Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-14
From the Dublin Nation, gov. Z.
THE AMERICAN WAX.
ANSWER OF WILLIAM SMITH ORBIEN To GENERAL

to sleep.
KILLARNEY, Oct. IS, 1868.

My Dear Smyth-I perceive that our friend I. f.
Meagher not satisfied with having ma ie, IN America,
series OF brilliant oraOns in favor OF continuance OF
the civil that has ragged during nearly three years
10 the United States has seat dispatch to Ireland
which is evidently intended to induce Irish EN- grants
to enlist under the Federal banners upon their arrival
10 America.
perceive, also that you have endorsed the opir'Ds
contained in that dispatch with your approval
Nevertheless, | addr, ss this communication TO you
in full confidence that you j give 10 the public op.
porturity of considering IDEAS that pre- totally at val.
lance with those which have been put forward by you
and by Gen. Meagher.
Two wears ago ventute1 to address snCh OF the go
litcians of A merioe; have shown disposition to
pay respect to my opinions earnest prayer that hy
would submit TO amicabe adjustment the questions
which had rent in twain the United States rather than
that they should continns to massacre each other.
Nv suggestions we're received with difference, but
can scarcely complain that they were not adopte
when the mediation of the Emperor of the French
declined by Congress in terms which indicated that any
offer of this kind would be considered intrusive.
Whilst such spirit is evinced by the Federal those
friends of America who desire to witness the termna
ton of this war are silenced; and should not have
broken this silence if Gen. Meagher had not ae al
appeal to bis fellow countrymen, which, if left
ed might induce many thousands OF lrishmn to sacri
fee themselves in contest for which their erventiou
is not demanded b = any obligations of duty
I cannot calculate at less than 100000 the number
Of Irishmen who have already fallen in this horrible
warfare These men have fallen 10 the prime of life -
in the vgor of youth and strength. Had they fallen
in contending for the freedom of their country their
memory would have been consecrated in the annals Of
patriotism. Their heroism would have heen admired
even by those who hate natiol-but truth compels
to say that these brave men are now regarded as
mercenaries, who, for the sake of handful of
dollars enlist themselves in STRIFE the sole object Of
which is to determine whether onehrd OF the citzors
of the States shall be governed according to their
free choice, shall be coerced to submit 10
ton and to Government which they repudiate and
abhOr.
l shall not inquire how many of these Irishman have
been induced by the eloquence If Gen. Meagher to fling
themselves into premature grave, but feel convinced
now, 10 1861 that if the Irish population OF Amer
ca had thrown the weight of their 1fu7nce into the
scale in faver of peace the inserts Of war; which have
devastated region that ten years since enjoyed great
amount of material prosperity than any other portion
of the GLOBE might have been averted.
felt it 10 be my duty to take issue with General
Meagher this point, Immediately after his first
ton in Boston in favor OF the My remonstranc6s
were at that time unavaiug. He raised his bcgades
Where are they now! Yet feel convinced that the
time will arrive when all lrsbnlen will regret that my
advice did not prevail over the exhortations OF
quent and popular friend.
Nothing but a sense of duty could place me in an
tagonism to O comrade who shared many OF my hopes
and disappointments but there some in lreIaud
and in America, too, who pay attention to what say,
feel it to be incumbent upon me- st time when thou
sands upon thousands Of Irlshmen quitting our
snOree, 10 declare tnat would lnHntelY C1Lter
them to remain at home earning shilling day than
to be seduced by the glitter OF military trappings-by
the solicitations of crlmps and nbrokesUr by the
invocation of the most splendid oraory-to perish as
nercenaries in the unhoy strife which desc ates
the States of America.
Gen. Meagher complains that the Irish peop'e have
identified themselves with the Orangenen and :ocies OF
England In their sympathy with the retels OF the South
This charge proceeds from misconcepton of the state
of feeling that prevails in this country. There few
EDon AnOli Uho do
in the separation which has taken place between the
Northern and Southern States because they ac-
customed to feel that the growth of American power
under the Union was so rapid to become txrcmel,
patriotic party in Ireland deeply regret the sever
creasng strehgtE of the Uoited Safes gnarantee
against English oppression, which, under
the protection of Ireland But after this war had un-
happily broken out-when, from tie OF events it
became manifest to all mankind that there is between
South and North alienation of eeiug which clnno
be reccnced-when it became evident that the South
even if conquered could be retained in connection with
the North only by coerc0n-then the lovers OF human
treedom-the uph0ders OF the right of self government
began to feel that though the dissolution OF the nion
might be great calamity. its maintenapce by sucl
Ueans empoyed by Russia in order to retain Pc
land uuder subsection, would be greater evil I0ste;id
therefore, of bounding the combatants 20 mutual
destruction earnestly pray that the Americans may
settle their differences by nmcabe Adjustment even
though the separation may be injurious TO Us.
Permit further to observe that, whist the patriots
OF eiand deeply lament the destruction aud rapine
which now desolate America those Englishmeu who
hate the Amercans-and they not few-rejOice to
witness the fury with which tie Northerns continue to
carry the war, because the exhaustion of resources
which produces to both the contendng parties
strengthens the relative ascendancy OF Eng!ish-pow
err Those EDglisbm@n, also, who hate lreland--and
they are not few-are delighted to fad such nan
as Meagher stimulating his elowcountrgmen to rush
into the shamb!es in which butchery awaits them. ley
know that every 1rishman who has fled to America
an enemy of England Naturally, therefore, they re-
ioce when they learn that the number of their enemies
is diminished weekly by the operations of relentless
We then, who wish for peach are entitled to re-
but the charge of Gen. Meagher by declaring that he
is acting part which is acceptable to those whom be
calls the " Orangemen and Tories of England"
An impression prevails in the minds of some of our
deluded ellowcountrymen to the effect that General
Meagher is exciting them with such earnestness take
part in the civil of America, with view to pre-
pare them for Invasion of Ireland. mere absurd
mode of preparing them to attack enemy never
devised by the Imagination of 1t is not told how
many Irishmen who enlisted in the Southern armies
have been sent into another world by Meagher's bri-
gade but it has been stated believe his oWn au-
thorty-that he carried twelve hundred fue young
Irshmen into the battle of fredericksburg and that be
brought out of that engagement unframed only two
hundred and fifty Gould the worst enemies OF Ireland
desire that the Irish should be spurred destruction
by inatuatioa insane than that which thus IN
duces Irishmen butcher each other in this accused
warf
General Meagher excuses Us on the ground that we
are ignorant respecting American affairs, and abstans
from imputing base motives to desire that peace
should be restored in the Western world. Following
his example, will not mpute to him improper motives
for the course which he has adopted Had he received