The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-09

women, all in white, each carrying bunch of
orange lilies. May go and see the Orange
men on the 18th of Jnly?" was a question
that generally pestered parents for month be
forehand.
Children, pleased with whatever attracts the
eye and ear, soon caught up their songs and
sentiments. | knew little boy that had an
Orange song before he could speak plain l
knew another, but little older, singing
Cup with the orange, and down with The green,
Bad luck 10 the lhreshers that 1--we Barnm, an,
and throwing stones at magpie, simply because
her green feathers proved her to be Catholic
| have heard little girl express an eager wish
that there might be fight on the 9Th of No
vember. and that the Croppies might get good
beatin. l have heard my brother, when but
nine years of age, say, 8 I'll tex this whup, on
the 18th of July, and I'll 60 to Ruben, and
I'll bate the kiner's wife while I'm able to howl
the whup." OF course, he never intended to
do it, but he took pleasure in talking
about it.
That our Celtic countrymen should feel them
selves annoyed and CALLED by all this, is not
strange. 1t is true, a magnanimous man would
rather despise such pageantry than be vexed
at 1t but nine-tenths of our Catholic brethren
did not pretend to be either saints or philoso
piers, and the other tenth would have some
difficulty in making good their claim. AS might
be expected, a secret association among Roman
Catholics, called Rbbonmen, retaliated with in
terest wherever they were able, on Professionals,
all the imaginary or real grievances which they
had suffered from Orangemen. 1t is but just
to add, that Ribbonmen were among their own
folks not accounted good Catholics. However
much they might sympathize with them in their
ill-wlll towards Orangemen, they disapproved of
the principle of secret societies.
Orangemen might have great deal of reli
gion, but it all evaporated in cursing the Pope
drinking the health of the King, and insulting
Papsts.
The religion of the Ribbonmen was about on
a par.
The cid adage says, extremes are the nearest
meeting; and in this case they met altogether
not merely in deadly fray, with fist and shile
lah, but also In similarity of habits, as to bois
ferrous profanity and lawlessness.
Prominent among the Orangemen of our
neighborhood was Sam Duncan, a young man
OF athletic frame, free, open countenance, and
generous heart. | never could hear that there
was much in his private habits to provoke the
hatred of any human being, but it is notorious
that men will do for party what they will not
do for themselves. In every fight between the
PrOtestants and Catholics, if Sam Duncan were
present, the latter were sure to be well beaten.
With firearms, weak man is often as good as
the strongest but when it comes to close blows,
single man is sometimes company in him
self One blow will level an enemy, and there
is no danger of his ammunition failing Sam
Duncan was first dreaded, and then hated. At
last, thirteen men vowed to rid themselves and
their country of their countrys foe. On the
5th of November, and think in the year 1920,
| (but would not be sure of the year, they put
it in execution. They went into tavern to
get the liquor to stimulate themselves for the
decd Tho lanal@-As ~,..s ---~-ircafd 10 Say
Boys, I am afraid this will be bad work in
the end you had better go home" And, again,
If yOu will go, take that potash FOUNDER"
This was hammer, with a handle three feet
long.
1t was now dark Duncan was returning
from celebrating the landing of William, Prince
of Orange. Two men, named Holingsworth
and Meany, were along with him. The con-
sprators came behind him, and one of them
struck at him with the hammer, which missed
Duncan's head, and flew out of the others
hands The most courageous men are often
the most afraid of assassination, and poor Sam
Duncan exclaimed, as he turned and sprang at
stick which one of them carried, BOYS, don't
kill me. iii fight any two of you that will meet
me, but don't Kill mel" The Two men with
him sprang over sod fence, and lay down be-
hind it. The potash FOUNDER was snatched up
again, and another blow buried it in his head.
Now" said the leader, " the deed is done let
every one be as deep in guilt as another, that
no man may turn talesman on his neighbor."
With strange infatuation, arising no doubt in
part from intoxication, every man came as his
with stick, or with his foot, while the witnesses
lay within hearing; and, with stranger infatua-
ton STILL they left the fatal hammer to betray the
| friend who had lent it TO them, and to be held
up, clothed with blood and hair, at their own
| trial. They spoke before they left about Dun
cans companions. Some had not seen them ;
others saw them, but thought they had made
their escape before he was struck. They per-
suaded themselves that all was right and sepa-
rated.
| Hollngsworth and Meany then went into
Rathfriland to magistrate, who took their dep
ostiou, ordered out the military, and before
morning had six ofthem prisoners. The next
day, three more were taken. Four made good
their escape. The leader was among them.
They surrounded him twice, but he ran like a
hare, and was never taken. The funeral, ac-
companied by an Orange procession, went by
| the Jail where the aSsassins were confined.
am sorry to say, that they so far violated every
dictate of propriety as to play the Protestant
Boys, although the ordinary tune on such &C.
casions was Lochaber no More
| The trial produced an intense excitement.
Seventy guneas were raised by subscription to
pay the counsel for the prosecution. One poor
man, who was brought to prove an abb in
favor Of some of the prisoners, appalled, at the
sight of so many stern faces around him, faint
| ed, and fell off the stand. Some said he was
possessed of the devil, for he foamed at the
mouth. There was scarcely Roman Catholic
that did not sympathize with the prisoners.
Whatever they might think of the crime, they
paid more attention to the provocations leading
to it, than to the deed itself. They considered
that not one of these men would have done
such deed for money, and soon forgot any
disapprobation they might exercise towards the
deed, in pity for the sufferers When my grand
father inquired of a beggar man if he had heard
any news about the trial, "Ah! too much,
too much" he answered, in a voice suppressed
almst 20 whisper. "Seven of them poor fell
| lows is to be put down for that wan man-too
much, too much !"
| The seven men all mounted the scaff'old TO-
gether, and receiving the last benedction of the
priest, at single drop all fell from the lap.
board. The other two were transported for life
to Botany Bay. The saddest part Of the story
was a little incident that was seldom told in the
story. Indeed, never heard it but once. The
mother of one of the prisoners went to see Mrs.
Duncan, when she was laInenting for her son.
She was but coldly received, and went away
with the chagrin Of wounded feelings added to
the bitterness of sorrow.
Shortly after that, a police force was estab-
lished, and some efforts made to preserve the
peace. But this was something new, and to
many very unreasonable. That man ought
to be punished for attacking peaceable person,
all admitted, But if man or q party of men
aoooptad obollapge and wont ont into the falds