THE HON. JOHN F. FINERTY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 8, 15 June 1883, Page 3

THE HON. JOHN F. FINERTY.

JOHN F. FINBRTY, the editor of the Irish Citizen, of Chicago, is a member elect of the next Congress. He is now thirty-eight years old. He stands over six feet in his stockings. He is broad-shouldered and deep-chested. He has the solemn dignity at times of a great Indian chief, and again the maddest flow of animal spirits when snrrounded by congenial company. He has a large bead and a high forehead, surmounted by a shock of curly dark brown hair. His eyes are dark. His nose is straight, while his chin denotes iron courage and will. A brown moustache curls in at the corners of his mouth, over a f til imperial. Finerty ia many ways is a very remarkable man. He belongs to an old Irish family that traces back its ancestry to the Irish kings. He is nearer to the type of Lever's dashing, generous military heroes than is often found in modern times. Finerty is an eloquent speaker. In private life he is a delightful story-teller; in journalism he is an accomplished writer. He has a nervous, virile style, always above the commonplace. He has a courage that is something beyond even recklessness^ He is a born soldier. He served in our army during the Rebellion, entering the army when a mere lad. To tell Finerty not to do a thing simply because it is dangerous is to make certain of his reject* ing the advice. He began his career in journalism as a correspondent of the Chicago Times during the celebrated Sioux campaign, where General Ouster fell. He never fell back upon his privileges as a correspondent. Gun in hand, he rode in the front of every engagement. He wrote no despatches as long as there was any fighting to be done. One day a lieutenant and a dozen men were sent out upon a scouting expedition of extreme danger. Finerty asktd to go with the party. He was told that he would in all probability meet his death. Why not remain in safety in camp ? Of course Finerty went. The little scouting party, a few hours out, was cut off, and for three days were chased through the mountains. The party had to entrench themselves and fight at every turn, and run through the most desperate chances. Had they been on the plains they could not have escaped. After three days of constant marching, fighting, with no sleeping and scarcely any food, the party finally reached camp and safety. Finerty's account of the three days was a magnificent piece of brilliant description, and would have alone made his reputation bad the occasion been any other than an Indian war. Finerty afterwards became a regular writer on the Times in Chicago. One day an alderman—a big, burly, fighting man —was angry at an article in the paper and called to learn who was the author. The writer of the article was small and a man of peace. Without hesitation he gave Finerty as the author. The alderman hunted up Finerty and charged him with writing it. Finerty saw a fight was imminent, and did not deny the paternity of the article, for fear his courage might be called into question. So the alderman, hearing no denial, charged with all tbe energy of misguided rage, and was promptly knocked down. After he had been knocked down about seven times the alderman grew weary and got up very slowly. Fiuerty saw be was satisfied and said : " Now you are through with your fight, Ido not mind telling you I did not write the article." Then the alderman insisted upou shakiug hands and apologising. Finerty left tbe Times about two years ago, and started tbe Irish Citizen. It has paid from the start. Finerty conducts bis paper as the organ of Irish independence. He says he knows many Englishmen who are good fellows, but he hates then collectively. He has the history of Europe at his tongue's end. Passionately devoted to the cause of Ireland,*he is one of the best possible representatives of his people. Two years ago this winter he was in Washington as an editorial correspondent. He lived there for one season, and carefully studied Congress from the galleries. When he comes to talk in the House it is certain that his brilliant wit, courage, dignified presence, and eloquence will command attention. —Pilot.