Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-15
Letter fIOm an irish Patriot.

an Irish Patriot.
The Nation" OF Dublin, contains letter from
John Martini one of the Irish exiIes of l646 which is
well worth reading:
KnsRoNEY, Rostrevor, Nov. 5th, 1862.
TO The Editor Of the Nation:
DEAR SIR My name has been mentioned in your
paper of last Saturday as that of sympatzer with the
Southern States in the which at present raging
in America. L am sympathiser with the South and
since the fact is publicly stated desire, with your
kind permission, to say few words by way of explain
ing and defining my sympathy
Both parties our kindred, our friends, our bene-
factors Ireland has no quarrel with either, but is
bound to both with the strongest ties of affection and
of interest. The Irish has contributed largely to the
people Of tie Southern as well as of the Northern
States and the Irish in America like all other Ameri
can citizens have to take part in this with the
States OF which they happened to be residents. The
most bonored and trusted of political exiles are
upon opposite sides-Mitchell is with the South,
Meagher with the North. Williams and Boheny have
did since the broke out-the one soldier of the
South the other leaving his in for the North.
Those uoble hearts cold il. American graves
surely both of them burned with the most intense love
fer Ireland!
In short it is a war between States and populations
WHO are all allied to by blood, who all entitled to
cur eternal gratitude by the munfcent charity with
which they strove to feed our people when starving
under the English rule, who have all constantly afforded
friendly refuge to our people when driven from their
native country by the of that rule, who have all
shown pity for suferings under foreign yoke, and
given sympathy ard encouragement TO aspirations
after independence To Irish patriot, the honor
and prosperity of North and of South equally dear
What spectacle for him-the North and the South
contendng against each other the deadlest of
mics If he feels that his voice have influence
over the combatants, he may well De SILENT while like
The ODonaghue, be gazed upon the ratracida conflict
with streaming eye"
But though such considerations as those have hith-
\ \:
right and wrong of this unhappy war, they have not
prevented from the free expression OF my sentiments
among my friends, in conversation. And latterly |
have begun to doubt the propriey of keeping silence
while strenuous efforts being made by several per-
sons to represent all the true Nationalist of Ireland
parzans of the North and to prove that the hopes of
national depend upon the of the North
in this war.
1t was therefore, with feeling of relief that read
your article of last Saturday and the letter of your
correspondent who signs himself An Irish American
at all events let the truth be known. ALI true Irish
Nationalist not partisaDs of the North in this
do not believe that majority of them partisans
OF tie North. Certainly, not. desire and hope
suhugate the South. sympathiZa with my whole
heart with the people OF the South, defending their
homes and liberty against the invading armies of those
who lately their owcitizens, to whom they have
done wrong, and of whom they desire nothing out
to be- allowed to depart in peace from the political part
nership which they deske Resisting hostile invasion
fighting to save themselves from yoke of conqueror
the people of the South defending just and holy
cause, and they defending it against tremendous
odds with such galantry, endurance devoted patriot
ism, heroic virtues have never been surpassed in
the whole history of wars of independence. A most
noble people has there to take its place among the
nations, and, springing to arms in defence Of its
rights, has at once presented before the world ma
oual army good and beautiful that the proudest o
empires might emulate it. In craftsmanship and mill
ary genius, in the courage and discipline that make
for inlerory of numbers and of arms, in the devoted
of the women the lofty spirit of national honor
that anmates unanimons population, the South pos
deences that entte her to the victory But th
victory is not always to the righteous cause to h
best and bravest 1t may be that the greatly superior
of the Northern States will enable them
time to extermine the defenders of the South and t.
subjugate the country. hope not. But vctors o
vanquished, my sympathies are wholly with the peopl
OF the South
l find that l have enlarged so much in the mere e1
preston of nay individual feelings concerning the wa
between North and South, that must not attempt j
this letter to argue the question between them, d
cuss the bearings of the upon our Irish nations
policy. Indeed it may suffice to say that agree i
everything with your leading article and also with th
. letter of an Irish American
l am, dear sir, sincerely yours,
JOHN MARTIN