The Irish standard., 1910-02-26
VIEWS OF OTHERS.
Good WORDS for GilhooIy.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Good Words for Gilhooiy.
Editor of the Irish Standard:
In your issue of February the 18th,
there appeared an article anent the
Irish members elected at the late cleo
ton.
If this appeared other than as an
editorial carrying weight, would be
willing to pass it by unnoticed as fac
tional: but having the stamp of a
paper that in Irish matters always
seems to play fair, wish to state
that know some Of the men you refer
to, and on the character of these men
we differ.
You make an exception of William
O'Brien and why? Is it because he is
rich? He has done no more or worked
longer in the Irish cause than some
others whom you condemn. l speak
for one whom I know from childhood.
AS boys we went to school together,
we had our scraps as other boys had:
as youths we both swore allegiance to
the Irish Republic in the old Abbey
at Bantry; have watched his career
in Parliament for the last twenty five
years. 1 last met him twenty years
ago in London when he was attending
Parliament, at which time I was
honored by a. seat under the clock and
there met some thirty or forty of his
Irish compatriots, including the late
lamented Michael Davitt; and l have
yet to meet a man who knows him
to question his honesty This man is
the member for West Cork, James Gill
hooly.
You asked the question what has he
done? You might ask what has not
the British Government done to him
but hang him? He has spent a large
portion of his life in prison for his
people. When I last saw him he was
bald and gray, although only past for
ty. He has been the champion Of his
people all his life, and they appreciate
1t by returning him, again and again.
as their representative without the aid
of Tory votes; (Which you can't say
of 'O'Brien); Notwithstanding he was
born and is still poor man.
A mans neighbors know him best
and this mans neighbors were the
first to elect him over the rich Tory
candidate, John Warren Payne, TWEEN
ty-five years ago, and keep on electing
him. Only in your issue of February
the 5th, find him defending his peo-
pie in an ejectment case at Gaugane
Barra. You may not know him, Mr..
Editor, but there are men in the Da-
kotas, Montana and Wyoming, read
ers of your paper, who can verify my
statement.
ty, but l don't believe in mud singing,
had mud slung at myself, because
I carried a gun with O'Neill into Cana
da forty years ago. A man is supposed
to represent the people that elect him,
(without the aid of Tory votes). and
l presume he is voicing his peoples
sentiments, otherwise they would not
elect him.
There were Irishmen who questioned
us when we were organizing the Land
League some years ago. but the Land
League has done for the Irish people
what all other organizations have
failed to do, although the credit of
preparing the Irish people by organi-
"a ton is due more to James Stephens
and the Fenian brotherhood than to
any other means.
Give credit where credit is due-to
James Stephens. the great organizer
and to Jim Gilhooly, his disciple, who
has given his life to the cause of Ire
land.
Respectfully yours,
MICHAEL O'SHEA.
Spokane, Wash,
Feb. IS, 1910.
Washington, Soldier and statesman.
no. T. ~