The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-05-07
The Last of the Heroes of Ninety
Eight Passes Away.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
An Unflinching Patriot Who Es-
poused His Country's Cause.
FIFTY YEARS AN EXILE.
The Brave General Attained Dis
tlnction in Sunny France.

sHSslOA An SuuHy uuSSs
Arthur OConnor, the last survivor Of
tho heroes OF '9S passed away at the
venerable age of &c. His life was a long
attestation to his patriotism and his
principles were unchanged to his dying
hour. In any country he would have
been remarkable man. In any but an
enslavcd country he would have risen
to consideration and power by the force
OF his natural capacity and resolute
character, says the Ohio Pilot
In Ireland he grew into Il rebel and
conspilator against England. the only
career open in the dark era In which he
was born, to an Irshman of genius and
spirit. For tho oppression which tram
pied on his country left no choice to
him but infcriorlty or rebellion. Ho
was born at Mitchclstown on July 4,
1863 In 1901 he entered parliament
for Phiipstown. The following year,
during the debate on the Catholic relief
bill, he delivered one of the most re-
markablc speeches. Like lImmct,
McNcvin and Fitzgerald" says the dcs-
rcablc Castlcrcagh, che had not y<
Joined tho United IrishmCn. but he was
already at heart arcbcl." His speech is
in Il different key from the others de-
livcrcd. great part of it consisted Of
rhetorical hut powerful descriptions Of
tho abuses which had mado Irish rep
rcscntation the monopoly OF a few fam
lilies.
ut is no longer a secret" lie said,
that the men who oppose the abolition
of religious distinctions in our civil and
military concerns, when the general
voice Of the nation has concilrrcd In SO
wise. SO just, and SO polite Il measure,
arc tho men who usurp the whole polit-
ical power Of the country, and who have
converted tho whole representation Of
Ireland into family patrnlony But
if the people of this country are con-
vinccd that tho constitution of 1889,
which they so kindly priced, has been
destroyed by bribery, and the llnexam-
pied venality Of an Irish parliament; IL
they are convinced that, instead Of re-
ciprocnl advantage, nothing is to be
rcapcd from their connection with Eng
land but supremacy and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
on the one sido and IL costly vennIity,
injury, insult, degradation and poverty
on the other, is It not inevitable that
they will begin to seek for foreign alli-
nnces against the connection?
"rhc time is past, and past forever,
when public opinion would torpidy nc
qnicscc in political monopolics and rclig-
iolls disqraiflcntiOns. DO not imagine
that tho mind of your countrymcn Has
been stationary while that of all Europe
has been rapidly progressive. None of
you cHn ha ignorant that the British
minister has designs, in proscralinating
this question, to procure advantage for
his own country, at the expense Of yours.
And so strongly pressed is this on tho
public mind that you, who shall vote
Cor the rejection of this bill, will appear
in the eyes Of the Irish nation, not only
as mon voting, in obedience to the Brit
sh minister, against the voice of the
people. but as men voting for union
with England by which this country is
to be cvcrlastingly reduced to the state
of an abjcct province"
This speech brought O'Connor to the
notice OF Pitt, who offered him a bribo
of commissioner of revenue il he
would join Pitt in his designs; but Ar
thur OConnor was not to be bribed.
Instead, ho attached himself to the par
ty led by Grattan and joined in demand
ing Catholic emancipation and other re-
forms. Before long, however, ho went
farther, and in 1896 was in constant in
tercoursc with Lord Edward Fitzgerald
and the leaders of the United Irishmen.
~ November he formally joined the Or
ganiZatiOn, and soon became one Of the
most active members Of the l.einster
directory.
In February 1888, he and Father
James Quiglcy and several others We're
arrested at Margate on their way to
France. They were put on trial in May
on the charge Of high treason. AL
Of the prisoners were acquitted except
Father Quigley, who was convicted Of
having treasonable papers Oh his person.
"rhcso papers, says the historian,
"wcre thrust into the pocket of the priest,
Il trick frequently practiced in those
times" Before O'Connor could leave
the dock he was rcarrcsted and wan
committed to Newgate.
At that time the Lenstcr directory Of
the United Irlshmen wcro arrested at
Oliver Bonds house, and some evidence
being found against O'Connor, ha was