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Show ARCHBISHOP CROKE. The grand old man of the Irish hierarchy hier-archy Dr. Croke is gone. A long life and a successful one has elosed. He was a trye Irishman, and his country's great prop in her many vicissitudes during the last half century. His charity char-ity knew no bounds, the poor and the homeless, the widow and the orphan might approach his grace, and always went away happy. His popularity was immense. His priests, young and old, loved him as a dear father, the students stu-dents of his seminary were happy to see his pleasant smile and hear his words of greeting, and his people idolized idol-ized him. He is gone, and ve sympathize sympa-thize with the people of Cashel and Emly, and we hope and trust that his worthy successor. Dr. Fennelly, -will tread in the noble footsteps of the grand old man. Dr. Croke was a patriot. Disgusted however, with the petty politics of parties, par-ties, he withdrew from public life after the Parnell affair. Some short time ago he expressed his pleasure and his rtaiiaiacuoii ai me progress oi me Gaelic movement; and lamented that be was too far advanced in years to study. His connection with the "Plan of Campaign" is well known. He was styled during the fight "the unchanged and unchangeable," because of his devotion de-votion to the policy of the "Plan." P was summoned to Rome, they say, but returned "unchanged." A man convinced against his will Is of the same opinion fctlll. His ready wit was remarkable. Those who were intimate with him say that an hour spent in his company was as a minute, so pleasing and fascinating was his conversation. One thing we have to remark, and we are glad of it, is that he never bowed to England. He never asked his people to sympathize sympa-thize with Ireland's foes and with Catholic oppressors. The people loved him in life, and many an eye at home and abroad is wet at the news of his death. Father Yorkes in The Leader. |