The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-16

land against the government might be
successful"
Mitchell boldly defed the Castle, and
practically challenged it to arrest him.
He thought he had the country with
him, and 80 he had in one sense, but
when he attempted revolution without
any of the means OF revolution at his
command he made a political blunder.
He dared the Castle to arrest him and
the Castle answered the dare.
Mitchell was arrested, tried and trans
ported to Bermuda. This was the
turning point OF the revolution. The
Mitcllelites wished TO rise in rescue.
They urged, and rightly urged, that ii
revolution was meant at all, then was
the time But the less extreme men held
back. An autumnal rising had been de-
cided upon, and they were unwilling to
anticipate the struggle. They carried
their point. Mitchell was sentenced to
fourteen years transportation. Wien
the verdict was delivered he declared
that, like the Roman Scaevola, he could
promise hundreds who would follow his
example, and as he spoke he pointed 10
John Martin, Meaghcr and others OF his
associates who were thronging the gal
leries OF the court. A wild cry came
up from all his friends, Promise for
me, Mitchel!-promise for mel" There
is not more impressive, more dra-
ratically tragic scene in the whole OF
history With that cry OF nations
promise ringing in his ears, he was hur-
ried from the court heavily ironed and
encircled by little army OF Dragons,
20 the war sloop Clearwater that had
been waiting for the verdict and the
man. AS the war sloop steamed out OF
Dublin harbor the hopes OF the Young
Irelandcrs went with her, vain and
'vanesccnt, from that hour forth, as the
smoke that floated in the steamer
wake. There is pathetic little story
which records his looking out of the
prison van that drove from the court.
and seeing a great crowd and asking
where they were going, and being told
that they were going to flower show.
There were plenty OF nlcn in the move
ment who would gladly have risked
everything to try and rescue Mitchell
But nothing could have been done
without unaninity, and the too great
caution OF the leaders prevented the ef-
ort at the only moment when it could
have had the faintest hope OF success.
From that hour the movement was
doomed.
Mitchell escaped from prison under
circumstances which raised contro-
versy, into which I shall not enter. He
settled down in America as journalist.
He lived for awhile in Paris, and fel-
low corntryman, who is at once a
bright and witty writer, John Angus
tus O'Sllea, has left in one OF his books
most interesting account of his &C
quaintance with Mitchell during those
Partisan days. During his American
life, when the civil war, the great
American Had, broke out, Mitchell
found himself on the opposite side in
politics from his comrade, Meagher.
Meagher wore the blue uniform OF a
Federal officer; Mitchel's oNo sons met
their death CALAMITY while wearing the
gray cloth OF the Confederate service.
Years and years later Mitchell came
back to the land OF his birth. He was
elected to Parliament for Tippcrary, his
election was disqualified after a fierce,
angry debate in the House OF Com
mons; he was reelected only to die
nine days later; he lies buried in his
birthplace, in the County OF Derry.
Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, who has
given pen portraits OF his colleagues,
thus depicts Mitchell: "He was father
above the middle size, we'll made and
with a face which was thoughtful and
conely, though pensive blue eyes and
masses of soft, brown hair. stray ring
let OF which he had the habit OF twning
around his finger while he spoke, gave
it perhaps too feminine a cast" An
other friend OF Mitcllcls has spoken to
me OF his wavy hair drawn across his
lorehead OF his eyes, very bright, and
often half closed in an almost anguish
ing fashion, and OF his SOFT selni-ca-
rcssing, attractive manner. He was al
all times OF curious, ilnpetuous hui
NOR.
Shortly before he brought out hi:
own newspaper he was standing in tbs
printing room OF a we'll known news.
paper i'll the south OF Ireland talking tc
its editor, an able and sincere Irishnal
who played a conspicuous part in Par
lament, and who is now dead The cdi
tor was Directing to the name OF Mitch
els paper, which he thought might be
likely to rouse discussion or disapprov
al. My dear fellow" Mitchell an
swered swiftly. Il would call my papc,
The Thug ii | thought by so doing
could arouse more general attention Il
Irish wrongs" On another occasion liz
met i'll society at some public Dime
or such matter a well known Englisl
writer and politician. David Urquhart
Mr.. Urqul,art was gifted, opinionated
vehement man who had lived much ii