"WILL DIE FIRST."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7507, 15 September 1902, Page 2

" WILL DIE FIRST."

WORE THE BLUE RIBBON TO THE LAST DEATH OF "BALLYKILBEG JOHNSTON." The recent death of Mr William Johnston, of Ballykilbeg, deprives the House of Commons of a notable and widely-respect-ed personality. Mr Johnston's death was of a piece with t his whole career. It resulted from pneumonia following upon a chill contracted while attending a demonstration of his brother Orangemen at Bailynahinch. The doctor, when the patient became very weak, urged him- to take some stimulants to revive his wavering vitality. Mr Johnston was an ardent teetotaller, and wore the blue ribbon on all occasions. With the same courage as he defied the Nationalists so often he answered the doctor, "I will die firsb." Two hours later he passed away. Total abstinence, Protestentismi and Orange politics were the concerns of his life, and into each he entered with passionate devotion. Like many other Irish members, he had suffered for his opinions. In 1868 he spent several months in gaol for his part in. an Orange demonstration held at Bang'or, County Down. Mr Johnston saw the shadow of the Pope in •everything, and Mr Gladstone once described him as " the most sincere fanatio I have ev?r known." He was a fierce opponent of Home Rule, and when\the fight was at its hottest made a speech to the effect that if tihe Bill were passed the Orangemen of the north would be found "lining a ditch." This declaration of war gave rise to a famous cartoon in which Colonel Saunderson and "Ballykilbeg" were seen armed and entrenched in a lonely bog. The none Ballykilbeg," by which he was know*, was derived from his paternal estate, ill his tenants were Roman Catholics, however, and he was accounted an indulgent landlord. He treasured the only signed card which Mr Pam4l ever used to secure a seat in the House This was written the day after the f 4 of tue Iris h chieftain in Committee Rofo 15.