Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-09-29
THE PATRIOT MARTYR.

THE PATRIOT MARTYR.
1t is now generally believed that the noble
Irishman, Smith O'Brien, the high-soued and
daring champion of the people, against their
hereditary oppressors in the Green Isle, is slow
" and severely pnng His life away under the
influence of climate and the rigors Of his con-
fnement in the far-away penal colony to which
he was transported. The thraldom of tyranny
to which he is daily subjected is said to have
almost done its fatal work on the noble victim.
Yet there is no throb Of sympathy for the
poor captive, in the bosom of the present wing
administration at Washington. No strong hand
was stretched forth to interpose between o.
Brien and his jailers, even though aid was be-
sought by thousands and tens of thousands of
our citizens.
The Dublin Nation in a stirring appeal to its
countrymen to be up and doing before it is
too late, exclaims: "There is no time now for
GOODNESS and deberation; for every word we
speak there is a throb the less of life in the
heart of the great exile.
ais he to die far off in that dismal prison.
house under the minstering hands Of Dennison
and of Hampden? Shall he pass away with
that terrible longing Of the soul unfulfIed for
some loved presence? For one breath of the
air of freedom and of home? Is it written that
Smith OBrien shall die this bitter death, and
no strong voice to be lifted up in remonstrance
and denunciation? There may be sympathy in
the hearts of the people, but it is weak and
voiceless.
There are efforts which cannot be resisted
There is magnetic power of united action,
which in its invisible force, pervades the intel
lcctual space, end bears down every obstacle in
its path. The people have spoken, but not with
the majesty and strength of inspiration. Ire
land may be weakened and degraded, but if she
is not dead and cold, she has not yet lost her
power whereby she can command the repatria-
alton of O'Brien."
Well it is said by the Cincinnati Citizen that
=" 1t is indeed horrible to contemplate the mis-
cradle end to one of the noblest men that ever
linked himself with the cause of the people. Is
there no voice in this country to protest against
the outrage? Have the sympathies of our
countrymen here been so deadened by prosper
ity, that they can hear these tidings unmoved?
Oh !! England, if to the black catalogue of your
sins against Ireland, you add the last and dam
nable one, the murder of the brave, chivalrous
man, who lies at your mercy in distant soli-
tude, far from the land and the friends he loved,
with passion that only such souls as his are
capable ONO pentence can atone-nor no
satisfaction procure, pardon for the crime"
And shall it be that the prayers of our peo-
pie are without avail--that our public servants
shall still be permitted to turn deaf ear to the
remonstrances of their constituents; that the
voice of the only free government on the earth
must not be heard in behalf of the g. brave and
chivalrous" victims of tyranny and oppression?
There was time when the Republic was
swayed by nobler counsels, and more magnani-
nous. When her influence was felt and ack-
nowledged by all the world; the times of JEFF
ferson and Jackson. Then our Intervention
was prompt and decisive in behalf of the OPP
pressed everywhere. May we not hope for
their speedy return in the persons of Pierce and
King.