KENTUCKY IRISH AMERICAN.
3
WOLFE TONE.
-John Dillons Eloquent Trlbuto to the
Memory of One of Ireland's
Protestant Heroes.
An immense meeting was held re
-cently in honor of Wolfe Tone, one of
the cherished heroes of '98, with the
-view to the erection of a memorial,
-commemorative of his brave deeds
xmd patriotism. It was held in the
Rotunda, Dublin, Ireland.
Mr. Dillon made the speech of the
evening. After alluding to Tone's
unique place in the tragic history of
Ireland, and the stirring times in
which his lot was cast, he continued:
"In those days great men, states
then and soldiers, sprang from the
Tanks of the people and became
illustrious and powerful far beyond
those who had been the rulers of man
land. And in those great times this
young Protestant Irishman, banished
like so many great Irishmen before
and since, denied the right to serve
the land that gave him birth and the
land of his love, denied a career in
Ireland,' was sent to America, and he
went thence to France; and those of
us who have studied, as every young
Irishmen is studying today, the his
tory of those great years, will remem
iber with pride how Wolfe Tone in
Paris met the mighty men of the Con
tention, Carnot and Hoche, and even
the great Napoleon himself.
"This young Irish exile, young in
years but great in genius and expert
-ence, met these mighty men, whose
names have come down the stream of
"history with such high resounding
fame, he met them as an equal; and
we are told in the journals and books
-of those times that he made on the
mind of Hoche who in genius, had
he not been cutoff in his early youth,
-was the equal perhaps of Napoleon
himself that Tone made upon the(
mind of Hoche a deep and lasting
impression, so that they became as ii
were brothers, so greatly did they
trust and respect and love each other.
Carnot, 'the organizer of victory,' one
.of the greatest administrators of the
Revolution, wh"oTn his own depart
ment was perhaps about as much
responsible for the victories of France
as the great Napoleon, had the most
profound opinon of the genius and
the wisdom of Tone.
"We have it on irrevocable author
ity that had Hoche lived and had
-Carnot had his way, not being at the
-critical moment driven from power,
that the whole strength of France
would have been placed at the dis
posal of this young and friendless
Irish exile, who by the dint of genius
alone had obtained an ascendancy
-over the minds of those mighty men.
I remember reading, as I am sure
you have all read, the account of the
interviews between Tone and Napo
leon, two great men. They met;
Napoleon listened to the councils of
Wolfe Tone, and was deeply impressed
ljy them, but in an evil hour, as he
himself in later years in his exile in
5t. Helena came to see, he was drawn
away by dreams of Eastern conquests,
and turned his eyes from Ireland to
Egypt and the East, and years after
wards, on ieflecting in the bitterness
of exile and defeat in St. Helena, he
admitted that had he listened to the
wise counself of the young Irish exile
his fate and the destines of Europe
might have been changed. And this
man, whose memory we are assem
bled to celebrate tonight, this young
Irishman who has illustrated the
renown of his race, and whose mem
ory is a treasure that every Irishman
should feel proud of this man wasi
cut off in the early flower of his
manhood. He was but thirty-five
years of age on this day 100 years
.ago on June 20, 1898 and in the
following November he perished mis
erably in a jail in this city."
Mr. Michael Cusack Oh, no, not
miserably. (Loud cries of "Order.")
Mr. Dillon There is no need to
dispute about a term. He perished
honorabiy, but when I used the word
"miserably" I meant to characterize
the treatment to which he was sub
jected. ' But he was assassinated by a
cowardly and base enemy, who has
never known in all its history the
nobility of being generous to a foe
they feared, and, they did fear Wolfe
Tone. But, as I said, he was cut off
in the early flower of his manhood.
Few men have done anything to be
proud of and reading for the third or
fourth time that wonderful book whic
contains the journals and memoirs of
Wolfe Tone, I came across this pas
sage, written by Wolfe Tone in the
town of Rouen, in France, where he
was endeavoring to organize the last
expedition, that fatal expedition on
which he fell into the hands of his
enemies, un j une 20 ne wrote: 1 0
day is my birthday; I am thirty-five
years ot age. More man nan tne
career of my life is finished, and how
little have I yet been able to do
What a reproach is contained to
many of us who live in these days
in that entry in the journal of Wolfe
Tone. Great heavens! if a man now
adays, an Irishman, or a man belong
ing to any other race, could claim that
before his thirty-fifth birthday he had
succeeded in achievinc the work
which Wolfe Tone had achieved,
think he would have some fair reason
to be proud of his achievement
What had he done? Wolfe Tone was
a young Irish Protestant brought up
in Trinity College, and among a set
which were to a large extent filled
with the same narrow prejudices,
which, I regret to say, exists among
a large number of the people of this
city today. He might have trod the
path which was open to every man,
not only of genius, but of ordinary
intelligence in those days; he might
have been wealthy, and he might
have had a life of prosperity, but by
the force of his own genius and the
mighty sympathies of his wide and
all-embracing nature in his earliest
youth, I might almost say in his boy
hood, he shook off the shackles and
brushed aside the prejudices of those
among whom he was brought up, and
he saw that the hope of Ireland lay
in bringing into a national movement
the masses of his Catholic fellow-coun
trymen, wno, up to tnat hour, were
outcasts and pariahs in the land that
gave them birth. And early in 1791
Wolfe Tone published that famous
pamphlet entitled "An Argument on
Behalf of the Irish Catholics," signed
by "An Ulster Whig," which,
taken together with his other pamph
lets", puts" him as a political wrifer and
statesman on the same level as Jon
athan Swift. That pamphlet was the
beginning from which dated really the
liberties of the Irish Catholics. It
was seen by the leaders of the Cath
olic Committee of that day, who just
at that period had been deserted by
all the Catholic swells. The aristocracy
had walked out and the Catholic Com
mittee were deserted by all the Cath
olic men of property and were in low
water.
