The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-05-08
erie Exile OF Erin.

We had the pleasure, on Tuesday ev-
ening last, Of listening to an eloquent ad
dress,by Mr.. F1Lzs1MMoNs, an exiIed Pa
triot Of Ireland, and formerly Editor of
the "Dublin Nation," in behalf OF his ma.
tive and oppressed country. We regret
that we did not arrive ii. season to hear
his opening remarks, and that we shall
not be able to give full report of the
speech.
1t was an eloquent and stirring appeal
in behalf Of a most interesting country,
and was we'll calculated to arouse in the
bosom Of his auditors, the deepest emo
tons Of Humanity, Philanthropy, and
Patriotism.
The oppression practised upon the
poorer classes Of Ireland, by the aristo-
cratic nobility, was dwelt upon with pain
full interest. The luxurious livings Of
the one was contrasted with the misera-
bic poverty Of the other.-While the
duke and lord were enjoying their ex-
tended domains, covered with lowing
herds-with their parks Of deer, and
their artificial lakes Of fish,-supplied
with all the Injuries Of all lands-their
miserab tenantry were wasting away
in their very presence, and dying in all
the horrors Of starvation.
The enormous rents paid for their land
their tithes to the priests, their road
tax, their Jury tax, their poor tax, and
all the untold exaction Of the reverend
ing system Of taxes, swallows up all the
scanty products Of their labor, and leaves
them little or nothing for themselves to
swallow.
Any want Of submission to the will of
the landlords, is visited by the grinding
operation Of the ''rack rent,'' which re-
suits in their ejectment from their miser-
able novels; and the broken hearted peas
ant, after labor:ng years and years for a
bare subsistence, sees mis- wife and chill
dren die by the road side, the victims of
cruel oppression. A feeling Of despera-
ton seizes upon his anguished heart;-he
justly views the deed Of his oppressor in
the light of murder, and reaks his VEN
geance with murderer's hand!! These
are the legitimate and proper results Of
lordly oppression. Aristocracy nerer
yields to anything short of the deadly op-
erations Of the Pike and Sword This
was the doctrine Of Washington, acted
upon in all his glorious struggles for lib
erty, and this must be the doctrine Of Irish.
men, i Ireland is ever to be free!!
Mr.. Fitz Simmons reviewed the hslo-
ry Of the movement for Ireland's Nation
tionality. O'Connell did much in pre- pa
ring the way he effected the Catholic
emancipation-he caused the colleges and
schools to be opened to the sons Of Cath
olics, and made the offices of the Army
and Navy accessible to those of the Ca
tholic Faith. Mr.. F. condemned the Ca
tho]ic clergy for the failure 848. The
Irish are not cowards-Sixty Thousand
men, with brave hearts and willing hands
were ready to take the field, armed with
pixies and guns, to do service for liberty
and their country;-but the moment the
clergy were bought of by the English
Government-that moment, their arms
fell poweress by their side, and not six
ty could have been brought into action,
Mr.. Fitz Simmons was a Catholic, and
revered the religion Of his forefathers,
but this act Of the Catholic clergy of his
country, he should never cease to depre-
cate and condemn.
But Ireland will yet be free. Tha,
"gem of the sea,' and "green Isle Of the
Ocean," shall ere long, bask in the glo-
rous sunlight of freedom. The spiri, Of
LIBERTY is the spirit Of the age. 1t is in
fused into the hearts Of the People ofev-
cry land, and the time is not far distant
when Kings and Thrones will be among
the things that were, but are not.
Mr.. Fitz Simmons rejoiced, that tho
an exile from his native country, he was
freeman, in the land of Jefferson anc
of Washington. 1t was the spirit Of these
Patriots Of the American Revolution, .ha
was working such mighty effects in the
old world. 1t showed itself upon the
heights of Como in Italy, aud was felt in
the frozen regions Of Northern Europe
The tyrannical power Of England has
reached its zenith, and is fast Fastening
to its decline. Let Irishmen take cour
age, and stand together. Let the glori
Gus lessons OIL berty learned in this hap
py land, be known in the land Of thei.
birth; let its inspirations be breathed in