Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-02-01
Thomas Francis Meagher--.Ilis Great
SW0rd Speech. "

SWVsW oRVVVUs
At meeting Of the Repeal Associa.
ton, held in Constitution Hall in ls48,
tho late Daniel O'Conncll introduced
resolutions in which was declared the
peace policy Of that body, and further
human liberality was not worth one drop
Of human blood. From this doctrine
Messrs. Meagher, O'Brien, Mitchell.
Martin. O'Dousherty. and the other ex.
lies disssntsd. This made the Young
Ireland Party. On that occasion Mr..
Msaghsr made his famous Sword Speech,
Of which the following 10 an extract
II dissented from these resolutions,
for ] felt by assenti..g to them | should
hsvo pledged myself to the unqualified
repudiation ofphysical force in all eoun'
tries, at oil times, and in every circum.
stance. This could not do; for, my
lord. do not abhor the use Of arms in
tho vindication Of national rights.
(Cheers.) There arc times when arms
alone will suffice. and when political
ameliorations call for u drop Of human
blood-(chesrs)-and many thousand
drops Of blood. Enthusiastic cheering
and cries Of oh, oh.) Opinion, | admit
will operate against opinion. But, as
tho honorable member for Kilkenny OBJ.
served, force must be used against force.
(Cheers. and some confusion. )-Thc sol.
der 10 proof against an argument, but he
10 no. proof against bullet. The man
tha, will listen to reason, let him be rsa.
soned with; but it is the weaponcd arm
ofthe patriot that can alone avail against
battalionsd despotism. loud cheers)
Then. my lord, do not disclaim the use
Of arms as immoral, nor do believe it
10 the truth to say that the God Of heav.
On withholds his sanction from the use
Of arms. From the day on which in the
valley Of Bethulia, he nerved the arm Of
the Jewish girl to smite the drunken ty.
rant in his tent, down to the hour in which
ne blessed the insurgent chivalry of the
Belgian priests, his Almighty hand hath
ever been stretched from His throne of
light to consccrate the flag Of freedom, to
bless the patriots sword. loud and
enthusiastic chsering.) Be it for defence,
or be il for the assertion ola nations lib.
srty. look upon the sword as a sacred
(No, no. from the Rev. Mr.. Hop.
kins.) And il, my lord. it has sometimes
Redeemed the shroud the oppressor. like
the aanointed rod Of the high priest, it
has. at other times, blossomed into flow.
srs to deck the freeman's brow. I've.
hement applause. )-Abhor the sword
and stigmatise the sword! No. my lord
for at the eragged passes of the Tyrol it
cut III pieces the banner OF the Bavarian
and won an Immortality for the peasan,
oflnnspruek. lHear) Abhor the sword
and stigmatiss the sword! No, my lord,
for at its blow giant nation sprung from
The waters Of the far Atlantic, and by its
magic the fettered colony be.
'ame daring. free republic. Abhor the
word and stigmatise the sword! No.
ny lord. for it scourged the Dutch ma.
auders out Of the fine old towns of Bel.
Iium. back into their own phlegma,ic
)-and knocked their
log. and laws, and sceptre, and bayo.
lets, into the sluggish waters Of the
Schsldt. Enthusiastic cheering) My
ord. l lsarnel that it was the right of|
! nation 10 govern itself, not in the hall,
but upon the ramparts Of Antwerp,
Cheers.) Learned the first article of|
/ nations creed upon those ramparts,
where the possession Of the precious gift
vas purchased by the cffusion ofgenerous
,lood. loud cheers.) My lord ad.
nire the Belgians, honor the Belgians
or their courage and their daring; and
will not stigmatise the means by which
hoy obtained citizen king. Chamber
f Deputies"