The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-04-03
CLEVELAND AND COLLINS.

err, in which Patrick A. Collins OF Bos-
ton has honorable mention. 1t will be
remembered that Collins renominated
Cleveland in the st. Louis convention
of 1888. and that his speech on the oc-
casion did not suffer in comparison
with the nomination speech of Cleve-
land by Daniel Dougherty in 1884, nor
with the speech of Bourke Cochran
against Cleveland in the Chicago wig
wan, when that brilliant Irishman
then almost unknown, achieved the
reputation of being one of the greatest
orators ever heard at a political con-
vention in this country.
Patrick A. Collins was a remarkable
man. Born in Cork, he emigrated to
the United States when mere boy,
and without any influence to back him,
he rose by inherent talent to be men,
Der of congress, the mayor of Boston,
and one Of the foremost Irishmen Of
New England. He obtained national
reputation in the campaign of 1884 by
his Albany speech for Cleveland when
the latter was governor of New York
and candidate for the presidency. A
campaign Of detraction was waged
against the Buffalo ex- mayor and sher-
lift by the Republicans, and P. A. COL
Inns came to his rescue. He visited
Cleveland at Albany and in an inter-
view lasting an hour piled him, in a
hunt, straightforward way, with ques-
tions about his moral indiscretions, to
which Cleveland candidly answered.
Collins said of the interview:
In all my experience ! have never
been so much impressed with any man
upon a. first interview as I was with
Mr.. Cleveland. He told me Just what
I wanted to know, was as frank and
open as manly boy, and came away,
after less than an hour, determined to
do everything in my power to remove
unjust Impressions. and to render
whatever assistance I could toward
his election"
The tide Of calumny and villiflcation
against Governor Cleveland ebbed
away after Collins speech at Albany
and he was elected over Blaine because
Of the cowardice Of the latter in listen
ing without rebuke to the Rum Ro-
manism and Rebellion" address of the
bigoted Burchard.
Everybody supposed that P. A. COL
Inns would receive a cabinet appoint
ment from Cleveland. Collins was
an unselhsh man who supported
Cleveland on principle and wanted no
reward for his services. He went on
with his law practice and never asked
anything Of Cleveland. His friends,
however interested themselves in his
behalf. Governor Russell Of Massa-
chusetts got the appointment for him
Of Consul General at London, England.
When the matter was preached to
President Cleveland, he said:
II think it exceedingly fitting that
this appointment be made. As rule,
am not in favor Of sending natural
tied citizens in an offlcial capacity to
the countries of their BIRTH but, In this
case. 1t seems to me most appropriate
that 1t should be done. Whel I re
member that here Ia a man who, COM
ing to this country as a boy entered
an Ohio coal mine at II, learned to
read after he was IA. graduated from
the Harvard law school at 81. and en-
tered the politics Of his adopted state
at 26. soon to become one of her most
influential citizens. 1t is impossible for
me to conceive Of any recognition as
being too high for him."
Collins received the lucrative ap-
pointment and discharged the duties Of
the office Of consul general in an en-
tirely satisfactory manner. On his re-
turn home he was elected mayor Of
Boston. the city of the Puritans, not
withstanding his creed and nationality.
He is one Of the four Irish Catholic
others being o'Brien. Mcguire and
Fitzgerald, and to their credit be 1t
said that no graft" was tolerated dur
ing their administrations.
P. A. Collins never forgot the land
Of his nativity. On all occasions he
was ready with his eloquent tongue
to advocate the cause of Ireland, and
when John Boyle O'Reilly visited Bos-
ton after escaping from his Australian
guardsmen. the first man to grasp his
hand was the poor Cork boy who had
risen to prominence by force Of native
genius. He secured employment for
o'Reilly in an English steamship ONCE
as a clerk, but when 1t was reported to
the company in England that an Irish
felon, transported by the British gov
eminent. was in its employ at Boston.
o'Reilly was peremptorily discharged
Collins, however, remained the friend