The Cordova daily times., 1919-08-23

It is stated on the authority of a leading American newspaper that no. body who has visited the United war, not even President Wilson, has received such a tremendous recep- tion as EamOnn De Valera, the SO called president of the so-called Irish republic" Tremendous crowds gather to hear him, wait for hours to catch a glimpse of him, and the cheers that greet his appearance are almost hysterical in their enthusiasm. It is not the personality of De Valera that commands this tribute, but the fact from the English yoke, the Ireland of the dreams of the Irish-Americans. Millions of Americans can see no difference in the condition of Ireland today, and the condition of Poland before the present war. With their intelligence we are not now con- cerned The fact that is important and is indeed amazing, is that this sentiment exists, and it may not be an eXaggeration to say that more Americans are keenly interested in the fate of Ireland than in any other foreign question today, except, of course, the fate of Germany. This explains the delight with which vast American audiences welcome De Valera.
 There may be American as we'll as Irish patriotism involved for the Sim Fein leader was born in New York city. What his nationality is it would take an international expert to say. His father was a native of some South American country; his mother was Irish. She is living now in Rochester, New York, having mar ried again after De Valera's father died. The boy was at that time sent to his mothers family in Limerick, It was there that he imbibed his hatred of England, and dreamed his first dream of an Irish republic He was educated at Biuro, Charleville, and the French college, Black Rock, County DublinA and later attended lectures at Trinity College, Dublin. As 8 student he was brilliant and prize after prize and scholarship after scholarship fell to him in arts, science and pedagogy. In mathemati- cal science he taught the special hOnOrs courses in Dublin university, the late Royal university, at Black Rock, St. Stephens Green, Eccles street, LOrettO, and later was lecturer in these courses at MaynOOth Col lege For ten years he was professor at the Royal Training College for pri- mary teachers and was mathematical examiner in Irish for the Royal Col lGS6 u OuI S6OllS. It ID 1iICl GoIlIlS CO note that, like Easement, De Valera Ia sdraWn considerable state money in his comparatively brief career
 De Valera first came into promi- hence in the Easter rebellion of 1916, when the Sim Feiners made their attempt to seize Dublin. He was in command of 100 men, and it is said that this little group put up an un- usually stiff fight. When the rebels surrendered De Valera was among those to be cOurt-martialed. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, and was thus luckier than any of his chief associates, for the rest of them suffered the death penalty. He was sent to DartmOOr with siXty-fOur other Irish prisoners, and for some time endured the rigors of penal ser vitude When Professor EOin Nc Neil of the National University of Dublin arrived as a prisoner one day, De Valera called out, Irish ] Volunteers! Attention! Eyes left! :" A few days later he committed an other breach of prison rules and was sent to puck oakum. He refused to