The Irish standard., 1898-08-06

hold subordinate positions, while Eng
lish stupidity gave the supreme COM
mand to the Lakes and Carhamptons,
fellows who dared to butcher but would
not fight.
1t would be wearisome task to give in
detail the names Of all the encounters
in which O'Mahony took part, and if it
were not, there would be hardly space.
Wherever the danger was greatest there
he was, either holding an independent
command or fighting in some great en-
gagement under French marshal and
always, and what was uncommon In
those days, treating prisoners and in
habitants of the country with the great
est humanity At the great fields of AL
mama, where the English, Dutch and
Austrians were simply annihilated, he
is credited by the historians of the time
as, at the head of his Irish dragons.
having performed astonishing actions
In l'oS he was appointed commander
ln-chlef of the Spanish forces In tho
great island of Sicily, and though his
troops wer few and under former leaders
had proved unreliable, as Spanish troops
were lhen beginning to prove them
selves. he succeeded in holding his trust
against powerful combination of i'm
peflallst and Neapolitan troops He beat
them entirely out of the island. and
though powerful British fleet was sun
posed to have swept triumphantly
through the Mediterranean, he followed
Up his success by dispatching a fleet cf
small vessels along the coast Of Italy
even into the bay of Naples, ravaging or
forcing tribute from the towns along the
coast
All being we'll in Sicily, he was re-
calied home, promoted to be a leuten-
ant-seneral, made count of Castillo and
given further opportunities to make his
name 1llustrious. He commenced OPERA
TONS by winning notable engagement
at Cervera "a name not unknown now)
and at Saragossa in great battle.
where, though the field was lost he
commanded the right, carried all before
hlm' winning five standards, and turn
ing back to cover the retreat of the rest
OF the army and save the king from
capture.
The effect Of this defeat caused philin
t1e loss OF Madrid and nearly his king
oom, but all was regained when the
great Vendome, the equal, il not the
superior, of Marlborough, placed himself
at the head Of the French and Standards
lhd' with very inferior forces, proceeded
TO beat the supporters of Charles out of
the kingdom. The conduct of OMahonv
III This campaign was SO satisfactory that
fhllip conferred upon him the rare
honor Of the commaudrrshin of tbo or-
aer or ST. Jago, an honor that brought
Win 1t an estate of great value. He
fought and practically won the battle OF
FlllaVlclosa, and then, worn out with
wounds and fatigucs, was forced to hoo
PERMISSION OF the king to retire IL was
very feSretfully granted, and he retired
10 his estates at Ocana, where he lin
gcred not long, dying in l7l4, leaving q
name on which was no stain, and hovinp
10 regrets save that his great services
had not been for his motherand.
inc life OF such a man shows up the
bright side. tho glorious side, of Irish
history during the Eighteenth century
DIT there Is u reverse, 4 darker si1a Ia
'he picture, and one to which too little
attention has been paid. Spain fell into
uesehefacy because for POO years 1t law
'sled Its best blood in America IN
Africa. and by dashing itself against 4,
united Europe in the vain attemnt 70
exercise an undisputed suzcrainty Ire-
iaio ilkcWise wasted itself in every
army ana IN every battle OF the Eight
eehth century. -Four hundred and Gftv
Thousand lrishmen," SAYS Mac(!eorho-
gan lost their lives in the service of
rf'thce during that century," and a yost
number also did the same for italy and
ior tho German empire. All these c,mo
from a small, poorly populated countr,
lhey We're the young, the bold and ,,,o
energetic, the true propasu;ors of n val
lalit' wise and energetic nation. Pow
er!y' suffering and ambition forco,,
'hem TO leave their country, and leave
IFS the fathers of the future r,co ,r,,.
'h' old' the desperately poor. the cow
ardly or the timc-serving This nor
maps could not have been prcventod
o''t we are feeling the effects of ii to,l,v
ana IL we are not the ideal rae, u,,
some nave pictured us, and othor,,
nave m"cked at us for not being, largely
we ascribc it to the los, or tbo l>,t -,
our o'ooa wasted in Europe for imbccilo
and wicked kings.