The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-12-07
Patriot and Orator in the Emerald Isle
and Gallant General in
the Union Army.
Thomas Francis Meagher, the Pure Patriot
Lies in the Waters of the
Mighty Missouri.

There was 10 movement in ireland
more fruitful Of brilliant men thar
| that of the Irish Confederation, il
tSl7 and 1S4S, and the most brilliant
of them all was Thomas Flunci.
Meagher.
When he was sentenced, in 1S4S
to the awful death of being hanged
drawn and quartcred, he had bccl
but two short years before the pub
lie, vet in that short space of time h(
had filled Europe and America will
his fame, and stood before the worlC
as its foremost patriot and orator. In
beauty of language, dramatic force
and patriotic fervor, he stood alone in
his time, and to this day his great clo
quence stands unrivaled. lie was the
brilliant leader of Il glorious organiza-
tiOn, and his voice sounded through
out the world as the trumpet blast OF
freedom in every land, says writer
i'm the National Hibernian.
His glowing words almost rccreatetl
Ireland. They raised her from the
nightmare of despair in which she had
lain since '9s. and but for the sad III
tcrventiOn of disease and famine,
would have succeeded in making her
free and independent for all tine.
What Grattan was to the Volunteers
OF 'S2 Mcaghcr was to the Confeder
ntcs of 'iS. and Grattan's son tells us
that Mcaghcr's speeches displayed the
talent of .Junins, the spirit of Burke,
and the courage OF Flood and Burgh.
Mcaghcr's life lis 80 filled with STIR
ring incidents and tragic events
that we cannot in this sketch do full
justice to his career. We can only
by briefly nlluding to it's lending fca
lures, point the way to it's proper
study and appreciation. His active life
opened with the awful scenes Of the
Irish famine and closed in the rush
ing waters of the Missouri. In the
intervening twenty years he was sen
fenced to death in Ireland; hc was
an exile in Van Deman's Land, Il SOL
dicr of freedom, ana general in
America, and throughout all lie re-
manned to Ireland most devoted son.
He was born I'M the city of Water
ford on the 23d OF August, 1923. His
grandfather was one OF the Tippcrary
Mcaglcls, who had cmigratcd to New
fOundland in early life and succeeded
in building up a most prosperous trade
bctwecn that country and the city of
Waterford, where he sent his son
TlIomas-thc father of the subject of
our sketcll-tO represent his interests.
The young man soon became one of
the leading merchants in that city,
and in the course of time married the
daughter Of Mr.. Quan, of the firm of
Wysc, Cnshin a. Guam. The happy
couple were married in the brides
home, a historic building on the Quay
Of Waterford, which was aftcrward
known as Commins Hotel. And it was
in this house, within full view of the
noble SUR and the beautiful scenery
Of Kilkenny beyond, that Thomas
Francis Mcagllcr was born.
In his early childhood he lest his
mother, and hcnccforth his life was
guided and tcnderly cared for by his
aunt, Miss Guam, who also paid the
devoted attentions Of mother to his
younger brother, and in after years to
his own son, who was born during his
exile in Australia.
The first ten years Of his life were
spent in his native home. His time
was occupied in preparing for college
and in visiting the historic scenes
around him. From his window he
could see the tall SUBMITS of the Com.
mcraghs and the majestic Slicvena.
mon, while from his favOrite play.
ground, the misnamed Mount Misery
he could follow the silvery SUR in all