Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-12
EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON:
Opposition to Mr.. Meagher.
SATURDAY, MARCH II, 1853.

The Irish patriot seems to be in fair way
Of proving the application of the burning old
adage: "Out of the frying pan into the
fire.
He has escaped the watchful guards Of an
English prison in Van Dieman's Land only
to meet the bitter opposition of a portion of
his countrymen in America.
The Cincinnati Sun, an Independent paper
Of large circulation, thus presents its view
Of the case:
"1n 1S4S every Irisbman in our land was
looking to the great minds Of Ireland, and to
Meagher as one among the greatest, with
admiration amounting to idolatry. When
the axe Of the executioner hung, as it were,
suspended over his neck, we heard the voices
Of our Irish citizens, crying in accents
OF horror-martyrdom Meagher escaped
he sought refuge in the land of the brave,
and the home Of the free Every American
voice praised, and every American heart
welcomed the apostle and martyr Of human
liberty. How great was the amazement Of
Americans, when they found that there were
some, with liberty on their tongue, who did
hot give to Meagher welcome in their
hearts Who we're these friends of liberty,
yet enemies to Meagher? Engishmen >
iIen OF the land that Mea CHER hau denounced
Is oppressive, and who might plead some
eXtenuation if they opposed him? No.
Shame. shame. that we should have to
write it; the only voices heard against Ire
lands martyr were Irishnlen
"Why could not the Young Friends Of
Ireland invite I. F. Meagher and his bro
Their exiles? Is Meagher obnoxious to the
Virtuous from immortality Of conduct: Does
he lack the genius to gain the admiration Ct
the intellectual? Is he deficient in patriot
ism, SO that the hearts of the free must he
closed against him? Did he shrink before
the prison, the hall Of judgment, or the ter
rors Of death, and forfeit his patriotism
Has he been a recreant to faith, honor, or
religion?
If he has been guilty of these things, we
can judge why the friends of Ireland ;
could not be the friends of Meagher But
if Meagher has cherished virtue as his
friend, if be has adopted honor as his prin-
ciple, if lie has devoted himself to patriot
ism as the respondent star of his hearts
devotion, why Ireland friends are Meagher's
enemies, we cannot divine"
We do not profess, here in Washington,
to understand the peculiar facts as they may
exist in other places. But We have high
and sincere admiration Of Mr.. Meagher.
We have repeatedly written in his behalf,
and in that Of the sacred cause of Irish lib
erty in these columns In our Judgment
he is an honest, able, patriotic mana man
Of rare gifts and pure life, who has done and
suffered much for his beloved father land
and We honor such mau from our Utmost
souls.
At the same time we would not be guilty
of deceiying the American people. If there
as any good reason why the real Friends
of Ireland" should Withdraw their confidence
from Mr.. Meagher, let them come out.
This is the nineteenth century, and here is
the American Republic. There is no need
of doing anything with regard to human
liberty in corner. Americans are not
afraid to hear their fellow citizens speak
their minds on any subject.
Friends of Ireland Friends of Freedom {.
speak out
"SMALL NOTES The article with this
title from the Maryland paper, published
In yesterdays Star, was not designed to