The Irish standard., 1898-02-26
THE CHlVALROUs GERALDINE1
His Military Record During the|
Revolutionary War.
CAREER AS A UNITED FRESHMAN
His Name Remains Honored in the
Memories of Patriots.

No other name amidst all the heroes
of the Ninety Eight period has obtained
such i hold upon the Irish popular im-
agination as that of the gallant Gerul-
dine Lord Edward, says r. NJ in tho
"Northcrn Star" Down deep in our
hearts, we cherish tender feeling for
brave and unhappy young Robert En-
met; but he played only Il minor part in
the great drama Of Ninety Eight Tho
tragedy of his noble HE came five years
later, whereas Lord Edwards story is
solely and prominently associated with
the story of Ninety Eight He was tho
leader of the United Men: on him would
have devolvca the command of the Pa
triot army had all gone we'll with those
who had hoped to 'vengr the wrongs Of
years.: and as he scion Of the greatest
of the old Anglo Irish families who have
given many martyrcd pledge of hostil-
ity to Foreign ltul, he held Il place i'll
the confi1"n," and affections OF the pco-
pl" of the day to which none of the
othcr leaders hoped or wished to as
pire. He was no civilian framcr of
plans no mere dreamer Of dreams, how
ever glorious. He was II soldier, brave
and experienced, skilled in the art OF
war. which. Hike Hugh O'Ncill of Tyr
Owen. he had learned in ;hc camps of his
country's enemies. Tho death OF Lord
Edward was II fatal blow TO tnr chances
of II successful fight for freedom and
we'll might the bar,ls Of the time attrne
their harps to notes Of woe ana sad
ness because lr"lanL's las; hope 'cll with
the chivalrous Geraldine
Lord Edward was the twelfth child
and NTH son of james, twentieth Earl
OF kildare and first Duke of I.einster,
llG WIS born on OriO.,c, Is, 1863. Ten
years later his father died. and the
young scion of The nohoA of the lrlsll-
English houses entered the British army
in lII9. after having spent some time az
student in Franco. Men were wanted
then In America. The CuIunsls among
when were a majority Of Ulster Irish
men We're lighting the good fight for
liberty that ultimately proved successful.
Lord Edwards regiment was sent to
America in l1Sl, and the young MOBILES
mans military record during the greater
part of the remainder Ct the war was
excellent. II" not only displayed tho
personal bravery Inherent In his race,
Il. II,
born soldier Il leader Of men in times
Of difficulty and danger Though de-
voted to tho military piJfessun, Lord
Edwards heart vas. as we may wei!
SUPPOSE in his work N Am"rirl Eic
gradually realized that nis bravery and
his military knowledge we're hniny util-
iIed against "a people tightly .tr,i:,gling
to be free" and lhon;h he lid his duty
as Il soldier he was i4la the order canle
to return To ireland. Tilerr through the
influence Of his elder BROTHER, tine Duke
OF lcinstcr, he soon entered Parliament
as the member for the horuLgh of Athy.
But he still remained In the British SER
vice. and Travelled to many parts of the
where, with a brother officer and Il faith
ful negro servant, named Tony, who
chung with rare fidelity to his masters
fortunes during his lite he made q
dangerous and daring journey from
FrcdrickStoWn. n. b.. 10 Quebcca jour-
ncy which occupied 2G days through an
unt %Elorcd country of forests and NOR
asses. and which HboUndcd with diff
ruties. That same year (l1S3) he was
chosen chicr of tribe Of wild Indians,
among whom lie al:Gch for Il brief pc
rinl. His was Il life Of adventure from
start To finish
In the Irish House of Commons he
strongly supported every popular meas
ulc, and was ever an earnest and whole
hearted advocate of the Catholic claims.
Year by year his sympathes widened,
ard his love of liberty increased as the
corruption and LiuEtry thai prevailed in
Irish political life and the miseres suf-
fcrcd and prosecutions endured by he
masses Of The people forced themselves
on his generous mind. A visit TO France,
in 1882, completely determined his flu
iurc career. lie rcnounccd his commits
sion In the English army and pledged
his life to the cause of Liberty. The god
CESS claimed the sacrifice to the, full.
would fain hope that no Irshman is
ignorant of the events connected with
Lord Edward Fitzgcraids career as a.
United lrishman. He joined that grand
organization soon after his return to
Ireland with his fair young bride; and,
thcnccforward, he was looked upon by
all as the natural leader of the moye-
ment-as the man to whom the serried