Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-09-03
For the Delaware Republican.

wilder and set our judgments at Defiance -
History furnishes parallels for almost all oaset
aud circumstances. But even history is search.
ed in vain to fud parallel, for the conduct o'
those who administer the affairs Of our gov
ernment, in the course that has been pursued
| IN regard to the rerian INVASION of Canada.
| One would suppose that a government that
extends the hand OF welcome to the oppressed
of every land would, by its silence or inaction
countepance the effort that 10 being made to
ameliorate the condition of r. portion of the
human family near and dear to hurdreds OF
thousands of our much valued citizens. One
would suppose that government that bases
its institutions upon the unalterable and eter-
nal rights of mat, would not forget that that
government was established upon the ru ins Of
q despotism no less intolerant than that which
tyranizes over Ireland, and drives her millions
of sons and daughters into exile. One would
suppose that the green memory OF the slain OF
Antietam, and a hundred other battle helds
where the gore is hardly dry upon the soil !
where the native and the naturalzed citizen
mingled their sghs, their prayers, and their
blood together, would awake a fond emotion
for the brothers, sisters and kindred of those
who willingly poured ont their life blood that
the Union should be preserved and the laws
respected. One would suppose that people,
| protesting the republicanism that we do, would
be the first to give aid and comfort to the op-
pressed OF the old world regardless of the IA
vors or frowns Of the oppressor. Particularly
does this apply to the case of Ireland. II ever
there were people who should sympsthise
with the disfranchised aud impoverished peo-
pie of the Ireland it is the people of the Emitted
States. There is scarcely square mile among
| our millions of miles that does not contain an
1 IFfa 0ur Qanala railroads. our DuO-
| lie works Of every kind, are monuments OF his
| toll and industry. He mingles with us at every
| turn. He is with US in daytime and in dark
| ness in prosperity and adversity, through veal
and through woe. Hence, say, he has some
claim upon our sympathy. How has that gym
| thy found vent2 When the rebellion set our
| laws at defiance and endeavered to overthrow
| the government; when it trampled upon our
flag and transgressed the laws of humanity, the
government called upon the Irish, as people,
4" save me Cassiua or I sink ito rally
around that flag, so often torn but ever flying !;
to maintan those so wantonly outraged. How
nobly did the sons Of Erin respond to that call !
| There was no finchiug in the hour OF danger !
| there was no Sinking the responsibility OF the
times that tried mems souls. The lrishman
was on the spot in the right time and at the
| right place. When the rebellion was over it
was presumed that HE status was established
that his character for patriotism entitled him
to respect and consideration. Great Britain,
the oppressor of Ireland, had evinced dispo-
sition to aid the rebels in every shape imagina.
BILE. Tho pirates almost forced our commerce
| from tue seas Her blockade runners were car
| rying articles contrabsnd OF war into every
| Southern port that could be entered, with i'm
/ pu lity. Arms aud munitions of war were fur
isned by British subjects Her mobiles and
aristoerats made the traitors great loans OF
money. Affairs standing in this shape, 1t was
thought that the government OF the United
/ States would, ut least, stand aside ana permit
the opprsssor to feel the vengeance Of al out.
ragged people. Indeed, this opinion gained i'm
portance from the fact that the war depart
ment sold the Fenians the very arms that were
| to be used in the invasion of Canada. 1t was
| q tacit, II not an expressed understanding that
| these rifles and other warlike weapons, were
to be used by the Fenians against Great Bri-
tain. The government took the Fenisn money
for these weapons. Yesl it took the money
that poor women and indigent men had con-
tributed to arm and equip the patriots who
were 10 60 forth to do battle for freedom In the
Green Isle. Upon that little band, who inva-
ded Canada in the name of Ireland's nationality
and Independence, was centered the hopes and
| aspirations of a nation scattered all over the
inhabltable globe. Many heart throbbed
heavily as the mind weighed the dangers this
little army would have to encounter; the hard.
sbips it would have to endure before 1t could
even be acknowledged beligerent power
possessing any rights whatever. The very
thought that such an army existed was stihed
10 the bosom least suspicious ear might
catch a sigh that the emotion of the heart could
not conceal. With what afectionate embrace
did the fond mother bid the boy goodbye be-
fore he stole away from the vigilance of the
Government TO strike for Ireland and liberty
With what anxiety did the friends of that army
watch its every movement; AMI what silent
prayers were offered up to Him who guides the
actions of men for its welfare. But oh ! those
hopes were blighted those aspirations nipped
10 the kud, when the mandate was issued from
Washington to crush this uprising of the peo-
pie a mandate that placed the iron heel OF
power upon the germ of liberty ere it had time
to bloom. Ungrateful for the past. and i'm
proyident for tho future, the government proved
false to it's II oil friends an servile to its nitar.
| eat enemies. With the effort to enter Canada
crushed by the War department, died the last
vestige of Irish liberty on the continent. Was
the government accountable foi this failure to
strike for Ireland's nationality lreland's inde-
| pendeEvel Was the interference OF the gov
ernment intended as an act of gratitude to-
wards England for the part it took in the re-
bellion Perhaps William II. Seward, the
the most perfidious act was the part Secretary
Seward took in thwarting the expedition to
Canada While Secretary Stanton was selling
| arms to the Fenians to be used against Eng
land, Secretary Seward was conniving with the
| same England to capture those very same arms
and imprison the men who paid fer them. Such
is the honesty and good faith of the govern
ment. The noble deeds done by lrshmen du.
ring the rebellion were forgotten ia the effort
to show servility to England. There can be no
greater insult to the naturalized sons from the
Green Isle, than thus pandering to the despot-
ism that for centuries has crushed beneath it's
iron heel all that they hold dear. Does not the
Irishman love his native hills his soft mean
iering streams; his beautiful fields and shady
groves2 Are not the scenes OF his childhood
dear to him Does memory never wander to
the spot where mothers kiss, mothers
blessing, a mothers embrace, call for the
youthful affections of the hearth Does the
poor exile in a foreign land never feel like
turning his wandering steps to view the graves
of bis loved ones, and strew flowers upon the
sacred spot douby dear to every instinct OF
nature Indeed he does for who loves with
more fervor than an lrishman2 Who hold:
the graves of his loved ones with more sin
cerity than he7 Isit any wonder that he longs
to see his native land free that he can enjoy
the blessings of home, of friends and kindred
once more. II is no wonder that his frs
thought In the morning is of Erin and her glo
rious associations; and his last thought a
night is how he may sever the chains that en-
slave her while every tbrob of his heart il
for the Independence of his native land, every
bsyonet, every rife and every cannon OF ou
government is used to aid the tyrnnt in op-
pressing her. Such is the gratitude of thi
republic such is the gratitude ofa nation, tina
in a measure, depended upon foreign arms t,
vindicate it's honor and perpetuate its nation
ality, Are Irishman so blind to the facts tina
surround them as not to see this perfdy2 Can
not they appreciate the kind offices OF Secretar
,, Seward and President johnson, in endin
= England the strong arm OF the nation to crus
ont the last hope of Irish liberty; OF Irish ma