TWO IRISH PATRIOTS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 78, 24 October 1874, Page 6

TWO IRISH PATRIOTS.

The return of the patriot John Mitchel to the land of his birth, after an exile of more than a quarter of a century has touched a sympathetic chord in every Irish breast and brings us back once more to an almost forgotten pa*e in lamp of hope was extinguished by the destruction of that galaxy of literary talent whose soul-inspiring addresses to the nation so harassed the Government, a new generation has sprung into existence, to whom they will be only known by name, and their labors and love for their country be either matters of history or tradition. One by one each bright particular star, which once shone with such brilliancy, is slow y fading from the firmament, until of the half-score £ so of those wnose lives and liberties were staked for their country s sake but a few remain. Smith O'Bbieb" thedes cendant of the princely house of Thomond ! who in . disregard of noble birth and ancient lineage,-^ every* thing to lose and nothing to gain in the s^uggle-tt tL call of country and m defence of its liberty, enrolled his name on the people's banner, and threw down the gauntlet of defiance s,he,alas! has long since passed away. M^aghee shoXJff orator » scholar, soldie/upon whom Z had showered favors with no niggard hand-after winning undying laurels m the service of his adopted country found a watery grave in a far-off land, nevermore gladS ™th a sight of that green isle for which his young life was offered as a sacrifice. D'Abcy McGee, whos? undW love for Ireland breathes through every line o f his exqStf recall, stricken foully down by the hand Jf 1c1 ey °? d drawn in an alien land, and his dyinf pillow smoothed by stranger hands, yet his ashes ir^acrls the broad Atlantic, reposes m that land be loved so well Eugeke OKielly, whose early life opened with such brightprospS and glowing hopes, sleeps beneath the shfdow of the Crescent. To those who dearly love their fXTnd exHe under any circumstances-even when the exnaSion w been voluntary-is always fraught with LdTemor ies and fond regrets; but to him whoJe every thou^has centred in the welfare of his native land; whole sole ambf turn has beeu to raise her up from her prostrate portion ?W P ??1 am ° n ff the natiolls of tne%artKhn cc ree that rudely snaps those ties, possesses a double stint with one common object, and placed in the felon's dock on the same charge-treaeon to the Queen and Wlfcv to th^r Zn 7; i:T th «; long interval which has S ed B tee then, fate at the outset proved more fortnw 1 E! *£ than the other and wMe P M^^tea* n *h s heTt away m a penal settlement, Dtjpi-y was still fi^«? country's battles in the British Commons iLete^how differently has time and fortune dealt with each. ' ?Z one returns broken down iv health, with the weight of his three-score years, tellin* botir tL i; Ji *. wei gnt for the life of activity and Ttr*u-le he to^ff ol^ the recipient of honors, title, thrpossessor o^ \£a fttE successful Minister, upon whom Fortune S m led bo benignly. And yet, although their paths in lffe have been o?A V nF? t; f hou / h ,- the ° ne ' wh * e free to labor for the old land, transferred his entwi^a +n +!,«. v mj- n great country vi the SoXXV^hefi^ Sf S^ ism has never died out, and it may be that th e wal£ 5St Stephen's will again re-echo witt his voice Taised for the release at h,s country from the coercive measures Tudtr Jhich she groans, and to aid in restoring her to her S ful rank as a free and self- gover ned nation. Thus fl?tt Government have taken no steps with regard to Mr Mitchel's return, but we learn that LEI have taken the matter in handfand ££%> SSSLES are clamorous that the Government should take action S

SS e FL atter - The* Norther -vThig,' a p^e7publishedS Mr Mitchel's native county, says • "ItwiuTJnl now become the duty of the Government to Sde wheC procedure, is a Whig organ, and consequentiy^t u^othW but a mere party trick to embarrass the Government^ calling on it to put the law in force. The Irish SutivJ however, appear willing to let bye-gones be^ bye Sis' We have no doubt the wish will be Indorsed by all Irish men at home and abroad that the returned IX may ti whSX^T. m that i^ dear t0 aU her sons, an 7 d for which he has proved his deep devotion by enduring, so