The Irish standard., 1898-04-09
DIR. WILLIAM j. MACNEvIN, ONE OF
THE UNITED FRESHMEN.
ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED LEADERS.
A FRIEND AND LOYAL CONR AIDE OF
THOMAS Adds EMMETT,
FELLOW PRISONERS IN FORT GEORGE,
CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AND
DIED IN NEW YORK,


filled important places in the initiation
and direction of the 9S movement Mac
NeVln was Catholic. He came of an
old Celtic family who had in the past
given hostage to their love for faith and
fatherland. Tho MacNevins were orig
inally settled In Ulster; but Cromwell
came with his policy of ITO He'll or
Connaught," and the ancestors OF tho
rebel Of '9S wero driven from their
broad acres in the North and forced TO
remove to Galway, whore they possessed
themselves of a pretty considerable cs-
tate, and lived the lives of country
gentlemen all through the penal days.
William j. MacNevin was born at Bal
lianhowne on March 81, 17G3-just 1876
years ago, says the Dublin Freeman's
Journal. His fathers brother had at
talneu considerable emincnce in the Ger
man service. and when tho future Con-
spirator' against British rulo was IL
years old he was sent to tho Continent
on the unclos invitation. Here at Baron
MacNevin's residence he spent the
happy intervals between his studies at
the medical colleges at Prague and
Vienna, at the latter Of which he gradll-
| ated with considerable distinction during
his twentieth year. In 1884 ho returned
to Ireland and set up in practice in the
capital, with very encouraging SUCCESS
lla was clever and popular, and had
many worldly advantages despite tho
fact that he clung to tho prosecuted faith
| OF his fathers with unaltcrablc fidelity.
| His daughter afterwards wrute-"My
| father was now established in the prac-
tico of his profession in Dublin With
| youth, health, superior abilities, and
| education in his favor, and good family
connections, lo had a fair and prosperous
career opened before him, and he was
soon enabled by his practice to live
! gcnteclly and Independently and to keep
| with ease his station in society,"" But
MacNevin loved Ireland, and. in the
midst OF his new prosperity, his generous
heart went out to tho trampled and per-
secuted people of his own race He was
soon In tho forefront OF the pcaccablc
struggle which was being waged by Tone
| and kcogh and others for an extension
of Catholic liberties; and when the fam
Gus Catholic convention OF 1892 was
| >olv ,F,,1
doctor was chosen to represent the town
OF Navan at the meeting OF the dele
/ gates He took n useful and active part
in the proceedings, and attracted the at
tention of Lord Edward, Arthur O'Con-
nor, and the other founders OF the So
ciety of United Irlshmcn, then in It's
infancy. The program of tho United
1rishmcn was charter of Irish liberty
and MacNcvin willingly consented to
take his part in the work of securing
Its recognition. and to run tho chance
| of sealing it with his blood. In n very
few years he was one Of the most trusted
of the lcadersa man upon whose
honor the most timid might stake their
lives, and upon whose courage and pril-
dcnce all were ready to rely.
During this period ho contracted tho
friendship with a kindred spirit, Dr.
Thomas Adds IImmct, which lasted
throughout the lives of the patriots. As
workers in the ranks of the society, as
prisoners in Fort George, and as cXilcs
In tho Great Republic Of the West, they
wero always true and loyal comrades;
and when, in 1923, MacNevin's daughter
married Thomas Adds Emmct's son, the
families were forever united. Tho best
blood of Irish patriots fills tho veins of
tho descendants of Thomas Adds EN-
met, whose generous devotion to the
cause of Ireland is as conspicuous in our
own day as was the heroic sclf-abncga-
ton of tho brothers, Thomas Adds and
Robert in the dark and evil days of '9S.
MacNcvin's connection with the rcvO-
lutionary organization was no secret,
and he was one Of those who were
marked as victims by the constituencies
bloodhound, Thomas Reynolds. In last
,
count OF tho informcrs attempt to en-
trap him into a confession Of knowledge
Of the proceedings and plans Of the Icin-
ster Directory The frank and honest
United Irishman, however, saw through
the scoundrel's mask, and declined to
commit himself But he was arrested On
tho fatal night OF the 18th OF March,
and, after detention in Kilmanham,
conveyed with Emmet and others to
Fort George.
Tho Society of United Irishmen was
honeycombed with treachcry. It's pros
poets OF success were blighted by the
McNallys, the Reynoldses, and tho Arm
strongs We can realize 80 much now;
but the United Irishmen, In the midst of
their struggle. could not have grasped
| the facts Of the situation. Cool-headed