DISTINGUISHED IRISHMEN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 214, 7 March 1872, Page 7

DISTINGUISHED IRISHMEN.

The "Belfast Weekly Examiner," has along leader on the evidcrtce of Irish brains in the world at present, from which we clip the following;: — "'Some of the lealing British journals have stumbled upon the extraordinary discovery that political brains and a capacity for statesmanship are possible amcngst Irishmen. The greatest political philosopher of modern, if not of all times — Edmund Bur c—whosee — whose very words are sparks of immortality, was so insipid to the dull auditory of the British House of Commons that his rising was the signal for clearing the benches ; hence he was known as the ' dinner bell.' That the country of Burke, Grattan, and O'Connell should produce a statesman ought, one would suppose, to be no marvel. Often, for our race, through the felon's dock runs the road to a Premiership, or similar distinction. Millions of Englishmen applied, literally, to Charles Gaven Duffy the couplet — A patriot lie, for be it understood He left his country for his country's good. So it has been for ages — the O'Donnells in Spain, the Cavaignacs, O'Neills and M'Mahons in France, the Nu» gents in Austria, attest the genius of Irishmen in the art of war and government. If the British colonies for the last century be examined, their most successful governors will be found to have been Irishmen. At present the vast Dominion of Cauada is ruled by a Cavan man — Lord Lisgar — his predecessor, Lord Monck, being also an Irishman. Our Indian Empire is directed by the Earl of Mayo, also an Irishman. The Australian Continent owns a Fermanagh man, the Earl of Belmore, as Governor of New South Wales, his predecessor having been a Cavan man. Queensland is ruled by Colonel B'ackall, a Longford man ; while Sir Richard Burke, a Garryowen man, was one of the ablest governors ever set foot on that continent. A Donegal man, Sir George E. Bowen,

rules New Zealand, Ceylon exchanges a Westmeath man, Sir H. Gr. R. Robinson, for Mr. Gregory, a G-alway man. A Down man, Sir C. E.- B. Kennedy, rules Western Africa. Similarly Hong Kong, Bermudas, Prince Edward's Island, and several other colonies are also ruled by Irish governors. If we pass from these to the higher judicial offices,, to the Colonial Parliaments, and the leaders of political influence, we find Irishmen occupying distinguished positions. The last man that has risen to the political direction of a colony is a Monaghan man, of whom the Celtic race may well be proud — Chai'les G-aven Duffy."