The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-03
HON. JOHN F. FINERTY,
The St. Patrick's Day Orator at the
Exposition,

Exposition.
The following sketch of John +. Fin
erty, the famous orator who will speak
on The Story OF ireland" in this city
on the evening of St. Patrick's Day,
will be read with interest at this time:
John Frederick Fincrty was born in
Ireland in 1916. AS a STRIPPING he be-
came connected will, the Irish revolu-
tlonary movement, and was forced to
leave Ireland in consequence He ar
rived in America early in 1864, and
joined New York volunteer regiment,
in which he served until its disband-
nent. Mr. Finerty became connected
in temporary capacity with the Chi
cago daily press in 1866, and got per-
manent engagement on the Republican
in 1868. He witnessed the two Fenian
movements on the Canadian frontier.
At the time of the great Chicago fire
he was city editor of the Republican;
subsequently he served on the Post,
then on the Tribune, and, finally in
1875, became connected with the Chi
cago Times. In May, 1876, he was de-
tailed by Editor Storey of that paper to
accompany the column OF the late Gen
eral Crook against the hostile Sioux
and Cheyenne tribes. He was present
at most of the Indian battles of that
memorable year, and was specially
mentioned by General Crook in orders
for good conduct in the field, particu-
larly in connection with the famous
"Sibley Scout" In 1877 he wrote TIP,
among other things, the Rio Grande
frontier trouble, from both the Texan
and Mexican sides OF the river In
1880 he made an almost complete tour
of Old Mexico (traveling through the
republic on horseback or by blackboard
from the capital to FL Paso del Norte).
In the spring of 1879 he visited the
Indian Territory, and described for the
Times the "boomer" troubles on the
Canadian river. In July he joined Gen
eral Miles expedition against the Sioux
in northern Montana, crossed the Brit
ish line, and visited the hostile village
of Sitting Bull and Rain-in-the-Face at
Woody mountains. In October he ac-
companied General Mcrritts column
operating against the Ute Indians, who
had murdered Agent Mccker and de-
fcated and killed Major Thornburgh in
the wilds OF Colorado. In 1880 he made
complete tour OF the Southern states
and in the succeeding year, wrote up
the country traverscd by the Canadian
and Northern Pacific railroads, then in
process of construction. He aftcrward
crossed the continent, mainly ON horse
back Or by stage, and in September,
1881, joined General Carr in Arizona
during that officers campaign against
the murderous Apachcs. He had sew
eral narrow escapes from capture and
death at the hands of the hostiles while
making fnispcrii ious- II p,
In 1882 Mr. Finerty severed his con-
nection with the Times and founded the
Chicago Citizen, which he still edits
He was elected to congress in the fall
of that year, and distinguished himself
in the House by effective speeches in
advocacy of the new navy and coast for
LITIGATION bills. In 1884 he supported
Mr.. Blaine for the presidency.
Space will not permit entering more
fully into Mr.. Finerty's political career,
but it may be truthfully said he always
takes a deep interest in the public al
fairs of the United States. He also aid
ed Parnell materially in his struggle for
Irish autonomy, and is sympathizer
with the cause of human liberty every
where.
He delivered the Washington Grafton
at the University Of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, Feb. 22, 1891, and received an
ovation from both the faculty and the
students. He was also a principal
speaker at the John A. Logan and
James G.. Blaine memorial meetings in
Chicago, and received the cncomiums
of the daily press after both events.
He published in 1890 his personal mar
rativcs of the Sioux wars. called "War-
path and Bivouac,' which had large
sale, and was favorably noticed by the
leading newspapers and periodicals Of
the United States, Canada and Great
Britain He has another book in course
OF preparation.
Mr. Fincrty is veteran lecturer on
American-Irish and cosmopolitan sub
jccts. He never uses notes or manu-
script, but having made himself thor
oughly familiar with the subject in
hand, relies upon the words fitting the
text. During his journalistic career he
reported the lectures OF Wendell Phil
lips, Henry Ward Beecher, Carl Schurz,
Professor Bellew, Edward Everett
Hale, Robert Collyer, Professor Swing.
Dwight Moody, Father Tom Burke,
Wilkie Collins and other celebrities, and
became convinced that the speaker who
did not use manuscript took best with
the American people.