The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-03-22
THE KINGS ENVOY TO AFRICA.

THE KINGS ENVOY TO AFRICA.
The fact that King Edward VII, by
the grace of God, has dispatched Field
Marshal Wolseley as envoy to South
Africa is evidence galore that the cap
ture of Lord Methuen has produced a
deep impression Oh the royal mind.
His majesty realizes the situation and
fears that instead of adding the two
Boer republics to his "dominons be-
You'd the sea-" lie will lose Cape Col
Ony and Natal unless the war is
brought to Il speedy termination. He
appears to be convinced that the
Beers will never surrender uncondi-
tionally, as demanded by Salisbury
and Chamberlain, and hence without
consulting either of these jingoes, he
selected the former commandments
chief Of the army, pronounced Lib
eral in politics. to proceed to the scene
J. wAr ana report to him personally
how things are.
His majesty could not have made Il
better choice. Though quite old, Lord
WOlseley is yet in his mental vigor.
He combines the genius of a success
full warrior with high diplomatic gifts.
This is the fourth time he has been
sent to South Africa on important mis-
sions. Like Lord Roberts and Lord
Kitchener he is an Irishman. The
Marquise de Fontenoy, who knows
the pedigree of the British nobility,
gives the following sketch of his fam
lily:
Ills branch Of the Wolselcy family
has been fixed in Ireland for several
hundred years, chiefly in Carlow and
Wexford. The origin of the family is,
however, English, and it's chief, Sir
Charles WOlseley, who is married to
California girl, is still in possession
today Of the deer park in England
which his ancestor inclosed in the
reign OF King Edward Nv. While
Lord Wolseley was in command of
the forces in Ireland, he undertook to
repair the family vault in County
Wexford, and found that the collins of
several of his ancestors had been
smashed open for the purpose of OBJ
tanning the lead with which they were
lined for use as bullets by the insur-
gents in the Irish revolution in 1903,
the skulls and bones being Uttered all
over the floor of the vault. Sir Charles
Wolseley was one of Oliver Crom-
wells thirteen lords, and another Sir
Charles Wolsclcy, a cousin of the
Field Marshal, was about the only
country gentleman who supported the
Chartists towards the middle of last
century, and was sentenced to eigh-
teen months imprisonment, for his
share in the Chartist agitation. Lord
WOlseley is not Il Victoria Cross man.
1t is one of the rare decorations and
orders which he does not possess. But
there are few veterans, either of the
British or OF any other army, whose
body shows the scars of more wounds
received In action or who have long
er list Of feats of personal gallantry
to their record. Moreover, there is
probably no soldier in the English
army who has made n more compre-
hensive study of the military situation
in America than Lord Wolseley. He
is one of the principal historians of
the civil war, many phases of which
he followed here in person, and con-
siders General Lee to have been. one
of the greatest military commanders
of the nineteenth century"
When he was Sir Garnet Wolseley
he suppressed the Riel rebellion in
Manitoba. On more than one occasion
he has expressed pride on being an
1rishnfan and is more popular with
the Irish Nationalists than either
Roberts or Kitchener OF course, he