The St. Louis Republic., 1902-05-05

League was sent to Castlebar Jail in De-
cember for making speech which the Gov
ernment considered unlawful, has just made
his temperance at the House of Commons
and was seen by the writer last night. IF
bloodshed should result from throwing TO-
90 persons out on the roadside, he said,
there would be an outbreak in ireland that
would have serious consequences for the
Government OF the country"
Patrick OBrien, the senior whip of the
Irish party in the House of Commons, said
We had a struggle with De Freyne In
1893, in which I took a prominent part
went to prison then. we'll as on several
other occasions. and, although 1 have no
particular love for the interior Of these
establishments. 1 am ready to make their
acquaintance again in defense OF De
Freyne's victims. II he persists in his
present attitude the tenants will have the
material. moral and physical support of the
Irish party and the United Irish League.
.'Our people, ever generous in a crisis
like that which is about to be forced upon
US. will come to our assistance financially
and We have no fear for the result. The
last state of Lord de Freyne will be worse
than the first"
IRISH PARTY WILL MAKE
STRUGGLE OF IT'S LIFE.
As an evidence of the determination of
the Irish party to go into this struggle
seriously two members of Parliament-P.
A McHugh. who accompanied John Red
mond on his recent visit TO America, and
John Culinan, member for South Upper
ary-have been detailed TO the scene of
conflict to take the place of the two other
United Leaguers. whose speeches to the
tenants have now landed them in Castelar,
Jail. John Burns went over here. too, on
his own account. and plunged into the
thick of it. as usual, with excellent pros
poets of repeating an experience he had
once before for the same cause and join
ing the other statesmen in prison, which.
If things keep on as at present, will soon
make a fair substitute for an Irish House
of Commons.
All of the Irish Members of Parliament
who care to discuss the situation seem to
look forward to short term in one or an
other Of their native prisons as a part OF
the summers entertainment. There are
not half dozen members of the present
Irish party of five years standing as mem
bers of the Parliament who have not been
in Jail for taking part in the agrarian
movement. Owing to its proximity to the
troublous De Freyne and Murphy estates.
Castiebar Prison has sheltered more OF
these statesmen at one time or another than
any OF the others with which Ireland is
blessed
For the last six months its cells have at
no time held less than two NJ. P.'s. 1t is
the finest building in Mayo and stands in
beautiful grounds. which its principal oc-
cupants declare would be better employed
IN growing potatoes for the nefghborfng
poor. On its fine octagonal towers are eight
pieces of ordnance placed there with the
idea of a possible league assault. Conor
O'Kellv, who has just spent two months
In one of its cells, with the exception of an
hour each day observes that he was not
impressed with the luxury Of his surround
irgs: but added, periodically: 'If I could
get plenty of books and newspapers to read
l would rather be In Castlebar Jail than in
the English House of Commons"
He says the food he received in prison
improved his digestion remarkably.
One Of the most interesting men In the
whole Nationalist movement Is James F.
X O'Brien. the veteran secretary of the
United Irish League. He is a picturesque
back as 1851 he was conyiced of high trea-
son and was sentenced to be hanged,
drawn and quartered," but the sentence
was commuted to penal servitude for life.
After serving in five different prisons in
Ireland and England he was set free, went
to America and found employment in a
drug store In Louisiana. There he married
Miss O'Mailey, sister of the Reverend John
O'Malley Of Castelar,. whose campaign
against Captain Boycott in the early eigh-
ties gave new word to the English
language. Mr. O'Brien entered the Hocse
Of Commons in 1855. and Is now "A years of
age-the oldest member Of the Irish party.
He is, of course. enthusiastic over the re-
markable rise of the league to practically
supreme power in Ireland and memberships
of about 10000.
PEOPLE NEVER SO
UNITED AS AT PRESENT
Never in the history of the land move
ment," said Mr.. O'Brien, "have the people
been SO united. They are determined oncs