The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-05-18
Tho Trieh Question,


of sneech and the press or the better to secure
the Crown and Government as it is cailed-that
while he lived he would oppose by argument be-
fore the country, discussion in Parliament and by
force if force were necessary, repeal of the Legs
lative Union between England and Ireland, has
brought Irish affairs to crisis and made it neces-
sary for the Repealers either to attempt the last OF
human arguments, or forever to abandon their
dreams of national independence. The cheers
with which this announcement was greeted, proves
that any hopes which may have been founded upon
English liberalism are utterly baseless that the
only thing to be expected from the ruling class in
England is, that they will defend to the last a
measure carried at so much cost of treasure and
conscience, and one which they believe that not
only their Irish interests but their English suprema-
cy depends The determination of the English
minister must have the effect, one would suppose
of uniting all the sections of Irish nationality Inc
Moral Force party, have been deprived OF all moral
force by the terms of the announcements. lucy
can no longer hope to coax, persuade, OF CONVINCE
the English Government. If they continue to rea
son. they will be amused with opposing arguments )
if thew send members to parliament to advocate
their views their members may be listened TO- per-
hans compmented, as John O'Connel recently
was. but all their propositions will be effectualiy
voted down. The decree has gone forth-there
shall be no repeal! The cannon and the bayonet,
when all other means fail, will be called in TO pre-
vent if. What can the O'Connell party do now
but to abandon their position and unite cordially
with those who go for repeal by all means and at
all hazards! Longer to preserve their separate
ganization, and to preach up their ultra peace
oplu fhar,a thorc
try, but bring down upon them the hatred of every
true-hearted Irishman, and the ridicule and con-
tempt of their foes The minister himself has
avowed his willingness to abandon the field of ar
gument and appeal to the field of blood. He can
not and dare not recede from the position which he
has taken. Ireland, has then no choice but to bow
the neck in quiet submission, TO accept the chal-
lenge which has been deliberately made, and ap-
peal to the arbitrament of arms. And the people
of that country may be assured that the alternative
will be forced upon them without delay. Time
will not be given for organization and preparation
The law to stop free speech and free writing, has
been promulgated. The immediate dsarming of
the people will follow. Arrests, imprsonments,
confscaons, and transportation, will be the order
of the day, so far as the power of the government
extends to enforce its will. And all this must be
quietly submitted to or bravely and firmly resisted
Which course will the people of Ireland take!
Shall all their hopes of national freedom, all their
aspirations for improvement and reform have no
other result than to increase the weight and strength
of their chains, and to plunge them INTO lower
depth of national degradation I!
We expected when the news was received of the
fright of the Government at the Char
list demonstration, and its equally unreasonable
uaton that large meeting had been held with
out producing a revolution that so far from making
those at the head of affairs would by
new entertainments upon popular rights, drive the
people to desperation. But they have proceeded
more rapidly even than was expected. They seem
to make bold trial of how much the
masses can endure, of what impositions they can
possibly make, without provoking the worms to
turn and try to sting. These not the acts of a
party, but of the whole ruling power. Wing and
Tory fight side by side in this crusade against
liberty; and Russell and Peel are united in their
Efforts at what the latter happily called 'sstraining
he constitution" On the third reading of the bill
making it a felony to speak the truth-for it
mounts to that-there We're but forty members out
If the six hundred composing the House of Com
mons, THAT Idu Tie HdTui0OOu 10 VOIe against Ine
MEASURE Whatever difference of opinion may ex-
st upon other subjects, all are united against the
enemy-the people all work cordially to-
,ether for the preservation of their own power and
privileges. Wing and Tory, noble and commoner,
he priesthood and soldier, the landed aristocracy,
he manufacturing and commercial arstocracy, and
he aristocracy of money-bags, mortgages, and
took, with their hangers-on and imitators, the
hop-keepers, for cordially united, against
he rising power of a starving peasantry or the mil
ions of toing and suffering operatives" Hope
or the people from the justice benevolence of this
powerful combination of selfshness there is none
8 there any hope in force! We shall see.
o. The steamer Mameluke, a large new boat