New-York tribune., 1910-06-24
British General as Eenisn.

General Sir William Butler, who died SO
suddenly the other day, was, believe, the
only officer OF his rank OF the British army
eho was sn openly avowed Home Ruler,
teing. indeed. known al the War Depart
rsnt as the Fenian," and II was on ac-
9unt Of his political views with regard to
Iash affairs that an important Irish COM
zsRd was denied him which he would
s.aerVise have Teceived-s He was an en-
e-siaStc airnirer Of Parnell, as well as one
ehis WARN friends, and when Paneil died
sf William sent from Cairo. where he was
Eztioned al -1e time. sonnet which he had
composed, entitled The Chief for pubi-
cstiun in the only Parnel paper then in ex-
isIsnce il Dublin He made no secret of
lis authorship of the verses, the initials
-T F. B." with the word Cairo" being
efficient ID enable the War Department to
identify tls writer.
Bcrn and bred il the southwest Of ire
land Roman Catholic, and educated at a
jesuit school. he had all the Irishman'c :
readiness Of 1epartee. amusing wit anu
tundness for fighting; and his caustic re-
marks were Is much dreaded as his vitriolic
pen- both Of which, however. were redeemed
By his geniality and his delightful humor.
which wen and retained for him hosts OF
trends who differed from him on every
eanceiTs5le matter
While no English newspaper has referred
70 his connection with the Lord Colin Camp
eeA Givorce case, some American newspa-
fers have IN their cable dispatches con-
esnned him for refusing, when cited as
Sfespondent TO appear in court and 70
fEear 70 his innocence of the charges
nfolght against him by Lord Colin Those
Fho thus censYre him are probably ignorant
y me fact that he scarcely knew the Colin
Osnpoells, that al the time OF the latter's
1'efce case, one Of the most shocking of
1e last thirty or forty years. he had been
1SrFied most happily for more than dec
soe oy MS great friend Cardinal Manning,
:" sllss Elizabeth Thompson. the wei know.i
s'lst who painted The Roll Call" which
q as vel known On this side Of the Atlantis
a. II Europe. and that the dragging Of is
4sihe into the case as the alleged lover o.
s~orlan whom he had net once out at din
III and on whom he had subsequently, made
single short call. or her invitation, was
S'ce OF gratuitous indignity Of which only
-asn Of such spiteful and disordered tenn
F-snent as Lord Colin could ever have
'rnoered himself guilty. Sir William, who
ses devout Catholic and man OF the
rpe Of his old friend General Gordon .
h-1r1ourl, resented bitterly being dragged
-1e the case. and as no papers had been
SFsa upon him ne took advantage Of his
zig abroad 70 remain away, realizing
~@' L he appeared IN court. no matter how
.-cA evidence he gave Of the innocence Ct
- relations with Lady Colin, his name
s91ie always be associated in the mind OF
~s pubic as one of her admirers.
aa' MS conduct in the matter was ap-
I'D OF by Queen Victoria, 10y the late
g snd BY his military superiors and fei-
!, nilcers Is best shown by the fact that
s 'e1asai 10 appear at the trial never inter
with his professional standing. with
= promotion or with the high regard ami
Yrct IN which he was held at court ana
--ra found expression in tie bestowal on
- u Tie grand cross Of The Order Of the
4- dnd In the kiadliest messages of sor-
shc u sympathy from Queen Alex
King George ana Queen Mary 10
x WIDOW OF his death