Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-08-02
;ITIoN TO TYRANNY, rs OBEDIENCE 70

The Rev: James Birmingham, an Irish
Catholic Clergyman, has written letter
to j. F. Meagher, from Borrisokane, CIV
ing the following advice TO the Irish people,
and we copy it as indicative of the feeling
which actuates the masses:
"My good people, the times are event.
full and portentious; no man knows to-day
what tomorrow may bring forth. Prepare
then, for the worst, be not taken by sur
prise, and be not found defenceless. By the
word prepare, l mean simply two things:
First make your peace with God: 'Put
your house, as the Scripture hath it, Sin
order'-dispose yourselves to die. Second
ly-arm quietly and without tumuli, for
your defence, whenever the day for such
shall arrive. Having made these prepara-
tons, keep steady; let nothing tempt you
to premature or partial outbreak. The
English government, which after having
deliberately starved hundreds of thousands
of you, look upon as capable OF anything
may tempt you to a precipitate commit
al of your case to doubtful issue: but re-
sist, by patience, the temptation. Recollect
that England's necessity is lreland's oppor-
tunity; wait for it, bide your time. When
the day of our struggle shall come; when
your liberties as we'll as your lives shall be
invaded, then let it not be a turning out of
two or three counties, but let Ireland rise
to the contest as one n,an-and let every
man, as he is about taking his position to
perform this most glorious act of his life,
make VOW to the following effect:-''I
vow, before God and my country, to les
sen, if | can, by at least one man, the enc
mics ofmy country, and 10 die"
When, being thus prepared and having
made the foregoing vow, fairly committed
to the combat, don't show yourselves to the
enemy on the hillside or on the plain; but
take hun from the dyke, the fence, the
hedgerow; from the broken bridge or the
obs,ructed railway. Be sure you do all
The mischiefin your power-or all the good,
| should say, for the mischief is the good in
reach, and think not one moment of living
TO do or die,' or do and die'-be this
your motto. You will, however please to
remember that you bide your time, you
wait your opportunity; God will present it
to you, and make you feel when it has
come
He uppends to the foregoing advice the
following caution:
There are three points on which think
the people should be clearly instructed.
TO distinguish between the Queen and her
government. We entertain no disloyal
feeling towards the throne or the person of
Victoria; we simply detest her government,
her tyrrannous starvation ministry. We
firmly demand our rights, and if they be
not quietly conceded, we shall take them
and perhaps something more, when the fit
ting time arrives. Secondly, we have no
hatred for the English people. As an en-
tire people they are good, and have many
most excellent points Of character. The
English government alone, the rapacious
oppsessive, sanguihary government, the
common foe OF both countries must reform,
or be reformed right or wrong. Thirdly,
the contest we anticipate, should the gov
ernment prove fatally obstinate, is not un-
derstood to be in the remotest way possible
contest between Roman Catholics and
Protes tants, or between any religious sects
OF determinations