The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-11
REPORTED FOR THE PIONEER.

Wednesday Evening, Oct. 26, 1864.
REPORTED FOR THE PIONEER.
LADIES AND DAUGHTERS OF IRELAND
1t is with the highest feeling of admiration
and gratitude for the noble objectfor which
you have come together tonight, that
rise to congratulate you, and to tender
you the sincere thanks and high regards of
the Finian Brotherhood, in consideration
of the patriotic effort you are about to
make in the establishment of circle OF
the Finian Sisterhood in this city, to CO.
operate with us in the redemption of Ire
land from the CALLING chains of English
dominion.
Ireland, in the earliest ages was in pos
session of high degree of civilization
and refinement The Malician branch Of
the Celtic race, the primitive inhabitants
of the country, were chivalrous and en-
lightened, and their form of government
humane and purely democratic; SO pow
erful were they in arms, that st later
age, when all the civilized world sue,
cumbed to the sway of the Roman Em-
pire, Ireland alone maintained her inde-
pendence, aud twice drove back the iu-
ya1ing legions of Rome. =
At still later age, when the Roman
Empire itself, had fallen beneath the ad-
vance of the Northern hordes who over
run Europe, Erin's sons drove the rude
invaders from her soil forever, on the me.
morabls plains of Cloutarf, under the lead
ersbip of the christian, monarch Brian
Boroum. From that tina till the treach-
erous invasion of the couD:rJ by England,
she stood, the nursery of liturature and
the bulwark of civilization in Europe
During these ages the people Of Ireland
reached the higest degree of civilization,
refinement, and morality; her daughters
notorious for their beauty, modesty, and
purity, graced the courts OF Europe,
and raised woman to her proper dignity
they established nunneries of morality and
learning all over the continent, as well as
at home; and so exalted was the refine
ment and morality of those ages in Erin
that one of the most beautiful maidens of
Ireland made pilgrimage from one end of
the Island to the other; as proof of the
honor and virtue of her couRtrymen, and
as our coutryman Moore, the soul OF song,
describes it:
Rich and rare were the gems che wore.
And bright gold ring on her wand she bore.
But oh, her beauty was far beyond,
Her sparkling gems or snow white wand.
One of the chivalrous Knights of those
days, questioning her if she was not afraid
to expose her wealth and beauty amongst
strangers. She answered:
Sir, Knight. l feel not the least alarm
No son Of Erin will offer me harm
For though they love woman and golden store
Sir Knight. they love honor and vitue more !
And let me add, that it is but the same
motives that induces you to assemble here
tonight
But, Ike all other great nations, her day
# adversely was at hand, and for seven
hundred years the foe OF her faith and her
people has succeeded in dividing, distract
ing and ruling the nation with the iron
hand of cruel oppression. During those
long and dreary years of Erin's slavery,
efforts have never ceased to regain her
freedom, and never did her people submit
willingly to the dominion of the English
nation.
1t is one of the inalienable and acknowl-
edged rights Of all distinct nationalities
that their subjugation alone, without their
consent, does not deprive them Of the right
nd IN fol>l soI, hasu l.
pendence at any time, if they are power
full enough to contest their rights, and the
change will tend to improve their condi-
ton morally, physically and materially.
This is conceded by the most eminent
Catholic writer's and philosophers, as the
case of struggling Poland will demon
strate.
The Fenian Brotherhood is an open po-
litical organization of Irish and Irish
American citizens, and all others who are
friendly to the independence of Ireland, for
the purpose of lending their influence to
the cause of Irish independence, and the
establishment of an Irish republican gov
ernment in Ireland As American citizens
they mediate no violation of the laws of
their adopted country, having right to
foster the spread of democl attic govern
ments wherever oppression exists and as
faithful children of the Catholic Church,
Ito which the great body OF the Irish peO-
cling like faithful child to good mother,
and for whose commandments, and their
faith they would sacrifice liberty and life,
they violate no precepts Of hers, as the 30
cieiy is no secret, and only laboring for
the one and only object for which it was