DEATH OF MR JOHN DONNELLAN BALFE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2465, 11 February 1881, Page 4

DEATH OF MR JOHN DONNELLAN BALFE.

In the death of John Donnelan Balfe, M.L.A., just announced in tho Tasmanian papers, wo have an event of singular interest, seeing that the deceased gentleman, in addition to the prominent position he occupied in colonial politics and journalism, played a prominent part in the troubles of Ireland iu 1848. Mr Balfe was educated at Clongoe’s College by the Jesuits, and at the age of 19 made use of a stature of 6 feet (i inches to indulge boyish freak of enlistment in the Life Guards. The day Her Majesty was crowned his presence in the escort was detected by some friends, and he was soon free to return home. Literature was his great hobby, and in the period of agitation which preceded the outbreak of 1848, he was one of the most active of the contributors who filled the columns of the “Nation’’and other Irish papers with that brilliant literature, the like of which has not after been seen in the history of journalism Under the non dc plume of “ Peter Carrol, stone mason,” he wrote ostensibly from Manchester, in such spirited style that he bid fair to become one of the leaders of the party. Subsequently Mr Balfe though still a young man, was judicious enough to sec the folly of recourse to arras against the Crown, and sought to neutralise the inflammatory zeal of Smith O’Brien and his coadjutors by the exercise of his own rising fame and influence. He baa helped to sow the wind, but he would try to avert the whirlwind. His hotheaded co-patriots denounced him as a traitor, but the British Goernment recognised Mr Balfe’s services and abilities in his appointment of Under Comptroller-General of Tasmania. In the colony Mr Balfe met Stuart O’Brien, John Mitchell and other exiles. The generous leader of the party was not slow to acknowledge Mr Balfe’s wisdom but it took }-ears before his estrangement with his former editor, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy was healed. When the Imperial establishment was broken up in 1854, Mr Balfe took up the estate of Lisadern in the Huon district, now the residence of hisi)rother-in law, the Hon. Christopher OTieilly, Minister of Lands, but the want of communication with the markets for produce discouraged him in this undertaking and he devoted himself once more to politics and journalism. The “ Letter of Dion,” which appeared in 185 G, created an immense sensation, many persons recognising in them the spirit of the mysterious author of Junius. 'Mr Balfe never admitted that he was the gifted “ Dion ” until a few years since, though his connection Mith the letters was alwaj r s more than suspected. In 1855 Mr Balfe was elected to represent the Huon in the Assembly, and was still a member of the House at his death, his constituenc}', West Hobart, being the largest in the colony. He was at one time editor of the “ Hobart Town Mercury,” but the advanced conservative principles of that paper being distasteful to him he undertook the editorship of the “ Tribune ” in 1871. This paper became distinguished for the boldness with which it attacked the abuses of Government. Indeed its leading articles were the embodiment of Mr Balfe’s own ideas, prudence being sacrificed, and reliance only placed upon the strong sense of right which the paper and its partizans claimed to possess. Though the “ Tribune” was not a financial success, it built up the liberal party to such strength that no real business could be transacted until the present coalition Government was formed upon the lines of the liberal programme. It was through Mr Balfe’s instrumentality that the coalition was effected. He was always foi’emost in the fraj r though he studiously avoided office. His speeches, like his writings, were masterly essays, but then there was the charm of declamation in the former which no print can adequently convey. As an authority upon Constitutional questions he was unerring facts and figures were recalled by his memory to the very smallest detail but his statistics formed one weary wilderness when there was such a verdancy of wit. In Parliament Mr Balfe sometimes spoke too plainly, and it was hard to make him retract. His opponents were, however, always ready to forget his hard knocks in their admiration of the first speech which followed a misunderstanding. On Jan. 7 the Nestor of the debate was seized with paralysis in the right side. He did not long remain chained, Mezentius-like, the living to the dead, but reached the close of pain on the 12th. His gigantic form will no doubt be as much missed in the House as his speeches will in the debates. We notice that his opponents the Press have done honor to Ids distinguished merits as a public representative and a private citizen. They have not forgotten to mention that one of his last acts was the institution of a relief fund for the family of one who in life had been one of his bitterest foes.