New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-06-20
The cause OF ireland.


cipstion TO the Irish Nation by the frothy rawlings
of bayonets and bloodshed by few who assume
to advocate that cause in this country. Theirs
as not the spirit in which that is advocated
IN Ireland--theirs are not the weapons by which
the true men of the Green Isle propose to redress
their wrongs. II would be emnenty unjust to
aod the Irish People responsible for the unwlse
measures and incorporate sayings Of all who feel
their wrongs in this country. There never yet
was cause so good that it had not bad men, or
at least rash, unwise men, among its nominal sup
porters. And nothing can be more unwise than
ANYTHING like threats of violence, buster or bra
yado on the part Of the advocates of popular
rights against prescriptive authority and military
force. In the first place, this sort of talk always
gives the impression that nothing more than talk
need be dreaded-that the barking dog is certain
never to bite. No tyrant was ever better served
than by those who threaten resistance to his sway
before the time for action has arrived. The blow,
to be effectual, must accompany the word. But,
again, it enables the opprcssor to invest his cause
with something of the sanctity of resistance to
rneditated, menaced outrage anG saug hter-ena-
bles him to appeal with force to the love Of
Order and to National feeling. If Peel and Wei
lington had ten thousand secret emssaries, they
could not employ them better than in instigating
among Repcalers open projects for the Invasion
of Canada, and oyertures for the forcibe inter-
ference of France. Such crude and reckless
propositions are music to the car of despots, the
fabric of whose power is built on cannon and
bayonets, not on Justice on Right, and Public
Good.
But we entreat the lovers of Freedom secured
by Justice and Order to Judge the cause Of the
Irish Nation by no such casual outbreak Of hair
Drained passion, but to look into its intrinsic
merits. Has the power now exercised by Eng
land over Ireland any foundation in the consent
of the subject Isle? Was it acquired By honora-
bic means Has it been justly exercised and
consolidated And does it now conduce to the
prosperity, advancement and happiness of the
Irish People These are the vital questions
when they are answered, it will be time to consid-
ar how wisely or unwisely the Right has here or
there been advocated.
The present attitude and bearing of the Irish PEG.
pie are deserving of more than cold approval
they challenge the admiration of the world. They
know their rights and deeply feel their wrongs
they know their power, too, and that it is rroba
bly, adequate to the forcible Punishment of Eng.
Ish rule from their Isle. But at what dread.
full sacrifice of life and happiness must this by
violence lie effected by what mountains of snok.
ing rains, what rivers of fraternal blood The
struggle between dominant and a subject race
can never be merciful one-there is too much
evaporation to goad them, there are too many
injuries to avenge. From the indignation of the
astoundcd lord, from the delirium of the uprisen
vassa are darkest deeds to be feared-perhaps
more from the latter. The slave never becomes
freeman at bound; but is that reason why
he should always be held in bondage If he is tc
remain in chains till Slavery shall fit him fol
Freedom, vassalage being his education and hi
oppressor the Judge, what hope lis there for him
We reoice therefore, to observe that the Peopl,
of1reland. and especially the leaders of the popula
movement, are nearly unanimous in their abhor
senee of bloodshed Theyevince that confidence il
the slow but certain power of omnipotent Justice
which becomes them as Christians and lovers O.
Right. Their claim is the least which could be pre-
ferred-far below what they have right to de-
mand. They do not propose to attain even this
by rebellion, but by peaceful assertion OF right
by petition, remonstrance, entreaty. Their Ian
guageis earnest and manly, but peaceful and calm
Even the great Agitator, O'Connel, curbs hi:
naturally vehement temper, and speaks in
of the crisis, the awful responsibility of his posi-
tion. For the rest, witness the following extract.
nom speeches made at the great Repeal gathering
of seven counties at Longford on tho 2Sth ult
when Ttco Hundred and Fifty Thousand Irish
men-ncary all pledged Temperance men, mine
you-met to testify their unalterable devotion t.
the cause of Justice to their native land
O'Connell, Steele, the Bishops of .Ardagh ane
Meath, and over one hundred clergymen partici
patng. Count NuGENr was called to the chair
and on taking it said:
~ thank you my lords and gentlemen, or the homo
You have conferred on me to-day eleetus the Chairman
Of This and important meeting We are asseu,
blsd here illustriou eoanTyman the L5eato
and 10 ion with him in 1he great national pc
.i,ion for The Repeal OF the Legislative union What
the grievances OF which complain and which remain
upseressed BY the English parliament la the FIRST place
we complain that obliged to support church Il
which the majority OF the nation does not belong Gu
Protes,an, brethren are elowcounymsn and snel
we love them but the time We consider IT an H.
Justice to be compelled support their clergy The ltis
people have always cheerfuy forward 10 maintain
their own priss,hooda proof of the efficiency Of he
clergy for who ever willingly paid bad laeoser bn
while hsy are willing support the elesgy OF their owi
church. they the time, feel Il 10 be crying nlas
,ee 10 be obliged support the clergy ofa church 10 whc
they do belong The next grievance which we have
complain of is the present law Of tenure We want Ia"
enacted ,has will oblse the landlord at the termination
the tsnan,s lease 70 him ei his improvements
and. if .ach law existence the more The ,eaan
would build and dram and fence the more ne would ren
der himself Independent OF his landlord who would not o
deprived of has property by being improved Under suei