The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-08-14
BRIGHTEST NAMES IN The EMPIRE.
WOLSELEY AND ROBERTS ARE THE;
MILITARY CHlEETAINS.
PROMINENT IN EVERY DEPARTMENT
IN LAW. SCIENCE. AUTHORSHIP AND
STATESN ANSHIP.

Some years ago, Grant Allen, in his
sketch of Prof. Tyndall, said that few
people seem to realize how much of the
important work of the world Is being
done by Irishmen. Indeed, Mr.. Allen
seems TO think that the Irish arc the
only people, just at present, who are
doing things And there is something
to be said for this view of the subject.
1t is not necessary just now to deal
with lrshmen in the United States. who
become Americans so rapidly that il is
often difficult enought to say where
Cork ends and Chicago begins in the
makeup of the individual But it may
be interesting to pass in review some OF
the Irishmen who are doing things" for
the benefit of the British Empire.
The writer would prefer to begin with
the triumphs OF peace, but as the soldier
Is necessary to create the conditions fu-
vorable for peaceful development wo
may as well commence with the two
Lord Wolscley. successor to the duke Of
Cambridge as commander-in-c chief, is
Dublin man who, before he went to
Sandhurst, served some time In the
Hodges, Foster & Co., OF Grafton street
Dublin, house in which his family had
some pecuniary interest. Next to
Wolseley comes Lord Frederick Roberts
ynt nb,ff In 10 In,
mand Of the forces in Ireland. Lord
Roberts made his career In India, and
the estimate formed of his quality as Il
great captain is said by men competent
| to give an opinion to have been faith
fully expressed In the little poem of Mr.
Kipling called "Bobs." 1t is clear that
the British government has full conf
dence in two Irishmen who are at tho
head of the army.
In diplomacy it is scarcely necessary
to say that Lord Duffcrin is as eminent
as in the science and art of adminislla-
tion. He is the living Representative Of
that Sheridan family, which for seven
generation has never been without one
Or more men or women of conspicuous
ability. If he had been born without
the silver spoon he would have made a
name in literature, while the lines at the
beginning of his book on Iceland show
that he possesses the qualities Of a poet
or other Irishmen who have acquired
fame as administrators under the en-
pire the name of Sir Charles Gavan DUFF
fy--jonrnalist, rebel, poet, historian and
statesman--is prominent. In the af-
fairs of Ireland, England, Australia and
the empire this man of marvellous
energy and versatility has made a deep
impress. One who ia not so well
known, but who in his own field is no
less eminent is Whitley Stokes OF India
Mr. Stokes Is the son Of a celebrated
Dublin physician. After being called to
the bar in England he went out to In
dia as reporter to the high court and
acting administrator general Of Madras
in 1864 He soon became president of
the Indian law commission and in that
capacity was draughtsman of the codes
of civil and criminal procedure. A
great linguist and profoundly Interested
in the antiquities of India, his official
position enabled him to frame success
fully the scheme for the collection OF
Sanskirt manuscripts in lndia-.thosc
magnificent contributions which have
enabled philologists to dispcl so much
Of the mystery shronding the origin of
human society, and to establish tho
unity of the great Indo European family
OF races.
AS If this wore not occupation enough
for one man, and that man largely
responsible for the administration Of the
affairs of 3OO,OOO,O0O of people. Mr.
Stokes has found time to dclve deep in
Irish history and the Gaelic language
His "Irish Glossarics" and the "TriparI
ite Life of St. Patrick are held in high
esteem by scholars.
OF the great Irish lawyers in England
three may be mentioned, Lord Cairns
the late Tory chancellor; Lord Russell,
present lord chief justice. and Arthur
| common law procedure act of 1873
which helped to do away with SO much
of the circumlOcution OF the equity
courts and to harmonic the jurisdic-
ton in equity and common law.
Arthur Wilson, like Whitley Stokes,
is Dublin man and a graduate of
Trinity College. He was a class fellow
of Lecky and Edward O'Bricn, eldest
son OF the late Smith O'Bricn. Mr.
O'Brien was the scholar of the class
For some years Mr.. Wilson plo1lcd
away at the English bar, getting not
much practice, but acquiring great re-
putation as a jurist and philosophical
lawyer. 1t is not a little remarkable
that with so many learned contem-