The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-07-03
Thomas Francis Ncaghcr--IIiS Great
sword speech.

At meeting Of the Repeal Association, held
IN Constitution Hall in lsi6, the late Daniel
UCunneil introduced resolutions in which was
declared the peace policy "f that body, and
further that human liberty was not worth. one
drop OF blood. From tbs ductrne Messrs
heagher, o Hrirn Mitchell O'Dougher,, and the
other exlcs, dessen,ed. This made the Young
ireland party. On that occasion Mr. Meaghef
made hls famous sword speech, from which, the
following is an extract:
al dissented from these resolutions, Cor f.l,
that 10y asserting to them should have pledged
myself 20 the unqualified Reputation Of physical
force IN all countries. and at NIL times. and IN
ever circumstance. This | could not do; for, my
lord, do not abhor the use Of fire arms in the
vlndIcatlon Of national rights. (cheers) There
Are times when arms alone will suffice and when
political amelloraions call for "a drop of blood
cheers and many thousand drops Of blood
lhnthslasiic cheers and cries Of oh, OH Opinion
| admit, will operate against opinion But Us the
honorable member for Kilkenny observed. force
must he used against force. The soldier il proof
against an argument, but he is moi proof aganst
u bullet. The man that will reason let him be
reasoned with; but it i. the wenponed arm of the
patriot that can alone avail against batalioned
dcspotism cloud rheersj Then, my lord, 10
not dSclaim the use Of fire arms As immortal nor
do believe II is the truth to say that the God Of
heaven withholds his sanction from the use Of
aruis. From the day on which in the valley Of
betnulia, he ieryed the arm Of the Jewish girl TO
smile the drunken tyrant in his tent, down to the
hour IN hich he blessed the insurgcni chivalry
of the Belgian priest, his Almighty hand hath ever
been stretched from His throne Of light to con
seciate the flag Of freedom to bless the patriot :
sword. Loud and enthusiastic cheering) BE- it
Tor defence or be it for the assertion OF ma ION
liberty, look upon the sword az a sacred weapn
No no, from the Rev Mr. Hopkinsl And if my
lord, II has sometimes Redeemed the STROUD Of the
oppresser, like the anointed rod oftle high priest
It has at other times, bossomed into flowers to
deck the lreemans brow. Vehement applause.
Abhor the sword aud stgmatise the sword No
my lord, for all the cragged passes Of the 1yrol
1t cut in pieces the banner Of the Bavarian. and
won an Immortality for the peasant OF lnnspruck
hhhnr the sword and stgmaise the sword No
from the waters Of the far Atlantic. and by its
redecmlng magic the fettered colony became a
daring free republic. Abhor the sword. and
stlgmatise the swordi No, my lord, for it scourg.
ed the Dutch marauders out Of their own phleg.
matte Swamps -(cheers) and knocked their flag
and laws, and scepre aud hayonets into the slug.
s9", VI 'ht tScnelut lfhlhuslaslc cheering.
My lord learned it was the right Of n nation to
govern itself not in the hall but on the ramparts
of Antwerp tcheersl learned the first Al tisle
OF nations creed upon those ramparts. where
the possession Of the precious gift was purchased
hy the rifns"n of gencrou. blood loud cheers }
Ny lord, admire the Belgians for their courage
and their daring; and will not stigma,lse the
means by which they obtained n citizen king. a
Chamber of Genutinsn