Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-03-19
LOCAL NEWS.
.FENLA.Na CELE.BRAE YOlN...

Of St. Patrick, the Fenians of Alexandria as
senbled, in strong numbers, at their meeting
place, i43 King street. Capt. +. Malone, the
Center was unanimously. called to the Chair.
The Chairman said: Brothers and Friends
we are. assembled here, upon this occasion,
for a two fold purpose; the first is to celebrate
this anniversary and commune together, and
the second is to organize and take advantage
of the present opportunity toendeaYor to shake
Of the yoke of England from our shoulders, af-
ter seven hundred years of the most depressing
and terrible despotisms that ever disgraced the
annals of any civilization. The present Fenian
organization bids fair.to accomplish that end.
When we look at the hundreds Of Thousands at
present in Ireland, all ready to obey the word
of command and once more measure swords with
their hereditary enemies. the Government OF
England Then again, you can look around
YOU and you can see in this great Continent OF
America, that there is scarcely a city, town, or
hamlet that has not its Circle Of this gigantic
and, what will apparently be, successful organ
ization. When you look at the position of
English Statesmen, you will discover that they
arc trembling for their safety, as if they were
standing on the brink Of a volcano that was to
burst forth and bury them beneath the lava
that would emit from its burning crater.
The Speaker then forciby depicted the mis-
cry and injustice the Irish people were subject.
ed to at the hands of the British Parliament,
and forcibly pointed out, that ireland could be
neither prosperous nor happy until such time as
she dissolves partnership with England and es-
tablshed free and independent form OF Gov
eminent, based upon the principles Of republi-
can institution. The Speaker wound up a
somewhat lengthy speech by reading some cor
respondence from james Stevens, and others
engaged in the cause, and e3horted his hear
ers to come forward and assist in the movement
He next produced the bonds of the Irish Re
public which met with a warm reception,
amidst hearty cheers. as
The Chairman then called upon Mr. John
Donovan to address the meeting, who then
came forward and said Brothers and Friends
of lreland-we are assembled here this even
ing to do honor to the name OF St. Patrick,
and what for-not for his oppresslon-but for
his goodness ir removing from our country the
darkness of paganism, and the vile and wicked
worship-worship OF the druids, and substitu-
ting in its stead the mild and holy doctrine OF
Christianity. Now that we come fourteen
hundred years after St. Patrick, it would be
advisable that we should initiate his example,
and drive out of Ireland as great pest and
plague as ever were the Druids, that is the Eng
fish Government and their garrison; for when
we look into the past and note the conduct Of
that power from the days Of Henry the End
down to the penal enactment of his namesake
the Eighth, and bis daughter, the goodly viz
gin Queen Elizabeth, James, Charles and
Cromwell, and handing over King William in
the bargain, to boot, we discover nothing but
plumber confscation, fraud and murder, such
as no nation ever experienced in ancient or
modern times IF had ceased at the death
of those monarchs, there would not be so much
cause to grumble, but unfortunately, it is not
50, for in our own day, We discover the same
game played, with more dexterity and keenness,
and witlfmore damning effect than ever entered
into the brains Of those monsters of the human
family When we look at the natural facilities
the Irish people have and all the sources OF
wealth in that country and then behold the mis-
cry of the people, and the terrible exodus that
is annually taking place among them, we ask
ourselves the question, what are the causes OF
all this? The answer is readily given 1t is
class legislation, and strangers making the laws
that govern in Ireland And for our dFn in
formation let us glance at a few of those laws
Take for instance the poor law relief bill, Sir
Robert Peels tariff bill the encumberea estates
court bill, the fishery laws, and the whole role
of other enactments which have the most dam
aging effect upon the social condition OF Ireland,
by robbing the people Of the produce Of the
soil, and transporting it to England and its
equivalent in money handed over Immediately
to an absentee landlord, to be expended in Eng
land and elsewhere, in debauchery and crime.
Then nv friends, no nation that is robbed OF
the produce of its soil can ever be prosperous.
I say it is good for society generally, that we
should endeavor to separate England from Ire
land, and all the nations of the earth will thank
us, for it would be the first step in the dismem-
berment of her empire.
Now let us ask what her policy has been
wherever she has placed her hold. In her
wars with Napoleon she created monster ma
tional debt, which she never intended to dis
charge but merely to create dividends tor the
support of worthless aristocracy, and to grlad
down the toiling millions, by making them pay
the interest upon that debt, and at the same
extinguishing Democratic Institutions.
Then again, what has been her policy IN In
dia? Why she first threw the apple OF dlscord