The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-07-08
AxCHARACTER SKETCH
Of William O'Brien, Founder of the
United Irish League. n

The great National movement, says
the Northern Star, which may be said
to have begun with the initiation of
Joseph Biggar's policy of obstruction
in the house OF commons, and which
first assumed definite popular form when
Michael Davitt founded the Land
League in 1879, has produced many
dramatic figures, and has been brin1ful
OF sensational and tragic incidents Some
great and many notable men have risen,
played their parts and fallen in the fray
or vanished from public life during its
progress. Much has been won-and we
have failed to secure much that was
within our grasp. The ardour of many
has been chilled by trials and disap-
pointments, and weaker spirits have
fallen out of the fight, leaving their
names and deeds but memories to the
people. But there are men who know
not despair or its meaning, and who
find in failure and disappointment only
| incentives to fresh exertion and re-
newed effort. Such men were at the
start OF the movement. They are with
us today as earnest, as devoted, and as
hopeful as ever. OF all the veterans
three loom largest in the public eye just
now. They are William O'Brien, Mi
chael Davitt and John Dillon.
William O'Brien comes of a rebel
stock. His father was one of the lead
ers OF the Young Ireland Movement in
Cork county in 1848, and it was not sur-
prising that when there was danger to
be faced in 1867 the eldest son OF the
rebel of '4S-James O'Brien, whose
name is one to conjure with still
amongst the "Old Guard" in the South
was one OF the most daring and reck-
less of all the brave fellows who longed
day and night for the opportunity
TO strike one gallant blow the 'venge
of years." During the Fenian years
William O'Brien was mere youtll-he
was born at Mallow, the birthplace OF
Thomas Davis and Archbishop Croke,
in IS52-but we may be sure that amidst
such associations the mind OF the future
tribune was imbued with the Nationalist
ideas which have ever been the main
springs of his active and remarkable
public life. For MIR. O'Brien's heart
and soul are absolutely devoted to the
Irish cause. His is the temperament OF
those enthusiasts whose very existence
has exalted and ennobled the history OF
the human race. To raise the Irish
people out OF the slough OF Slavery, to
make them the citizens of a nation free
and dsenthralled-to save the remnant
of her people and give them an oppor-
tunity OF fulfilling their destiny as the
inleritors OF all the glorious traditions
OF the grand old Celt1c race-such have
been the objects OF such strenuous and
sustained effort as few men have ever
devoted to the service OF our cause since
the struggle for Irish freedom began.
| We have no space to dwell upon the
manifold events of so full and varied
a career When only boy, the pro-
rrictor of the Cork Herald, the late
Alderman Maggie, was so struck with
the merits OF descriptive sketch OF the
trial of some Fenian prisoners that All
cfler OF a position as reporter on that
paper soon reached the youthful Mallow
man. Mr.. O'Brien remained in Cork
until 1876, when he came to Dublin
where he did brilliant work for tho
Freeman's Journal, his articles on the
impoverished condition OF the tenants
on the Buckley estate. near Mitchels-
town, and his descriptions OF the terrible
state OF affairs in Mayo during 1879
having been very considerable factors
i'll directing public attention to the tyr
amy OF the landlords, and strengthen
ing the position OF the Land League
lust then founded by Michael Davitt.