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


REPORTED FOR THE PIONEER.
LADIES AND DAUGHTERS OF IRELAND
1t is with the highest feeling of admiration
and gratitude for the noble object for 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 we're they in arms, that st later
age, when all the civilized world sue
cumbed 20 the sway Of the Roman En-
pire, Ireland alone maintained her indie
peldence, aud twice drove back the in
'aling legions of Rome.
at still later age, when the Roman
Empire ITSELF had fallen beneath the adj
vance Of the Northern hordes who over
run Europe, Erin's sons drove the rude
Invaders from her soil forever, On the me.
morable plains Of Cioutarf, under the lead
ership of the christian, monarch Brian
Boroum From that tina till the tresch-
erou6 Invasion Of the couo.ry by England,
she stood, the nursery Of literature 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 we'll az
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; rs a proof of the
honor and virtue OF her cOuRtrymen, and
az oar coutryman Moore, the soul OF song,
describes it:
Rich aud rare were the gems she 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, | feel not the ieas. alarm.
No son Of Erin will offer me harm
For though they love woman and golden store
Sir, Knight. they love honor and vitus more
And let ne add, that il is bat the same
motives that induces you 70 assemble here
Tonight
But, Ike all other great nations, her day
f adversary wsA at hand, and for seven
hundred yc;.,; !he foo OF her faith and her
people has succeeded ia dividing, distract
ing and ruling the nation with the iron
hand OF cruel oppression. During those
long and dreary years of Erins slavery,
efforts have never ceased to regain her
freedom, and never did her people submit
willingly To the dominion OF tht English
nation.
Ii Is one Of the inaienable and acknowl
edged rights OF all distinct nationalities
that their suhjugation alone, without their
consent, does not deprive them Of the right
70 regain and to re-establish their indie
pendence at any time, if they are power
ful enough to contest their rights, and the
Change will tend to improve their condi-
ton morally, physically and materially.
This is conceded by tina most eminent
Catholic writers and philosophers, as the
case of struggling Poland will demon
strate.
The Fenian Brotherhood is an open po-
itical organization of Irish and Irish
American citizens, and all others who are
friendly to the independence OF Ireland, for
In. purpose Of lending their influence to
the cause of Irish independence, and the
establishment of an Irish republican gov
eminent 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,
90 which tho great body OF the Irish peo-
cling like faithful child to good mother,
and Tor whose commandments and their
faith they would sacrifice liberty and lite,)
they violate no precepts of hers. as the 80
cieiy IS no secret, and only laboring for
the enc and only object fox which it was