The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-06-04
Success of Hugh Mahon, Coercion Felon,
Who Occupies One Of the Foremost
Posts in Australia.
winston .Churchill's Breakdown, in the Mid
die. of His Speech, Recalls Similar
Past Happenings.

in Ireland volume of his poems and
an edition Of his prose writings which
form worthy centenary commemora-
ton to Mangan.
1t is a long time since one Of our
young poets sang with great truth ga
felon's caps the noblest crown an Irish
head can wear" The recent appoint
ment to the postmaster-generalship of
Australia recalls the line to my men,
ory.
Hugh A1ahon, a native of Portarling.
ton, went some twenty years ago to the
county Wexford to act as reporter upon
country paper there. He entered
heart and soul into the Land league
fight in the stirring days of that agi-
tation.
Under the coercion act he was one
of 100 persons imprisonedout with trial
in 1881 on the terrible charge of clay
ing himself open to the suspicion of
being lawless and turbulent person."
his word sand actions were a menace
to the British realm geenrally and to
the Irish subjects Of her late Majesty
Queen Victoria God bless hery in par
ticular.
Like many another of his fellow sus-
poets, Hugh Mahon's health was great
ly impaired by his Imprisonment, and
when he emerged from the Jail gate his
lungs were in such condition that the
doctor told him his only chance of life
was immediate departure for warm
climate. More than twenty years ago,
then an almost penniless boy, Hugh
AIahon sailed for the southern world
to seek life and the means of support
ing life.
The other day he was appointed to
the postmaster-generalship of Austria
! liza. Hugh Mahon is not the first, nor
vet the hundred and first, Irish crimi-
nal and Irish felon who has ulled fore
most posts in the great lands over the
seas.
Mr.. Winston Churchill's complete
breakdown in the middle of speech in
parliament the other day, from sudden
memory failure, reminds the critics
that his father, Lord Randolph Church
had similar breakdown in speech
in parliament just ten years before al
| most to the very day.
1t may not be generally known that
the famous Addison, who utterly broke
down on his first attempt to speak in
the English parliament, was later
member Of the Irish parliament, sitting
for the county Cavan, having been sent
over to Ireland as chief secretary; and
though he utterly failed in the English
parliament he attempted again to speak
in the Irish house when the county
Cavan sent him there to represent it.
Having carefully prepared a speech
upon one of the burning topics of the
day, he arose from his seat and began:
"Mr. Speaker, I conceive"
Here the great essayist came to a
full and sudden stop. Then he shifted
his weight from one foot to the another,
and upon this fresh understanding be-
gan again. II conceive, Mr.. Speaker
-" and again Mr.. Addison paused
confusedly.
He shifted weighty responsibility
now from his left foot to his right,
took long breath, and said, "Sir, say
1 conceive" Then the great man,
frightened to death at the sound of his
own voice, and his memory utterly fee
ing him, came to dead stop.
One of the many wags then in the
Irish parliament jumped up, and ad-
dressing the speaker, said:
"Sir, the honorable member has con.
ceived three times and brought forth
nothing. He should perceive that he
deceives both himself and the house
and sit down."
Mr.. Addison Topped down in his seat
and, in parliamentary language, never
got on his feet again.
Alas! the youth of both sexes are
still streaming from our shores. The