Evening journal., 1898-05-02
WILLIAM MICHAEL BYRNE.

WILLIAM MICHAEL BYRNE.
We admire the patriotism Of William
Michael Byrnel
He does some things which are woe
fully inconsistent and which we cannot,
for the life of us, understand, but we
like him just the same. He goes at a
thing with such frank and open coun-
tenance; with such a suave and courtly
manner and with such smile Of
beardless and childlike innocence that
he appeals to the sympathes, If not to
the reason, OF mankind
Mr.. Byrne's latest public utterances
are to be found in an open letter APP
pearing in the columns OF the Morning
News. It is an effusion full of the fire
Of patriotism, burning with righteous
indignation, and setting forth, in let
ters Of living light, the glOriousness OF
the action of a man who volunteers to
risk his life in the defence Of his coun-
try against any foe, from w@hin or
from without 1t is a noble state paper.
One which will live for a
week to come. 1t savors of the oratory
Of the council Of war which
preceded the memorable victory OF
Miltiades on the plain of Marathon. 1t
arouses in the heart and mind OF man
slumbering memories Of Arbela, Metau-
rus, Arminius, ChalOns, Tours, Hast
ings, Orleans, Blenheim, Pultowa, Sara
toga, Valmy, Waterloo and Gettysburg.
But there is, in spite OF all this, an ele-
ment OF disappointing character in the
burst OF patriotism which flowed so
freely from the versatile pen Of the pa
triOt from the lOwlands Of Jersey. We
read it carefully and, as the reading
progressed, the more patriotic we be-
came. We felt that we could die for our
country, then and there, il need be,
without a feeling Of regret. We beheld
ourselves lying in the streets Of Ha-
vana, sorely wounded and weary OF
life, with our eyes resting upon the be-
loved Stars and Stripes floating over
| NANAAb CNoll~' anu Jul ears cay Oily
drinking in the inspiring strains OF
Yankee Doodle" played by the Ma
rine Band on the plaza OF the city. We
decided that such death would not
only be glorious but absolutely exhil-
arating, and the natural impulse was
TO enlist forthwith. But we could not
tear ourselves away from that letter. II
fascinated while It aroused our martial
zeal We read on and on, our blood
growing warmer and warmer, cur heart
beating more and more violently fol
our beloved country and the cause oi
humanity. We were looking for some
thing, which we did not find. It was g
peroration couched in the following
language:
And in conclusion, my dearly be-
loved fellow-citizens l wish to say
that, recognizing the urgency Of my
countrys call for 125,OOO volunteers
and being a sirgle man. strong, robust
and full Of the fire of patriotism anC
love OF my native land, take this op
portunity to inform my clients an,
other friends that have closed my Of
flee door and gone to Camp Tunnel
where any person who wishes to SCI
me may do so by inquiring for Privat
William Michael Byrne National Guar,
Of Delaware. God save the state AM
our honorable court"
Not finding this, the fires Of patriot
ism began to lose the intensity OF thei
heat. We decided that, like Mr.. Byrn,
If we could not love our country. W
could at least be a brother to her. w
decided not to volunteer, but 70 ioi
Mr.. Byrne's regiment, wait for draf
and then buy a substitute.
We admire the patriotism Of Williar
Michael Byrnel
Well done, Dewey! Now seize Mr
Q Mia and open your coal-yard. Tn
| Tns-s.