The Irish standard., 1915-10-30
IOHN mitchell.

John mitchell.
An old man bearing upon his
shoulders the weight of three
score of years, was invited by the
voters of Tipperary to return to
Ireland and stand for an election
to the British parliament. He
knew he was ineligible. The vot-
ers knew he was ineligible. Yet,
in 1875 the electors of Tipperary
cast their ballots for him. There
was rumor abroad at that time,
as there is at the present, propa-
ganda carried on by the British
press attempting to make the
public believe that the Irish had
become loyal friends of the Brit
ish government. 1t was to re-
flute this statement, to prove that
the opposite was the truth, that
John Mitchell accepted the invi-
tation to stand for the election.
The people of Tipperary declared
Mitchell to be their choice. No
one would enter the ranks against
him. Naturally his election was
declared invalid, and a new cleo
ton was ordered. Mitchell was
again the choice. This was the
effective answer made to the
British propaganda in trying to
promote feeling in America that
Ireland had deserted her trusted
leaders, had deserted the ambi-
tons of her nationality. The ma
tionalists of Dublin will honor the
memory of Ireland's gallant pa
triot by combining the Manches-
ter martyrs celebration with the
Mitchell centenary. The celebra-
ton will be held in Dublin on No
vember the 18th. This celebra-
ton will go far in strengthening
the purpose and spirit of Irish ma
tional sentiment. Irishmen the
world over, who cherish the prin-
ciples championed by John
Mitchell will join intellectually
in observing the one hundredth
anniversary of the birth of Ire
lands noble patriot. Ireland's
claim to a nation separate and in
dependent is undying. Undaunt-
ed leaders ever reflect this spirit.
They gave their all that the hope
might be realized. In MitchePs
time England boosted the claim
that Ireland had forgotten her ma
tionality, that Irish national SEN
timent was on the wane, that her
ambitions had been abandoned by
political leaders because there was
no longer an Irish national senti-
ment to support them. The cleo
ton of John Mitchell was the chal-
lenge to the statement. Ineligible
though he knew he was. he, threw
down the gauntlet to the British
government and the electors of
Tipperary made an effective an
swer. Joyously the news was re-
ceived the world over by Irishmen
everywhere that Dublin Castle
had not crushed out the spirit of
Ireland. Courage was given to
the faltering, the ambitions of
the leaders were strengthened. 1t
is significant that the centenary of
John Mitchell should fall upon
times again as troublesome when
it is blatently declared that Irish
national sentiment is on the wane,
that Irishmen have abandoned
their hopes and forgotten the sac
rifces and principles of their for
mer leaders. The same effective
answer can be given to such state
! ments as was given by John
Mitchell and the electors of Tip
perary. Irish sentiment still
lives in spite of Dublin Castle, in
spite of the recruiting efforts of
politicians, and the electors of
Tipperary can give as good an &C
count of themselves today as they
did in the days of John Mitchell. if
man of his type, advocating his
principles could prove to them
that he was as worthy of trust as
did the Irish patriot whose CEN
tenary will occur on November 8.