The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-03-16

Government suffered in consequences of IT, sue
ceeded In obtaining from the British Parliament
some relaxation of the rigors of that penai
code in regard to education and tho rights Of
properly; and in the year 1892 when the exi-
gencies of the British Government had become
more alarming, they succeeded in obtaining
from the British King and Parliament renun-'
citation OF Legislative an sovereign power over
the kingdom of ireland, and it was expressed in
these solemn and memorable words: ~ sd
"The rights claimed by the people of Ireland.
TO be bound only by laws enacted by his Maee
~ and the Parliament Of that kingdom, are
established, and at no time hereafter shall be
questioned or questionable" ms)lo
Helaud exulied for deIirous moment in
national Independence reganed. 1t was only
for moment, and il was a delirium. Ireland
required the repeal Of the penal code. and de-
msnded Constitution. The Parliament OF
Pale, constituted by the Protestant population
alone. and being in the interest Of England. re-
fused both. Discomfort. wide and deep, per-
vaded the Irish people. Emmet. Fitzgerald.
and their associates, in 1898, conspmed 10 raise
the standard OF insunecfion. but they were be-
trayed. and the rebellion crushed in the g.rm.
The Government of CIeat Britain now assumed
that the people Of Ireland had fully and farly
tried The experiment, and had proved themselves
incapable Of exercising The franchise Of SELL
government; thrncefortb il was assumed that
the people Of Ireland were and must he govern
ed by Great Britain. The British Parliament,
therefore. sent down to the Parliament Of the
so called "act Of Union.'' in the year lS00 that
mocke,y Of Legislature surrendered its per-
fdous and pernicious existence. By the act
of union. Ireland IN name was united to the
British Government. but was. in fact absolved,
and became a province Of the British Empire,
with only the shsd ow Of the representation Of
the Protestant minority Of the kingdom. Dan.
iei OConnell jurist and an advocate OF sur
passing genius, eloqnonce, and learning, iofer-
ring from the failure OF the rebellion of 99S,
that the time for martial revolution had passed
st least for the prese ni, conceived the bold pur-
pose OF obtaining a change Of the Constitution.
and restoration of his country TO her place a.
mong the nations Of the earth, by a scheme OF
civil agitation, keeping always within the re
srrant Of the law, and looking to the end thro'
the Ultimate consent Of the King and Parlia-
ment of England. Ia the year 1929, he obtalo-
ed signal triumph 10 the passage Of the act Of
"Cathoc emancipation There remained
but one step more from that memorable achieve
meni TO the restoration OF the Independence
and freedom Of Ireland. Thai step was the re-
peal OF .'he act of union" But the ruin which
Burke had predicted as The baleful fruit OF the
peusl code had come on, and pressed too hard
upon the feet or the agitators. Ireland could
not wait the slow and doubtful result Of civil
agitation. The nation divided between the
parties OF "Od Ireland" following the lead of
Daniel O'Connell aud bis peaceful standard,
and young Ireland" under the guidance of
VIM. Smith O'BIien, and advocating 10 the
strategy Of arms.
Now, sir. in point Of fact, il is possible that
even If the Irish people had remained uuiied,
neither Of these systems could have been sue
cessful. But il is certain that when they diyi-
ded and broke, both systems sigDally iailed.-
Daniel O'CouueI died Of a broken heart, ona
pilgrimage TO Rome, at the city OF Genoa; and
0 'Brcn, the leader Of the Irish rebellion. being
found without attendants, arms, or troops, was
arrested, convicted ofhigh treason, sentenced
10 be executed, and his sentence being commu-
ted by the Crown, he is now a prisoner in Van
Dieman's Land. simultaneously. statvation
and pestilence sialked through the land. De-
population acquired Gighful momentum, and
continuing ever since. has furnished The last
proof that even The most sceptical could require
hat never on earth was revolution which was
attempted by Smith O'Bren.
Sir, il is not my object, in this review. TO ex-
;i,e predjudices here or elsewhere against Eng-
and, or against the Protestant Church, within
hat Kingdom. have no such predjudices my
elf dsdain TO be enlisted by predjndices
nto partnership in regard 10 historical events.
)'Couuell was Catholic; William Smith o.
Bren is Protestant. The rage of secis has
lied away in the agony of catastrophe which
las involved the people Of both sec,s 10 a COM
non desoaion, and The wisesi and best men Of
sngland are now brought to regard the decay
,f Ireland as pressage OF the decline of the
umpire. .a
But II ia due TO an occasion like this tina, the
ruth Of history should be spoken, and tha, Ire.
and should have her vindicaiion. From me,
|, least. tina, debt has been paid. The policy
'f England was the policy OF the age, the times
ind of her system Of governments; and that 10
ler sufficient apology.
The sympathy oi the American people 10 be-
lall Of Ireland is thus proved to be Just.
proceed TO remark, that that sympathy derives
ntenseness from the conceded genius and pro-
,erhial virtues Of the Irish people. The plans
,f Waterloo and the Heights Of Abraham bear
witness that they are brave and sagacious 10
war. Like the Greeks, in their decline they
rave enchanted The world with their wit, song
md eoquepce. They are confding and gener-
,us to fault; while their whole HISTORY and
radtiou, reaching now period OF over thou
and years; exhibits not one instance OF aggres-
i've ambition. Is not. ihen, the tribute propo-
ed by this resolution due 10 such people!-
And If so, why shall i, rot be offe red!
answered that IL is a question Tor the British
il is Great Britain and not we
Who are to extend clemency or pardon these
rish exiles. But men and nations are moved
" persuasion; and what is asked here is not
he exercise Of cemency, but persuasive to be
ddressed 10 power that can exercise il.
I am told that we may lawfully sympsihize
s Individuals in the misfor,uues Of these un-
,sppy men and their more unhappy country,
ut that 10 US, as political body, State, or
aton. snch sympathy is forbidden. That 10
qnivalent TO saying that you may never carry
into benifcent action. The sympathy IL the
Individual members of this Congress, and the
Individual cilizeos Of the United States. will be
if ,hs, sympathy, truly felt by the
alton, capuo, be effeciualy expressed in the
oily way in which The national viii is ever
is by the action Of the Gov