century. William Smith OBrien,
was born at Dromoland, County Glare,
October IT, 1903. He was the second son
af Sir Edward ODrien. He received his
education at Trinity and Cambridge. the
latter an educational institution by no
means favorable to the development of
sentiments of regard for Ireland or its
people. Its teachings. however, did not
eXtinguish In the breast of Smith O'Brien
the national love of his fatherland,
though It was not until comparatively
late In life that that feeling assumed the
force and intensity which impcllcd him
to brave the anger of friends and rel
ntives, and to dare the scuffOld in the
cause of his country. In 1896 he entered
Parliament as representative for Ennis,
In the Whg interest. Subsequently, in
1895, he became a member for the County
presented TIL lS4a. when. long after ha
had given up all thoughts of attending
the Commons any more. he was expelled
by vote of the House for sedition. In
the repeal of the Union, O'Bricn was op-
posed to the Liberator. Though opposed
to Irish nationality, he st i'll earnestly de-
sired to see some measures adopted by
IH,.v l;,I,
for the nmeliorntion of the condition OF
Ireland. He labored earnestly for this
purpose, and 1t was only when he saw
the utter hopelcssness of such m effort
that he began to open his mind to the
belief that only by complete Legislative
separation from England could ireland
be materially benefited Arrived at this
conclusion, he did not hesitate to act It,
and in the latter part of 'i3 he publicly
Joined the Repeal Association Once en-
tered, however, ON the new political path
which he had selected, he never falterrd
or hcsitatcd, but devoted all his energies
and intellect to the cause he had en-
braccd The following extract from one
OF his letters written at this time will
disclose to the reader a glimpse of his
mind: ireland. instead of taking her
place as an integral part of the empire,
has been treated MS a dependent tributary
province. England trusts. for the maln-
tennnce of the connection, not to the af-
fcction of the Irish people, but to bay
oncts which menace our bosoms, and to
the cannon which she has placed in our
strongholds." In another letter. written
Mt the same time, he says: After visit
ing all the principal cities of Europe,
l returned home, impressed with the sad
conviction that there is more human mis-.
cry in one county in Ireland than
throughout all the populous cities and
districts which had visited" O'Con.
nell hailed with Joy and delight so dis
tingnishcd m accession to his ranks; and
indeed the general feeling throughout
Smith O'Bricn was one of the greatest
triumphs that tho Repeal cause had up te
that achieved. The great chieftuin re-
posed the most unbounded confidence il
his new follower, and after the STATE
trials of IA and during the Imprisonment
Smith OBricn labored strenuously ID
promote the cause of legislative indepen.
dcnce, receiving from O'Connell every
consideration after the House of Lordi
had declared the T.ibcrators imprison.
mcnt illegal, until the differences a.
rose which resulted in the virtual dis
ruption of the Repeal Association,
and the secession of what has been
called the Young Ireland party. In
May, 1876, occurred Il memorable in
cidcnt in the life of Smith OBrien. He
was without even the courtesy being ex-
tended to him, appointed a member of
committee on Scotch railways. When
committees are appointed in Irish bust
ness, as a general rule it happens that
but very small proportion, II any, are
Irish members. and the appointment Of
an Irish member on a committee on
Scotch business is something mheard OF.
The government was at the time to
bring up an Irish Coercion Bill particul-
arly severe in It's principles, and 1t would
be convenient for them to remove out OF
its way all the obstacles that they could.
They knew that O'Bricn, among others,
would offer it a most strenuous Opposi-
tion. Looking on the British Parliament
merely as a body which had usurped the
powers of the Irish legislature over Ire
land, and belevin that an Irish member
should attend only to defend the interest
Of his own country, he absolutely refused
to serve On the Scotch committee. The
| speaker of the House availed himself OK