They took up Wolfe Tone's pamph
let, and to their everlasting honor,
having got rid of the aristocracy, they
said: "This is our man to carry on
our work," and they found he was a
young Protestant out of Trinity Col
lege. They made him the secretary
of the Catholic Committee, and after
he had worked fcr them for three or
four years they placed on record in
the vote of thanks they passed to him,
that for the services he had rendered
to the Catholics of Ireland, no grati
tude could overrate them and no re
muneration could ever repay them.
He was a soldier, he was a statesman,
he was the equal I claim it without
fear of contradiction, had a happier
future smiled upon him, had he the
same advantages which were given to
the soldiers and statesmen of France
he was the equal of any of their
great men. And shall it be said no,
God forbid that we, thefellow-coun-trymen
of Wolfe Tone, because owing
to circumstances which he was unable,
with all his genius, to overcome, he
was denied that success and that fame
which rewarded the revotionaries and
statesmen of France, shall it be said
that we, his countrymen, are less proud
of him because he failed, and died for
Ireland, than the French are of their
heroes? No, thank God, whatever
may be said of the Irish race, it will
never lie in the mouth of any man to
say that they are afraid or ashamed to
celebrate the memory of those who
failed and gave up their lives in their
service. I hear men beside me on the
platform say he did not fail. That
was exactly what I was coming to.
He failed to hunt the English out of
Ireland, which was the object of his
life. I wish to God it had succeeded.
But no doubt in a wider and more en
during sense no. man who has led the
life of Wolfe Tone, and no man who
has done what he has done for his
country, can be said to have failed. If
we arc here to-night, and if the mighty
demonstrations which have been
carried on from one end of Ireland to
the other, in assertion of the national
rights of Ireland, have been witnessed
during this year, it is the spirit and the
work of Tone and the men who lived
in those days, which has made Irish
nationality the force it is to-day.
"The hand which wrote the famous
declaration and resolutions of the
first Society of United Irishmen in
Belfast, one of the noblest political
documents that adorn the political his
tory of any race deserves to be held
in immemorial honor in Ireland, and
it is fitting and right that here in this
city, at least after too many years have
rolled over, it is fitting and right that
here in this city where Wolfe Tone
spent his boyhood, and a youth which
is -inextricably connected with all his
work for Ireland, there should be
erected a monument in a place I am
happy the corporation have given one
of the finest sites yet remaining in the
city, which will proclaim to every
city some time ago. He has gone
into business for himself at Seven
teehth and Lytle streets.
John J. Tully, the old life-saver, is
this season enjoying a most prosper
ous business, there being a constant
demand for his hammocks. As they
are all hand-made they are doubly
a
strong, and the possession of one is an
assurance of ease and comfort.
stranger who visits the capital of Ire-
and that the memory of Wolfe Tone
is held in veneration in the city where
he lived, and that although his ene
mies seized on him and foully mur
dered him in this city, that his spirit
ives still among us, and has triumphed
over their work, and while no man
will propose to erect a monument to
itt or Clare or Castlereagh, the monu
ment and the statue, I trust it will be
faithful likeness and I believe it
will of Wolfe Tone, will stand for
ever in one ot the unest sites in the
capital of Ireland, and vouch that the
capital is faithful to his principles, and
that they will never rest until those
principles are vindicated."
Two young men who are at present
accumulating a competency are Will
tarn and Charles U Keele, ot 1719
Portland avenue. They have replaced
the house in which they were born
and have always lived with a substan
tial two-story brick store-house, and
already look forward to its enlarge
ment.
During these warm days it is not
usual to see crowds in the dry goods
stores early in the morning. Such
scene was witnessed the other morn
ing at the store of Mrs. K. C. Costi-
ga'n, Preston and Breckinridge streets
Evidently the warm weather bargains
are not all confined to the central por
tion of the city.
