The sun., 1899-05-14
IRISHMEN IN GOVERNMENT.
An Interesting Review of the Trishman's
Notable Share in Public Life.

From the Dublin Irish Daily Independent.
Irishmen are on their trial" This is a
phrase which has been constantly on the lips
OF English people Of late The opinion has been
called forth by the Inauguration Of local gov
ernment in Ireland and the new system has
been described as IAN experiment -" n leap in
the dark" OF which none can foretell the conse-
Quences.
Let us take a few typical examples OF the
governing Irishmen. Let US glance at the
careers Of some compatriots who In modern
times have proved the continuity Of the ma
tiona character. the character first exempifed
In the ancient Brehon laws. one Of the wisest.
justest. and most elaborate code Of laws drawn
up in any age or country. the character which
again asserted itself in 1892. the era OF Irish
Legislative independence. when. in the words of
Grattan, public prosperity so crowded on the
heel of the statute that the powers of nature
seemed TO stand at the right hand Of Parlia-
ment."
Spain. France and Austria are the three
countries in which Irishmen have chiefly at
tained renown. both as soldiers and statesmen
but their footprints may also be traced in the
camps and Senates OF Russia and Holland. Ba-
vara. Portugal and Poland
From the fight OF the earls down to the
present day the names OF Irishmen have been
entwined with the fortunes OF Spain. O'Donel
dictator at Madrid: O'Relly. Amba ssador from
Spain to the Court OF Louis XIV: Patrick Law
less. Ambassador from Portugal to the same
court: O'Sullvan grandee of Spain; O'Rely
Kavanagh and Nugent. Austrian Marshals:
Lacy and Browne. Russian Marshals and these
are few Of the names which spring to ones
mind
The O'Dones Of Spain. the Taafes OF Aus
tria and the MacMahons OF France are perhaps
the foremost O'Done Duke OF Tetuan. is
one OF the most influential grandees OF Spain.
a position which he and his ancestors have
gained in recognition Of valuable services rem
dered to the State. The career OF the Irish
Austrian Taates is no less illustrious. During
the seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries
their names have been blazoned On the roll Of
sRa who % NhGs Noa sss famous h Fsa Ssoa1 Mar a
Belgrade over the Turks. and whose son sue
ceeded him in turn to the post OF hamberlain
az example OF administrative genius the late
Prime Minister, Count Francis Taafe. is the
nblest Of Austria statesmen. and it Is a a sig i
nlfc,ant fact that his policy always trended In
to S vsoas ss
thg year in which Isaac Butt started his home
Ministry: to grant autonomy to bohemia. u HIS
was strikinglv recognized at tho time OF the
American war Of Independence. when the
The oilcers Of the Irish Brigade Under SfiS Eafay
ette whose regiments engaged in the cam
indian ISLANDS which they had prevousy aH Ssse con
quered. .O,Dunn became Goverqor Of Granada.
Dillon Of St Christopher. and Fitzmauriee OF
Governors was equally praised by the English.
Frepch re- n, and American an gnIyernmsnts II s
which the Irish element is the most promi-
argument it. perhaps. affords a better illustra-
for on the Continent Of Europe the Irishmen
who have distinguished themselves belong. for
%e S ee It Is sa IN the the
classes. who administer public affairs. and the
rank and Ale Ale have acquitted themselves OF the
II From 70 nth tho me when Dillon of the Irish
Brigade eagerly demanded leave Of Louis XVI.
to embark his regiment to Join the American
forces to the present day. when President Nc
sts n hn 6pmse Gst
foremost In the civil and military affairs Of the
great republic.
post, Of Governor Of British colonies and de-
pendenelss, or engaged in other administrative
greatly in excess q their numbers and inhI-
ence as citizens OF the same empire. BY sheer
force OF merit and talent h they have forced their
Governors and Premiers are perhaps more
prosaic than those of the Continental statesmen
backwoods OF Canada or the bush OF Australia
may not be such dazzling work as presiding
over the destnies OF the Old World powers. but
the task may prove more solid and enduring
one when the history OF the future comes TO be
written
colony. Bvrnrs. o Loughlin and q 'Shaughnessy
being some OF the leading names.
Tl's glance at the careers Of few governing
lri@hmrn may serve 10 remind some onlookers
OF the high traditions Of the race; That Irish
there Is no reason to doubt.