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Show THE ABLE UNDER-SECRETARY. It is said upon more or less good authority that Sir Antony Patrick MacDonnell, under-secretary for Ireland, is about to pay a brief visit to. Ambassador Am-bassador Bryce at Washington. Of course, Sir Antony, the mysterious, is neither affirming nor denying the report; not that he is aA'erse to talking talk-ing on occasion, but there is always a purpose back of his conversation as Avell as of his silence, and the world has never yet knoAvn his purpose to fail of fulfilment. The reported visit will awaken American interest inter-est in Sir Antony MacDonnell. He is a most remarkable re-markable man thoroughly Irish, a devout Roman Catholic, good-looking and vigorous (past CO but appearing 50), aggressive, alert, intelligent, learned learn-ed in many things firm, honest, original, efficient. He disregards precedent, and so shocks the British. Brit-ish. Even Mr. Balfour, who appointed him to his present position, was scandalized when Sir Antony began the study of Irish in his energetic way as Soon as he took up his official residence in Dublin, and quarreled fiercely Avith him later when Sir Antony An-tony persisted in getting his oaati way in defiance of all precedent. He is the boss on the job, whatever it be. WTien as a young man just out of his 'teens he got a place in the Indian civil service, through competition competi-tion and not influence, he soon shoAved the surprising surpris-ing originality that has been his chief characteristic. characteris-tic. He Avas irrepressible. He Avas fearless. He Avas equal to any emergency in the Indian service; not at all regardful of any authority less than the viceroy's, and none too much influenced by even that. Sharp reprimands and lengthy replies there; to furnished Sir Antony occupation (and, let us suppose, amusement) in the hours he could spare from his indefatigable labors as secretary to the government of Bengal and of the home department of India. Any less able and original man would have been sent home Avithout ceremony. Sir Antony An-tony was needed, and his duties and responsibilities responsibil-ities multiplied as time went on. As to his authority, author-ity, he assumed it if necessary, and though it might have been denied him, he could not be deprived de-prived of it. v In the terrible scenes of the famine and the I plague in India Sir Antony kept his good Irish courage, hopefulness and religious faith. When other men, were in a panic, he was the cool dis- ciplinarian, out of Avhose courage and fait!; (.il:nu peace and order. His success in doling ur, r; famine of ten years ago was no los remarka!.!,.. Iii the five years of his incumbency ;i- ii:1(j(., secretary for Ireland, he has een 1,U p,,,,, ... crease until he and nearly everybody i !-. , .U;lrij Sir Antony as Ireland's real ruler. Autru-titv nir. rell, the chief secretary, is accused of l-ii;y; ;.,., ly Sir Antony MacDonnell's amanuensis. ,. ;,. the power behind the throne, and the llr.ni. Kill,.,., have asked him to draw up another h.v.y r,i! scheme. It has been asked many tunes m rh" .,, years why he has not been removed fnni He declares his sympathy with the oaue ' :,,nv, rule, makes speeches on the subject, zirr - . r j. ,. . in utter disregard of his oflicial superb ;ln.( Avrites letters to the members of thv rnini.-try n!:. ing them to account for their eondu.-t ;,' from the under-secretary. Why i he nr.r ivn,,,,,,, Sir Anony remarks that ho is in po.rsM.-.;, documents which he will publish if driver, f : His firmness of purpose has been many tiv, ,;..rh. ; onstrated; his honesty likewise. So he .., been removed to date. |