The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-13 00:00:00

SEDITION IN MUNSTER.

The Cork Reporter calls attention to the speeches deli-
lered at the meeting at Kilclooney Wood, Michelstown,
which (it says) did not oven pretend to be for the purpose
of promoting an amnesty; "it was held in honour of an
unhappy man, who had committed the greatest political
crime of embarking in a hopeless and unjusti-
fiable rebellion." One of the speakers, Mr. Johnson, is
reported to have observed :—" If we are true to the
instincts placed in us by a good God, we will soon be a
nation once again—(enthusiastic applause)—not a nation
as of old, leaning on a broken reed for support—not a
nation with a king paying homage to a mightier monarch
—but a nation, as Emmet saw in his dream—[A voice : ' A
real Republic:]—(great cheering)—worthy of writing his
epitaph. Yes, my friends, this country as a nation is a glorious
aspiration, and to Irishmen doubly dear. ' Plunder and
persecution, ruin and rapine,' and famine such as Pharaoh
dreamed of, overtook our land, and still we burn to be a
nation. (Cheers.) The gibbet, the knife, the convict ship,
all have succumbed We have defied gold and withstood
cold steel, and for what ?—that Ireland might be a queen
among the nations. And are we not worthy, yes, and
equal to the task, with faith and union, and terrible
intent ? (Loud Cheers.)" The Rev. W. Fitzgerald, who
filled the chair, is reported in the Cork papers to
have spoken thus :—" Since the last time he had the plea-
sure of addressing a number of people in that wood, he
need not tell the changes that had taken place. They had
seen the Irish nation kneeling to England, and they had
seen her prayers spurned, and herself rejected. (Groans.)
Outcries had been made against them that they had said
too much—that they had been intemperate in their
language. The people from whom such charges came
were of the very class who held the chains round the neck
of the nation. (Hear.) [A voice : 'Groans for Gladstone.'
(Groans).] The Chairman: 'Yes, groan him; he is fit for
nothing else' (Renewed groaning.) Gladstone deserved
no favour, because, while he worked heaven and earth for
the relief of the Neapolitan prisoners, he had not the con-
sistency or generosity to yield to the wishes of the Irish
people. (Hear, hear.) Now, from the first of these meetings
that had be en held he (the chairman) had no hope that the men
would or could be released by Mr. Gladstone. They had
come there that day on a pilgrimage. (Hear, hear.)
When they came to that sacred grove it was to do reve-
rence and honour to the spot consecrated by the life blood
of the immortal martyr, Crowley. (Great cheering.) If it
were at all necessary, he would fling back with the greatest
pleasure the imputation on the character of these men whom
Peter Crowley represented—that they were the opponents
of religion and social order. [A voice : 'lt is false'] It was
a bitter, cruel slander. Peter Crowley stood in that wood
bearing on his breast a medal and crucifix when he stood
the fire of British soldiers. Amin miracle was then wrought.
The image of the Redeemer on the cross was defaced, and
the fatal bullet struck on the medal. By that interposition
of Providence the lifo, of Peter O'Neil Crowley was pre-
served until he received the last sacraments of his Church.
Was such a man on whom the Almighty wrought ft
infra le to be held up and taunted as an opponent of
religion ? (Cries of ' No, no') The best vindication of
Peter Crowley and the cause he fell for would be his ele-
vation to eternal fame, while his slanderers would remain
,wling in obscurity." (Cheers.)

The necessity of the Factories Act was strongly
exemplified in a case which came before the Liverpool magis-
trates on Thursday. Messrs. It. and A. Brown, brass-
founders, were summoned on four informations, charged with
violations of tho act; and it was stated by the in-
spector that two boys employed at the foundry had
worked for 1G hours continuously, while another had
worked for 36 hours without cessation. Penalties amount-
ing tQ UDwarlds of £1.3 were 41:Leta