The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-09-25

redress the wrongs which were dealt
upon oppressed humanity. TCheers. -
The stars and stripes had therefore been
identified with him in his exile, in his
trials, and what some would call his inor-
dinate dreams.
He did not support Mr. Lincoln during
the canvass; but he was duly elected, and
it was the duty of every citizen to obey the
will of the majority legitimately expressed
A few years since there had been Know
Nothing party, the cardinal principle of
which was the prescription of the foreign
born citizens, but had that party legiti-
mately elected President he would have
sustained him [Cheers.l If such
doctrine were not assented to, then, in
stead of the American principle, which
is the will of the majority through
the ballot box, we substitute the desper-
ate Mexican rule, which is that of revolu-
ton.
Col. Meagher continued: Now, | un-
derstand that there are some of my coun-
trymen in this State who do not 90 in for
this war. Cries of at is a mistake. i
Well, / want to put the thing clear to
them. Irishmen have come to me and
said this "a certain Governor few
years since dlsbanded our Irish compa-
Mes" A voice-"That's So That is
not only so, but that is a fact Is that
reason why you should give over your
country, your honor, and your govern
ment which has been vilcly insulted? But
your vengeance is not in holding aloof
from the cause in which the flag is imper-
lied your vengeance is to prove that you
are better than those who were native
born. But nc matter what may have
happened in the little State of Connecti-
cut, your duty has not been to Connecti-
cut; your duty has been to the Union
1Chcers When the Irish emigrant came
here ii was not to Connecticut, or New
York, or Alabama, or any State, but to
the United States. As that oath was abb
solute, so should the object Of it be COM
ple.e. Then | have heard it ssid "Why
not leave the Americans to fight this bat
tie for themselves? Why should not we
lrishmen just fold our arms, Gil our pipes
and smoke away, and leave them to their
distress and disgrace?'
Very good, if we could afford to do SO.
Very good, if this fgh, were not our
fight. | say that this fight is an Irish
fight. [Cheers And if Irishmen do
not sustain the only government under
which they have had reputation, fortune,
and good name, then any one who speaks
to me of Irish liberty is dreamer and
driveller. [Checrs. This is our matter
Thousands upon thousands of Irish emf
grants have come here; thousands upon
thousands of Irish graves have been sunk
in this American soil With the Reynlu-
ton, Irish names and fortunes are strong
~ identified. fro to New York and ride
down Broadway, and an obelisk rises and
you see the name of Emmett on it. On
the porch of that same church you see
the name of Richard Montgomery In
the times Of Catholic emancipation there
was no greater fliend to that cause than
the United States. TCheers have mere
~ to ask my eountrymen to stand by this
cause, to stand by tie stars aud stripes, to
stand by the government which has been
lcgitinately elected. Is this to be a
question Of party? If so, it were better
that this country had never been nurtured
into freedom. Tor my part, | care not
under what denomination the President
may have been elected. For my part, /
care not what prejudice. or counsels the
administration may have had 1t is
enough for ne that the men in power come
and take possession of the seat of govern
ment under the credentials of the popular
will aud under solemn sanction of the con-
stitutlon. That being done stand for il
with all my heart, with AL the vigor that
is in my arm, with all the fire that is in
my brain, with my life, if that is any.
thing worth [Cheers
Many time have | been taken by the
hand and asked by. Irishmen, why throw
your life away, why risk it, Ny answer
is this. if the United States does not as
sert their supremacy there is no hope for
Ireland. Cheers. You see that every
monarchy in Europe that has its selfish
interest to maintain is banded against the
United States. The only one that has
come ont and struck nobly has been Rus
STA. | address Irishmen especially. You
may have your little grievances to com
plain of, but look up from your parish,
from your mere small locality; see that
great flag above you; see the great coun.
try which it designates, and swear with
one heart, and with one arm, and with all
your soul--and an Irishman's soul is az
wide as the universe-swear to defend it
For my part / feel this, that there is now
no other duty left us except to 90 out
and stand and participate in the for
tunes of the Republic, or hang our heads