Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-09-01
MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF IRELAND.

we take pride and pleasure, in bringing distinctly
to the notice of our readers. That an interest so
deep and effective should be felt by our citizens in
behalf OF people beyond the Atlantic, and partic
| ularly at this time of almost uRexampled excite
ment in the matters of our national and state
politics, is most decisive evidence of the prevalence
here of the right character of public sentiment and
the deep conviction of the rghtiulness of the pres
ent str uggIe of the Irish nation 10 throw off the
load which now brushes them. Indeed, we might
decide the matter abstractly, without consulting
history, or looking at all TO the facts in the case
that the position of hostility to oppression, the
world over, and throughout all time, is right po-
sition. Not only sympathies and our cordial
respect, but gratitude is due to the actors in
favor of any movement on a grand scale, for the
vndlcation OF the rights of the down trodden and
the wronged A real benefit is conferred upon the
friends of right and the lovers of their Species UNI
Versay, wherever a community, near remote
in ponof locality, is found manitesting a sell sac
rihcng devotion 10 The great and holy cause of free
dom. Genuine humanity everywhere. feels itself
noble vindcation of great and universal principles
like those making the great issue of the present
struggle in Ireland We instuctively love mag
unanimous people for their sutierngs already endur>
ed or in prospect and we love them still more
while we see them, in the depth of their depres-
sion, and in circumstances which the pusillanim-
Gus at once pronounce desperate rousng and nerv-
ing themselves for heroic strife against their haugh.
~ oppressors. 1t is our sentiment, and ore which
We are proud TO ayow and proclaim that uni, ersal
humanity becomes debtor to such a people 1t
affords fresh lesson to the world on the great sub
Ijects of RICHES of the inestimable value of the
boon OF political and social freedom and the odious-
ness and loathesomeness of the character of ty-
rants 1t better than treasures of gold and sill
yer to ourselves to have these sympathies often
and effectively stirred Every great accession to
the cause oil freedom abroad is an augmentation to
| TO the spirit and the power of freedom here at
home 1t was in view of this great principle in
moral philosophy, that the friends of slavery ex-
tension at Washington were so reluctant TO congrat
dlate the people OF France upon their establish
South Carolinian saw at a glance that the progress
OF freedom in Europe BODIED no good to the cause
Of slavery here. And be the influence of Gevou
tons IN Europe more or less upon the popular
mind in this nation, it is fact which all must note
that one and the same year marks the triumph OF
repobicanism IN Europe and the end Of slavery ex-
tension in our own country.
We say, therefore. that, as lovers of the cause OF
freedom, and those disposed to aid its advance
lrs'. We thank the patriots of ireland Cor taking
tie noble and Leroic position which they are now
occupying before the world. We cannot refuse
We can"o. a>o,a extending to them, in every prac
tIcable way, our earnest cooperation. It would be
violence to our own better nature it would be trea
son to the great law OF humanity it would be re
belllon against our strongest convictions of propri
ETY. and duty, to remain inactive spectators of such
a struggle.
We do not stop TO ascertain how the strife vii
terminate. Our friends in Ireland have become
richly entitled to sympathies and cooperation
by having once engaged in it, Be it that the PEG
pie of Ireland are in no sort Of condition to cope
successfully with the bolted and naughty power Of
Great Britain. Be il that the struggling cause
must be crushed, aud new letters added to the al.
ready crushing load which Ireland wears. Our adj
miraton, gratitude our liberal offerings at free
dom shrine, are due none the less 1t is not sac
cess but devotion to right which renders an ndivi
dual or a community, truly noble. Our revou-
tonary fathers would have been the admiration and
the benetactors Of their race if they had not
been successful lIelauds Emmett in his blood
and Americas Washington in his laurels belong to
the same class Of worthless whose names must live
and brighten " 10 the setting of the sun of time g
1t was not success whchimmortalized Washington
nor was it defeat which could exclude from an i'm
mortality of honor the iustrou. young martyr in
the cause of Irish freedom.
The convict in the Bermuda prison ship, ever
should he perish there, will live in the admiration
of mankind long after Clarendon, and Russell, and
Peel, have found refuge in obi iviou from tht
deep detcstaton of mankind Our obligation Il
our friends in Ireland, we repeat. are altogether
distinct and apart, from the probabilities Of thei
success in the present struggle. 1t is because they
are tolling and bleeding in the cause of freedom
that we are bound to aid them and not because We
have any strong assurance of then success,
But they are not powerIess and without resources
in this struggle. They have no full tide OF nation
al revenue, no overlooking national eNchequer, no
mighty navy no we'll equipped and thoroughly
disciplined army. But they are strong and forni-
dabe 10 their opprcssors in their restitution of al
these. Their resources are in the great deep of the
human spirit. There they have great allies
Their friends civilizations, agonies and love
and mans unconquerable mind " The history OF
the world abundantly shows that ornaments. and
treasures and military discipline, and skill, are a
feeble match in the contest against the reused spir
it. the inherent energies. of a magnanimous and de-
termned people. The late king of France had an
overiowing abundance of the former class of re-
sources. But they proved more unsub.tantial than
dream, when his need Of them was greatest
The Bastile of British power must fall, must be
demolished soon, I'VE mean, of course, the throne
the aristocracy, and the national church.) The
first assaults upon it may not be successful. bu,
subsequent ones will be. And the first are as i'm