The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-06-20

The Invasion of Canada ITS Mo
tives and Objects Explained b.
the LeadeF-PrOclam b.
Gen. Sweeney 10 the People O
Canada. e-,
To tie People Of British america:
We come among you as the foes of BIRTHS
rule in Ireland. Exiled from that nstiv
land of ours by by the oppression of Brit
ish aristocracy and legislation; our peopl
hunted down to the emigrant ships or wors
to that chanel of Government institu
tions, the poorhouse; our countrymen tor
from their families and friends and hurled j
droves to the prison pens of England an
Ireland; our country subjected to foreg
tyrapy, which DISTINGUISHES the mass of tn
Irish people, and makes poverty and mis-
cry the sad rule of their condition, cover
ing our fair land with pauper's graves anc
Eretched novels; eicting from the libera
minds of England herself expressions o
shame for the Government and indignation
for the people.
| We have taken up the sword to strikt
down the oppressor S rod; to deliver lrelanC
| from the tryrant, the despoiler, the rObber
We have registered our oaths upon the alta
of our country, in the full view Of Heaven
| and sent up our vows TO the throne Of Hin
who insI ired them. Then, looking about IL,
for the enemy, we find him here-here il
your midst, where he is most vulnerable
and convenient to our strength and have
sworn to stretch forth the armed hand O
Ireland and gIapple with him. The battle
has commenced, and we pledge ourselves t.
all the sacred memories of struggling liber
ty to follow it up, at any cost, to either ol
two alternatives-the absolute political indie
pendence and liberty Of Ireland cr the de
molition Of our armies.
We have no issue with the people of these
provinces, and wish to have none but the
most friendly relations. Our weapons are
for the oppressor Of Ireland. Our blows
shall be directed only against the power O
England; her privileges alone shall we in
wade, not yours. We do not propose to di
vest you Of solitary right you now enjoy
We will assail and asperse orly the right
that are claimed and enjoyed by the Gov.
ernment of Great Britian-the right tc
make her American possessions the field and
base OF operations ina war against an enc,
my. We come to install ourselves in hel
possessions, and turn them against her in
war for Irish We are here neither as
murderers nor robbers. for plunder or spoil
alton. We are hers as the Irish army OF
liberation; the friends oflibarty against des-
potism, of democracy against arlstocracy, OF
the people against their oppressors, Of the
ballot against the privileges Of class, Of pro-
gress and development againt right and
wrong; to conduct this contest according to
the laws known to honorable warfare, in a
manner worthy of the high object we aim
tor, and the sublime sentiments that actua-
ted Us. In q word, cur war is with the
armed power Of England and not with
the people not with these Provinces. -
Against England upon land and sea, until
Ireland is free! And all who raise an arm
to defend her, to frustratc or defeat us, be-
long to the common enemy, and as such
will be dealt with. AS we know how to rec
oGHize the services of oar friends, so also de-
We know how to punish the depgelatons ct
our foes. Our work for ireland accom-
piished, we leave to your own flee ballots
to determine your natural ana political
standing and character, and shall rejoice to
see, and assist to make these lim1tless col
onies spring from tie foot Of a foreign
throne as ice and independent, as prond
as New York, Massachusetts or Illinois
To that yearning for liberty and aspiration
after natural in dependence which swells the
breast OF every true son of every land, to
your own manliness we leave these questions
for settlement, confident that the dwarf de-
velopment of your vast resources and nat
ural wealth, made the chilling influences of
English supremacy in wletched contrast
with the national dignity and stupendous
material prosperity Of your neiahboring
people of the United states, under tho
stimulus of self-govelnment and democratic
institusions, constitutes stronger argu
ment in favor Of co operation with US, and
of the revolution in your political ccndi-
tion, which this comparison suggests, than
any discussion of the questions involved
which we could offer here.
To Irishmen Throughout these Provinces
we appeal, in the name of seven centuries
of British iniquity and Irish misery and
suffering in the name of our murdered sires,
our desolate homes, our desecrated altars,
our millions Of famine graves. our insulted
name and race, TO stretch forth the hand OF
brotherhood in the holy cause of fatherland,
and smite the tyrant where we can i'll his
work Of numbering our nation and extermi-
mating our people. We conjure you, onr
counrymen, who, from misfortunes intlict-
ed by the very tyranny you are serving, or
from any other cause, have been forced to
to enter the ranks Of the eacmy, not to be
the willing instrument of your country's
death or degradation. If Ireland still
speaks to you in the truest impulses of your
hearts Irisbmen obey her voice!
If you wonld not be mscreants, recreant
to the first principles Of your nature, engra-
we'd upon the very corner stone Of your be-
ing, raise not the hand Of the matricide to
strike down the banner Of Erin! No uni
form. and surely not the blood dyed coat Of
England, emancipate you from the natural
law that binds yonr allegiance TO Ireland to
liberty, to right, to justice, of humanity, OF
the people, we offer the olive branch of
peace, and the horest grasp of friendship.
Take it, Irishmen, Frenchmen, Americans
take it all, and trust it. To all who mar
ched to the call of the enemy, and rally un.
der his stan ard to aid or abet his cause, we
give the sword in as firm and earnest
grippe as ever did its work upon toeman
We wish to meet with friend: we are pre-
pared to meet with the enemies. We shall
endeavor to merit the confidence of the for
mer, and the latter can expect from us but
the leniercy of determined, though gen.
erous foe, and the reatraints and relations
imposed by civilized warfare
lSigned T. w. SWEENY,
Major general commanding the Armies of
Ireland.