Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31
DEATH CLAIMS
IRISH PATRIOT
Michael Davitt Was
Loved on Emerald
Island

Dublin, Ireland. May 31.-After q
long and painful illness Michael Davitt
died peacefully and painlessly at IL
o'clock last night in the presence Of
his oldest son, Michael, and his two
daughters who had devotedly attended
him through his illness. ana many Of
his most intimate friends. including
John Dillon. Shortly before his death
Father Hatton had been with him.
Mrs. Davitt, who had been In constant
attendance on her husband until = few
days ago, when she herself was taken
iii, lies PROSTATE IN the same hospital.
too weak to leave her room or to be
told Of her husbands death.
Michael Davitt was one Of the most
noted Of Irish nationalist leaders. He
rose from the humblest of origins to .
position in the politics Of Great Britain
that ranked beside that Of the greatest
OF those keen PARROTS that Ireland has
sent to represent her in the houses Of
parliament. His parents were Of the
poorer class of West Of Ireland peas
antry, and when he was i've years old
the family was evicted from Its small
holding. The bitterness Of such child
hood as this sank into the soul OF the
future statesman, and not improbably
acted as the spur which sped him up
the heights Of his ambitions. and which
made him one Of the foremost men OF
his country.
His boyhood and youth were spent
in unpleasant surroundings. The fam
lily had removed to Lancashire, and
young Davitt went to work in a cotton
mill, where he lost his right arm in an
accident. Three years of study in q
country town school was all the educa-
ton he received. In 1865 he joined the
Irish revolution that had been initiated
by James Stephens Four years there
after he was tried for treason felony
and was sentenced to fifteen years In
Dartmoor prison, one-half Of which
he served When he came out as q
ticket of-leave man Dublin gave him
a public reception. His public career
dated from that time. He entered the
land agitation, in which he found Par
nell already engaged, and In 1879 he
started this movement In his own
county Of Mayo. IN 1880 he assisted in
the organization OF the land league
and became its leading spirit. He
visited America, organized branch
leagues here. and crossed the CONT
nent from coast to coast energetic and
untiring everywhere.
In 1881 Mr.. Davitt was reimprisoned
on his ticket of leave and served fif-
teen months Incarceration, but was not
required to labor. In 1882 he revisited
America, revived the drooping branch
es Of the league he had founded, and
returned to ireland. where he was soon
again arrested. This time he served
four months in prison. It was while
he was in Portland prison that Mr..
Davitt was elected member OF par
Lament for Meath. but he was not per-
mitted to take his seat. In 1885 he
refused to stand for several Irish COM
| stituencies on the ground Of his OBJ
lection to taking the oath OF allegiance.
And It was not until 1891 that he could
be Induced to forego his prejudices in
this regard. At that time he stood for
Waterford, but was not elected, In the
very next year. however. he was q sue
cessful candidate for the seat repre-
senting North Meath. but was again
disqualified. He was next elected for
Northeast Cork. but resigned. In 1895