The Placer herald., 1860-03-24

Could the chain for an instant be riven
Which Tyranny flung round us then,
No, tits not in man nor in Heaven
To let Tyranny bind it again"
America, as well as almost every nation
under the sun, owes to Ireland debt of
gratitude. During the desperate struggles
freely poured out upon our own battle fields,
as was that of Americans. Out Of the fifty
six signers of the American Declaration Of
Independence nine were Of pure Irish blood,
three of whom, towit: Matthew Thornton,
James Smith, and Geore Taylor, were born
in Ireland. During the year 1880, at one
OF the darkest periods of our revolution,
and when the American soldiers halt cloth
ed, and half fed, were with great difficulty
kept from mutiny ninety three merchants
of Philadel phia furnished voluntary contr,
buttons for the establishment of bank for
their especial relief and of that number
twenty were Irish, and the amount contribu-
led by Irish alone, was SAP, 800. Among
the lrish and those of purely Irish blood,
who have figured conspicuousiy as officers in
the United States, may be mentioned Com
modore Barry, who has been said to have
been almost the father of our Navy, and a
drawer than whom never lived-also, Genl.
Jackson, President Of the United States, and
also, Generals Butler, Carroll, Conway, Cof-
fee, Devereux, Dohorty, Hand, lIagan, Irvine,
Knox, Lewis, Montgomery Moore, Maylan,
O'Brien, O'Donogu, O'IligginS, O'Rei,ly, Fer
moy, Shields, Sullivan and Wayne, as well,
no doubt, many others, whose names am
| nIl Ia oil Il .,,l
merabe lesser officers. Hosts of Irish have,
aud even now do, fill the highest positions
of trust in our government, and will con
tlnue to do so as long as our government ex-
lists. The sons of the "Green Isle of the
Ocean," have contributed nobly to the re,
nown of our arms; and to the wisdom of our
councils. Indeed, wherever we hear of deeds
of herosm having been performed, we also
hear that Irish valor has been in the fore
ground. We hear of Mcmahon in the Cri-
mea, and in Italy; O'Donnell in Spain; Nj
gent in Austria; and Wellington in england;
each of whom ha performed deeds of valor
and generaship, and occupied positions of
such prominence before the world as to rem
der it superuous to call particular attention
to their acts.
She, Ireland, at home has done much to.
wards enriching mankind by her genius and
learning Her Heating, Geohayen, and
Moore, as historians; her Moore, Caralan and
Lover, rs poets her SarsfeId, O'Donnell, and
ONeal. AS generals; and her Burke, Grattan,
Flood, and OConnel, as statesmen-high,
though they stand in their respective calings,
are yet, not superior to hundreds of their
l,,,,
not presented the same opportunities for pub
lie prominence Ireland, this day, stands
second to no nation Of people, in respect to
a high order of intellect and enghtend un
derstandings, and all the essential elements
of greatness. With this fac: in view, and
also the additional fact, that the fame that
she has acquired has been wres,ed from the
hands of fate ITSELF in spite of every obstacle
that tyranny could nterpose to her advance
ment, we cannot but be astonished beyond
measure-and may well ask ourselves what
would she have been, had she occupied po-
siton of equality among the nations of the
earth! Had not internal dissensions distrac-
ted her ranks and thwarted her noble purpo-
ses, she might now have stood first among
the proudest of the governments of the
EARTH
Let the time come, when every Ir.shman
shall fully obey the dictates and example Of
the great ST. Patrick, and not only advocate
but practice the principles of peace and bro.
therhood- each looking with charity, upon
what he believes to be the mistaken views of
the other, and standing shoulder to shoulder
in the struggle of the oppressed against the
| Al u utns,, tN I'm
free as it is certain that night succeeds unto
day Let sectarian cavils cease; and learn to-
known that each feeling Of bitterness engen-
dered in vonr bosoms towards each other, is
but an aid to your oppressors, in adding yet
another cord TO The bonds which bind you to
national servitude BE just! be charitable!
be freel Bury the axe of internal dis
cord, and pray God to palsy the hand and
blister the tongue, that seeks to effect lis re-
appearance among you, Let the spirit OF
the godlike st. Patrick look down from his
heavenly abode, witha smile Of fconentment,
as he sees his children once more united in
act and purpose, and broth erly love. Then
let the Harp of Erin be unbound from its
long silence, and
"G;ve all ts chorus, to light freedom and song"
Then let the green hills, the rich valleys,
aud the fertile plains of the Emerald Isle, be
startled once more into gladness, by the Gel
tic battle shout of freedom, as with one mind,
one voice, and united effurt, her noble sons
rend from their limbs the chains Of tyranny,
and proudly take foremost position among
the nations Of the earth. Then
Like the bright lamp, that shonc on Kldares holy
fame, --------------
And burned through long ages of darkness and
storm,
vain.