The Irish standard., 1900-08-25
What William j. Onahan Says of
the Dead Jurist.
FORENSIC ORATOR OF HIGHEST RANK
He Distinguished Himself in the
Case of Parnell.

The character and qualities of the
late Chief Justice Russell of England
recall the pages in which Richard
Lalor Shiel described the giants of the
Irish bench and bar who were famous
for learning and wit during the early
part of the century, says William j..
Onahan in the Chicago Times Herald.
Lord Russell, I do not hesitate to say,
was the ablest Irishman of his genera
tion. His death has already called
forth tribute from journals of the most
divergent politics and from public men
who represent every element of popu-
lar influence.
1t is now about twenty-five years
ago since Charles Russell came into
general public notice as rising law
yer, who had already given unmis.
taxable evidence of the highest capa>
city and had shown his power in some
of the most important cases entered
in the Irish courts of law. Early in
the famous Land League agitation he
entered parliament and quickly forged
to foremost position in the ranks Of
the Irish national party by reason of
his ability and high character. BY in
stinct and training a Conservative, he
was too strongly entrenched in sound
political principles to follow the Land
League party in all it's fights and vag-
aries. At the same time his loyalty to
the popular cause was never ques-
toned. His powerful gifts as a law
yer were conspicuously shown in the
celebrated cause in which the honor
and political fortunes of the Irish lead
er-Parnell-werca at stake and on the
result of which the London Times had
staked almost it's own existence. The
incidents of that famous trial and the
uneNampled triumph Won by Mr.. Rus
sell for his client form now one of the
most remarkable chapters in English
law history.
How the Irish barrister rose from
the ranks of his profession to the
highest honors at the English bar and
courts, finally crowning his wonderful
career by winning the lofty post of
Lord Chief Justice of England-all
this is we'll known. Nor does this
scale of ascending promotion and high
dignities need detailed mention in this
notice. Lord Russelrs success and
triumphs were won, as has been said,
through none Of the petty agencies by
which oftentimes honor and distinc-
tions are obtained in England, as
elsewhere. He had no powerful alli-
ances to push his fortune; no friends
in high places to plead for him, and
no political party behind him whose
influence was to be placated. On the
contrary, everything was against him.
He had to overcome the prejudice, not
yet dead in England, against the ma
tive Irishman, and especially against
the Roman Catholic Irishman.
His supremacy of intellect when pit
ted against the most accomplished
lawyers of England quickly asserted
itself. Prejudices melted and gave way
under the captivating personality of a
man so variously gifted. Matchless in
legal learning, of persuasive and strik-
ing cloquence, possessing, it may be
said, the wit of Curran, the power Of
Plunkett, with the shining grace of
Grattan, Englishmen forgot that he
was of the "alien" race, and, greater
effort still, forgot that he was Ro-
man Catholic, in the face of the great
triumphs he won in their courts and
parliament as a pleader, legislator
and jurist. But it is only just to
say that Englishmen Of late years are
fast surrendering the old-time unhap.
py prejudices which so long have sep
arated the nationalities and kept the
cold faith under ban of distrust.
Many different symptoms and indica-
tions during recent years in England
and elsewhere throughout the British
dominion at home and abroad serve to
demonstrate the justice of this asser-
ton.
|, The rise of Lord Russell is, doubt
less, the most striking example. Un-
like some Irishmen, he never abated
one jot, in public or private speech or
act, in loyalty to the old land. Never
did he swerve in his uncompromising
devotion to his religious faith. Not