The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-07
Two Incidents in History.

"Durng the American revolution, q
band OF lrishmen were imbodied to avenge
in the country OF their adoption, the in
Juries OF the country of their BIRTH" They
constituted the great proportion OF the
Pennsylvania line. They fought with
enthusiastic bravery Tor the cause of the
colonies. Many OF the so called "native
born" citisens in the army were we'll pro
vided and contented; but these gallan,
foreigners were not so fortunate. They
were half starved and almost naked
They appealed for reliei. and in vain.
They felt indignant at this treatment.
ihey had arms in their hands. and they
had reached that limit beyend which for
bearance ceases 70 be virtue. They
now demanded what they before had soi-
cited. A, this moment the intelligence OF
their dissatisfaction was carried to the
British camp. and was received with Nh
dissembled joy by Lord Howe. Here
was. he thought. glorious opportunity OF
crushing the embryo republic forever. He
knew that the Irish character was irasci.
BILE and impetuous. Messengers were
dispatched to the suffering and protest.
ing lrishmen. Free pardons, gold, cloth.
ing, bounties, &c., we're offered in one
royal carte blanche. But there was no
hesitation among these humble and starv-
ing foreigners. The degrading offers of
the English chief aroused at once their
anger and their sslf.respect. There was
not one Armold among these hardy men.
They scorned the tempters who had been
sent TO seduoe them-spurned their gilt.
,ering hribes, and gave up the British
smissaries to the hangman's rope.
But there is another picture. When
the Mexican war broke out on this side Of
the Rio Grande. nearly the entire regular
army was composed, OF foreigners and
adopted citizens. How they fought, and
fighting fell. the history of Palo Alto and
Resaca de la Palma will tell The war
progressed; and the Native American
press predicted that the moment the Cath.
olic Irish found themselves in Mexico,
where Catholicity is the common end the
established belief. they would 60 over 10
Santa Anna in clouds. History will say
how false the prophecy proved to be. The
adopted citizens were among the first on
every field during that long and brilliant
struggle. Whether following his leader
at Buena Vista, at Monterey. at Cerro
Gordo. at Molina del Rey, or OF Chapul-
tepec, he was rarely found wanting. Il,
is true, there was an exception in the case
of Riley and his companions, VINO were
fsariully punished in the face of the whole
army, amid the execra'ions Of their, indig.
nant countrymen. Bnt there were also
exceptions among the Native Americans
in that war, no less discredi,able, and
much more numerous. Who volunteer.
ed for the war more promptly and more
enthusiastically, from the FIRST TO the last.
than the adopted ci,izens, and especially
the unnaturalized foreigners? Attended
by their courageous priests in the midst
of the shock of war, and lying with their
hearts fixed upon their faith and their flag,
they never murmured a, the country OF
their choice; but rejoiced that they were
able to defend her honor. When the con.
test ended, there was not an American
general who did not everywhere applaud
the gallantry and the devotion Of these
soldiers of Liberty; and the vain clamors
of political Native Americanism were
hushed before spectacle which has pas.
ssd into history alike as lesson end an
example to alltimes.- Washington Union.