Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1884 — DEFENDING THE IRISH. [ARTICLE]

DEFENDING THE IRISH.

Among the delegates to the National Democratic Convention a few weeks aso was Captain O’Donahue, of New York, a member of the legislature of that State, He was an old acquaintance of Congress* man Finertv, and sought to revive old time memories by huntinir up the Representative ofthe Second Illinois District. He found him one evening at the rooms of the Irish-AmericaD Club in company with William Fogsrty- T P. O’Conn ir, Michael Kelley, John DeVay, and a Mr. Kennedy, a mutual friend, formerly a resident of New York, but now living In Chicago. “Do you recollect the last time we were together ?” asked ('aptain O’Donahue- of Finertv. The latter gentleman nodded an affirmative. Then Captain O’Donahue related to the party the story of the Fenian’s raid of 1838 into Canada by a few zealous young Fenians, whosa imaginations had been fired with the belief that they would strike terror to the heart of the mother country bv this invasion of Canada, and how- the United .States Government had quietlvhitched a naval vessel to the transport on which thev were crossing the Niagara River Into the English dominions and towed them into port as prisoners. “Do you remember the morning,” continued Captain O’Donahue, "when you and I, with others, Bt°od before the bar of a Criminal Court at Buffalo, without a friend or counsel to defend us? Wejwere a op-owful lot. a rash band of voting men resting under a grave charge. While in this friendless and helplessconv dition do you remember the young man, aD obscure lawyer at that. time, who stepped up and volunteered his services in our defense? He defended us persistently and consistently and successfully. When we afterward raised a purse and presented it to him, lie refused to accept it, sayi..g that he was glad to serve us, unfortunately situated as we were, without reward That man was Grover Cleveland, the man just nominated bv the convention for President ot the United States ”