The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-08-18
"Thc Army Of the League"

vens above their heads, have devoted them
selves this week TO lrelands service. \
hundred thousand recruits in n weck-no
mean addition to 'the Army Of the League
Next week new counties aud new towns
will be called on TO declare for the same
League and a quarter ola million Oi men by !
this day week will be added TO the muster
rol! Of Liberation. No secretary may enrol
thcm-no political godfather initiate them
but enrolled and allied they will be, by the
sanction Of all the virtues, ia the bonds OF
personal courage and mutual confidence.
Let the men who invoke this power and
have got tins response, rejoice and tremble
rejoice for their success, trcmble for their
responsibility. Once more the ncXiinguiSh'
able sou! Of ireland animatcS its ancient
forms and prepares TO wresile with its an
cicnt enemy.
Oh, Heaven it is anoble sight. Noblcr,
Ear, than the spectacle Of a young king dis
pcnSing Justice, or Of Injured Christians for
giving their enemies, or than anylhin. else
earthly and human is this sudden apparition
Of nation rising from Famine to confront
Destiny. Con send the Leaders be worthy
oltheir following
To see great DO,rer running waste ORR
OF, is surely the SaddeSt sight of earth. How
awful is a shipless bay, houSeleSS valley.
fertile and GcSolate, or that terrible sight
which the poet saw beyond the goal of Ma
zeppa'S COURSE
a thou and horse and none W rlc.'
But to see a hcadeSs array Of myriad
arms and feet, is the dismaleSt spectacle Of
all. To see this people passionlull and
powcrless. calling for "the word" and no
, one to give it to them, begging their way 10
freedom as iainting travellers 10 spring, avn
those they look to tearing down the cut
posts, and telling them TO stand still, thiSiS
the most maldeninG sight human eyes have
seen this side the deluge Paradise.
But no. no, no. This must not and will
not be. Soul shouts to soul in the unutera-
bic depths Of our degradation, and Nalor
springs upon Iii, way from peak to peak,
waving the green flag Of his native nation,
before all who aspire 60 follow him.
Go on--but lirst-pausc on your way and
set your house in order, and disburden your
| soul of its chain Of sins, Make peace and
pact with Con. He is no DcSpot. He gave
you land fit for nation of princes to in
habit. He spread for you these fields Of
vcriurc aud blessed the seeds you commit
ted. after the fashion Of your fathers, to His
earth. He demands from you neither uSur-
ions rent nor crushing tax--makc peace
with him quickly. Since the world began
He has been the friend Of the truth and the
sure prop of weakness. Pray to Him, pro-
uiliatc Him. But to all who stand between
YOU and your rights, be hostile and fierce as
fire to tow.
What will the people do? Who will the
people follow? fhe people will follow who
ever viii lead. The people will act in con-
cert against the common enemy.
Now, then, the time is come 20 test true
Leadership. Now, the time is come ioI
courage, invention and power Of mind to dc
their part ifthe Evokcrs shrink from the
, spirit they have raised, they are lost. i
they were but foam on the top of the popu-
/ lar wave, and not the compelling IridcutS
they will be wasted on the wind and re.
mcmjered only as smile Of Scorn. But
7 ifthcy be true men and rcSolute they may
/ lead this moving race. ike trained horse
into the lists and through them TO victory
/ The clubs have been called in mockcry
by the Castle slaves, ''the Army of the
League | quote the phrase for it has a
true meaning in it.. And what is a nation
without military virtue and 4 military or.
i; is conquerablc by any nucleus olinvasion
however small. GRATTAN'S voice had the
potency of trumpet, because it rose from
earned ranks" Notevcn his aHtithcsiS gilt
tered SO lcculy in the eyes OF NiceroyS as The
bayonetS of the Volunteers. His marital
aud commanding eloqucuce inSpiIeS us ever
to-day; but wEatmuSt it not have been will
an accompaniment Of banners and music
and cannon. aud chorus of $4,000 adul
voices Il followed her. (he said Of Ire
land) "lTom injury to armS-irom arms Il
Libelty.n \ glorious and euyable carce,
for tbs creator OF a nation.
Religion has been invoked by DespotiSn
10 diScuuntcnuucc this new array of Irisl
Volunteers. II has not Unanswered, but il ha'
paused on the appeal. Think well, oh
Religion. ofyour lavoritc island ere you an
>wer. Nalor and devotion are hostile elc
mcntS. The same emhlemS mark the mon
umentS OF the good Pastor and the true
kuight-the dog, typical of courage, Wig.
lance aud fidelity. Remember the story o.
the 10th Legion and the CyuSadoS. Is Il
not your habit and relief To- Turn from these
Sordid latter age 10 those when the pruieS
sion of arms was n solemn rite otthc churcl
when kings about be crowned appear,
ed at the alter in full armor--when swords
and banners were solemnly blessed by Stol
I'd priests aud mitrcd abbotS, and the mill
taiy man knew no other crucihX than hi
beloved sword DO not divorce chivalrN
and the church, the child and parent
DO no place without the pale of our Gutic,
that renowned ancient valor which wor
shipped like the publican ia humility, an,
loneliness, aud which could wroSto like Al
: angel with ancient perseverance and error
We cannot now afford TO sacrifice the Club
, They must be strengthened, increased, an,
extended. But il is not necessary Us n pre-
, limnary TO action that they should b,
, universal. Saint Ruth and Snr>ied led onl,
d two Provinces against Marlborough an,
: William; Grattan won ourlegiSlatlvc hide
I pcndcncc with "oightceu Counties ut tn
r Barr three or four Counties in '9S hat
r nearly ended British dominionin this King
{ dom; ten ortwclvc are enough for the worl
still. Lcath. MOCHA can libcrate Ireland
=. Lcnth-Coun never stirred hand or foot.
3. Aud to this, undoubtedly, i must come
/ The League does we'll to take n conSitu
c tioual position at first, bat can II keep ii
e No. the Government will not suffer it.
r will be driven from it, and mus, know whe
it is SO. \ laundering man viii never b
4 believed If he shouts out that he has St
=