The Irish standard., 1898-08-06

bloody career of his regiment, but es-
escaped unscathed, and the proclama-
ton of peace forever dashed the hopes
Of the exiled Irish of ever returning to
their own land in the van of a CONQUER
ing army.
But peace could not last long between
TWO men like Louis and William, each
striving for the mastery of Europe; and
the death of the Spanish king, Charles
H., gave fair opportunity for the re-
sumption of hostilties. The death with
out issue of this, the last monarch of the
German line which had commenced with
the Emperor Charles ", was preceded
by his declaring his nearest relative,
Phlllp, the grandson of Louis XIV, to
be his successor. This declaration was
received by England and Austria with
real or pretended alarm, and rival was
set up iii the person of the Austrian
iarchduke, and thus commenced the hor-
rtble wars of the Spanish succession that
completed the ruin of Spain, scourged
all Europe and began in France the
catastrophe that brought d successor of
Louis to the guillotine and replaced the
strange decrepitude into which France
mad fallen by the youthful vigor of the
revolutionists, whose armies marched as
II on parade through the gates OF every
capital On the continent.
This war gave O'Mahony the oppor-
IN, 60
OF Cremona, after it had once been
taken, was the particular occasion that
made him so. Or this great feat of arms
enough has been written, and, perhaps,
more than enough, for tangled and con-
fused as was the battle, perhaps more
SO are the accounts of it that have
reached us; but it suffices to say that
the principal glory was won by the two
Irish regiments that formed part of the
garrison, and, by the common consent
OF his comrades, French and Irish.
oMahony was regarded as the principal
hero lrishmen were that day fighting
IN the ranks OF both armies, and to the
eternal credit of them and their race
1T can be said, that while almost every
prominent Englishman was at that very
moment engaged in selling himself to
Goth William and James for money. for
Office, or for both, the Franco Irish un-
der 0 Mahony withstood the most tempt
Ing bribes from the imperialists. Prince
Eugene, while the very tempter, on
the part of Eugene, an Irish
captain named Macdonnell the
captor that morning of the
French Marshal De Villeroi, had refused,
for his captives liberty. u regiment in
the French service and such court offices
as would speedily have insured his for
tune.
In recognition OF the great service of
the Irish that day, and particularly of
his own, to OMahony was given the dis
tlnsuished honor, and at that time and
to such king the very distinguished
honor of being the bearer of dispatches
to Louis of the great danger to Gre
mona, and tho marvellous victory that
followed. AT Versailles he was given
an hours private audience with the
King, who was pleased no less with his
modesty than with his story. lie was
promoted to a colonelcy, was presented
with large gift of money, besides n
comfortable annual pension, but what
pleased him perhaps more was that he
was now given the fullest opportunity
for service and promotion in his profess
sion; and there is scarcely an action
during the subsequent campaigns in
Italy In which his name is not mem
TONED as deserving of honor
But now he has to be transferred to
the final scene of his actions. The Eng.
llsh had been making special efforts to
carry on successful war in Spain, and
oust Philip from the throne to which ho
mad been generally welcomed by the
Spanish people. With some troops Of
their own, of course not Il great many,
and large assistance from their Dutch
Austrian and Portuguese allies. thev
mad been fairly successful The north
and northeastern provinces of Spaiu
then bitterly hating tho rest of tho
country as they do now, had declared
Tor Charles because Philip had been re-
ceived by the south and central nrov-
1nces of the kingdom. They were Car
lists then as they arc Carlists TODAY
and supporters of another Charles. To
END this war and place his grandson
firmly upon the throne. Louis felt the
necessity OF making special effort and
he dispatched thithcr some of his host
troops and most skiHfu officers, among
them being OMahony and His Irish reg
iment of dragons.
Under the leadership of tho duke of
Berwick, tho son OF James H., an OK
ceedinsly able commander, more than
half-lrish in feeling, he was in the thick
OF every fight. and it is safe to say that
during his lifetime no man had
been in moro general actions. His gall
lantry, his humanity and his modesty
made him an especial favorite with all.
strange to say, even with the English.
who hated everything Irish, except. of
course, Irish acres. or this many in
stances might be mentioned, besides the
testimony of Swift and Defoe; one more
SyySIJ JrtNf 60,