The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-01-19
rF1EIRISH ANDBOERS.
HOLLAND ONCE RlsKED ALI
FOR IRELAND.

,SSs ~ " s t--T-r --------l
And the Lattsr's sympathy for the
Burghers OF South Afrioa y Natural
- chsptsrS q Past History-Ead Of
Batavia.
The sympathy which the Irish ex-
press for the Beers today in the lat
ter's struggle against the British in
South Africa has strong historical
foundation, says the New York Sun.
One hundred years ago Holland, then
known as the Batavian republic, risked
its all in an effort to rescue Ireland
from the yoke of England. and though
Its sacrifices were unavailing Irishmen
will ever gratefully remember them.
The story Of this alliance between the
Irish and the Dutch and the chivalrous
and self-sacriflcing action of the latter
may be Interestingly recalled at the
present time. The union was brought
about by Theoba.d Wolfe Tone, whose
undaunted energy, as restless as the
sea. and whose extraordinary genius
for organizing and bringing to the aid
Of his schemes cabinets who were in
different when not hostile, have scarce
ly a parallel in history. He was the
first great Irish republican.
Wolfe Tone was the son of Dublin
coachmaker and the organizer of the
Society of United Irishmen, whose up
rising in 1898 came very near shaking
off the grasp of England. On account
Of his relations with the Rev. William
Jackson, a protestant clergyman, who
was sent by the French government
as an emissary to Ireland, Tone had to
fly to America, and in August, 1895,
reached Wilmington on the Delaware
river. He was then about 30 years of
age. But Punishment from his native
land did not sever his heart from it
nor weaken his resolve to make it free.
In few days he secured an interview
with the French minister in Philadel-
phia, then the capital of the United
States, and the following February
found him in Havre, whence he imme-
diately proceeded to Paris. The diff
culties he first encountered would nave
crushed the hopes and heart of any
one less undaunted and resourceful.
Fortunately the American minister
was friendly to him. and Tone before
long found himself discussing with
Carnot. Hoche. Napoleon and the
French directory plans and expeditions
for the invasion of Ireland.
The result was that the following
December an expedition comprising
forty-three sail and having on board
$4,000 troops, $4,000 stand of arms, ar
tillery, ammunition, etc. sailed from
Brest. The fleet had little more than
cleared the shores of France when. a
storm arose which scattered the ships,
and, the weather continuing foul, they
were never reunited. A few of them
reached the point of destination, Ban
try bay.> but Gen. Grouchy (the same
who afterward failed Napoleon at
Waterloo) refused to make landing
In the absence of Hoche, the COM
mander in chief Of the expedition,
though he was urged to do 80 by
Tone, who was with him aboard the
same ship. Reverses seemed but to
strengthen the purposes of Wolfe
Tone, and, urged on by his ceaseless
energy, the French directory author
lied another expedition, but none of
them ever effected landing in Ireland
except a puny and belated one under
Gen. Humbert.
The foregoing indicates the charac-
ter Of an extraordinary young man in
an extraordinary age, and will serve
as an introduction in the Batavian re-
public and the compact he established
there in 1reland's behalf He had won
the respect Of Napoleon, who expressed
his regret at st. Helena that he had
not followed Wolfe Tones advice by
striking at England in Ireland instead
of in Egypt; he had commanded the
esteem of Carnot, the great war min
lister, the organizer of victory" and
OF the greatest men in the French
directory, but, seeing no immediate
opportunity Of accomplishing anything
more in Paris in furtherance of his
great projects, he cast his eyes toward
the little republic on the North sea.
And SO in the early half of 1897 he
turned his footsteps toward The
Hague, and then was formed that
friendly alliance between the Dutch
and the Irish which survives so
strongly today. Wolfe Tone at once
set to work to lay his plans before the
Batavian ministers, and, as that coun-
try and France were allies at the time,
and both being hostile to England, his
task was less difficult than he had an
ticipated. He was assisted, too, by his
and Ireland's great friend, Gen. Hoche,
who, unfortunately for both. died while
in command Of the French army of the
Sombre and the Meuse, and nearly a
month before the Dutch expedition for
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