One of the happiest men in the
West End is Mr. Patrick Grogan. He
recently purchased one of the most
modern and beautiful residences on
West Walnut street, near Twenty
sixth, one of the most pleasant resi
dence localities in that portion of the
city. Mr. Grogan is now doing a
successful business, having constantly
employed a number of teams.
John Fahey has recently made
some marked improvements in his
house at Ninth and Broadway. Mr.
Fahey is by many termed the "Yan
kee Irishman," he having been born
in Portland, Me. He came to this
city when a boy, and for years was
Admiral George Dewey, Hero of Manila Bay.
SOME SNAP SHOTS.
Bob Heffernan was subjected to a
decided sensation recently. Ask him
to tell the dictionary experience he
underwent.
Mr. Martin Sheehan, of High ave
nue, declares that he is good for 500
subscribers for this paper. Hurrah
for Mr. Sheehan.
Our kodak is set for Col. Ratigan,
of First street, and we will ere long
produce some snap shots of his trip
around the world.
The Kentucky Irish American is
he only paper devoted to the moral
and social advancement of Irish inter
ests published in this part of the coun
try.
Fred Plamp, for seven years the
genial and accommodating chief clerk
at Trebing's Hotel, is now located at
the Belleview, Second and Jefferson
streets.
John J. Keane, Democratic Com
mitteeman from the Tenth ward, is
ight in it with the newspaper frater
nity. John can always be depended
upon when they are in need of either
olitical or society and even war
news.
employed as assistant roadmaster on
the Knoxville division of the L. & N.
Previous to. engaging in business for
himself he had charge of the construc
tion work on the C, O. & S. W.
Pres. Stevens, of Seventeenth and
Duncan, is being solicited by a host
of personal admirers to become a can
didate for public office. For many
years he was employed at Avery's,
and heretofore has had no political
aspirations. He is very popular, and
should he accede to the wishes of his
friends his opponent, should there be
one, will have a fast race to run.
Genial Edward Dalton will soon be
missed by his many friends in the
vicinity of Floyd and Main streets.
The house at present occupied by Mr.
Dalton is the oldest building in .the
city of Louisville, having been erected
over 100 years ago. This venerable
landmark is to be replaced by a mod
ern brick business house, which will
be ready for occupancy about Sep
tember 1.
James Quinn, who some years ago
eft this city to go to Illinois with a
arge shoe house, and subsequently
removed to St. Louis, returned to the
Mike O'Donnell is one of the best
known and most enthusiastic Hiber
nians in this city. He is a warm
friend of John Dajy, who recently
made a tour of this country. He in.
forms us that Mr.' Daly will soon be
installed as Mayor of Limerick. Mr.
O'Donnell is at Twentieth and Bank
streets, and is interested in all Irish
affairs, being one of the advance
guard.
Senn & Ackorman Brewing Co.
(INCORPORATED.)
MAIN-STREET BREWERY
Lager Beer and Porter
It's Pure. LOUISVILLE, KY.
r
MEHL & BURNS
Eighteenth and Chestnut,
DEALERS IN CHOICE
GROCERIES AND
PROVISIONS
We have always on hand a large and varied stock of all grades
of goods usually handled by a first-class grocery house, all selected by
experienced buyers including
Fine Groceries,
Teas and 6oiiee$,
Creamery Butter,
Fresn vegetables,
All Kinds 01 Meats.
We also handle special brands of Flour that can not be surpassed.
We guarantee every brand to give satisfaction and prove as repre
sented. Our prices are the lowest for the best goods.
Telephone orders receive prompt attention, and goods delivered S
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to an pans 01 tne cuy. n. large iiumuer 01 wagons in our service.
MEHL & BURNS
Eighteenth and Chestnut.
LOUIS SEEDER
Sixteenth and Madison,
FAMILY BAKERY
This is one of the finest bakeries in this city, and
employs only the most experienced and competent
workmen. Our varied assortment of
Breads, Bolls and Cakes
can not be surpassed, as personal attention is given to
each and every department.
In connection with the abooe there is a fine Annex,
where an elegant lunch is served and only the finest
goods handled.
LOUIS SEEGER
Sixteenth and Madison Sts.
GRLLBGHER
&
1426 W. Market St.,
C0MMERCI4L PRINTERS
STBIOTLY UNION OPFIOE.
Card, Dodgers, Letter Heads, Cir
culars, Badges, Hangers, Bill Heads,
Programmes, Invitations, Fans, etc,
executed lartlstloally and promptly.
Dan Creedon and Tommy Ryan
will box before the Coney Island Box
ing Club.
The Philadelphia papers say Gaff
ney and Brown haye done the best
PUonL
534
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work of any umpires there this sea
son. Spider Kelly, of San Francisco, is
anxious to get on a match at New
York. .