The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-04
LATER.
PROCLAMATION BY GENERAL SWEENEY TO THE
PEOPLE OF CANADA.

PEOPLE OF CANADA.
n Proclamation to Mepeopie Of British Anerica.-
We come among you as the foes of British rule in
ireland. EXiled from that native land of ours by
the oppression of British arisocracy and legislation
our people hunted down TO the emigrant ships,
worse, to that chaTnel of Government institutions,
the poor-house; our countrymen torn from their
families and friends, and red in droves into the
PRISON. pens OF England and Ireand our country
subjected to foreign tyranny, which dsfranchses
the mass Of the Irish people and makes poverty and
misery the sad rule OF their condition. covering our
lair land with paupels graves and wretched novels,
elcitiDg from The liberal minds of England herself
expressions OF shame for the Government and indIg
nation Tor the people.
We have taken up the sword to strike down the
oppressors rod to deliver Ireland from the tyrant,
the despoiler, the robber. We have registered our
oaths the altar OF country in the tull view
OF Heaven, and sent up our vows 10 the throne of
H m who inspired them. Then looking about us for
the enemy, we find bun here-here your midst,
where he is most vulnerable and convenient to our
strength and have sworn to stretch forth the armed
hand of Ireland and graz pie with him. The battle
has commenced, and We pledge ourselves, by all the
sacred memories OF struggling liberty TO follow IT up
at any cost to either of two alternatives-the abso
Lutte political independence and liberty OF Ireland
the demolition OF our armies.
We have no issue with the people OF these pro-
vnces, and wish to have none but the most friendly
reand our bows sbs be reced ppv
the power of England her privileges one shall we
invade not yours We do not propose to d'vest you
OF solitary right you now enjoy. We will assail
and asperse only the rights that are esimed and
erjoy yed by the Government of Great Britain-the
right TO make her American possessions the field
and base of operations IN against enemy.
We come to install ourselves in her possessions and
turn them against her IN a war for Irish freedom.
We are here, neither as murderers nor ROBBERS Tor
plunder or spoliation.
We are heie as the Irish army of liberation; the
friends of liberty against despotism, Of democracy
against arstocracy of the people against their op
prCssors of the ballot AGAINST the privileges OF class
o. progress ano development against roht and
wrong; to conduct this contest according to the laws
known TO honorable warfare, in manner worthy
OF the high object aim for, and the sub ime sent
ments that actuate us. In word, our war is with
the armed power OF England, and not with the peo-
pie, not with these provinces Against England
upon land and sea, until Ireland is 1Iee! And all
who IaIse an arm TO defend her, to Illustrate or de-
feat us, belong TO the common enemy, and as such
We know how TO recognize the services OF our
friends, so also do we know how 10 punish the de-
complished we leave to your own free ballots to
determine your natural and political standing and
character, ond shall rejoice 10 see, and assist to
make, these mitess colonies spring from the foot of
a foreign throne as free and Independent, as proud
a. New York, Massachusetts, or Illinois. To that
yeaTDng for liberty and aspiration after natural in
dependence which swes the breast OF every true son
OF every land, 10 your own manllness we leave
those questions for settlement, confident that the
dWar1ed development or your vast resources ana
atural wealth, bring the chilling influences OF Eng
H. supremacy in wretcbed contrast with the natioEa
dignity and stupendous rial prosperity OF your
neIGhborng people OF the United States, under the
slimu US OF se1-government and democratic insttu.
tiCns, constitutes stronger argument in favor of
co. o.OperatiOn with OF the revolution in YOUR
political condition which this comparison suggests,
than any discussions of the questions involved which
To Insbmen throuehou these provinces we ap-
peal, in the name of seven centuries Of British INT.
qulty and Irish misery and suffering; in the name of
our murdered sires, our desOlate homes, our desc
Grated affairs, our millions OF famine graves, our
nsulted name and race-tO stretch forth the hand Of
brotherhood in the holy cause of tatherland, and
smte the tYrant where we can in his Work of muir
deIng our nation and eXterminating our people.
v cOniure you, our cOuntrymen VINO, from misfor.
tuT inflicted by the very tyranny you are serving,
from any other cause, have been forced to enter
the ranks of the enemy not to be the willing instru-
ment of your coUntry's death or degradation. If
Ireland still speaks to you in the truest impulses Of
your hearts Irishmen, obey her voice!
If you would not be miscreants, recreant TO the
first principles OF your nature, enPraven upon the
very corner stone OF your being raise not the hand
OF the matrcide to strike down the banner of Erin
No uniform and surely not the blOOd-dYed coat OF
England can emancipate you from the natural law
that binds your allegiance 10 ireland to liberty to
right to Justice To the friends of Ireland of tree
dom, of humanity OF the people, we offer the olive
branch OF peace and the honest PTasp OF friendship.
Take it, Irishmen, krenchmen, Amencans-take 1t
all, and trust it To all who march to the call OF
the enemy, and rally under his standard to aid or
abet his cause, we give the sword in as firm and
earnest gripe as ever did its work upon toeman.
We wish TO meet with friends; we are prepared to
ME with enemies We shall endeayor 10 merit the
col fdence of the rmer and the latter can expect
from the leniency OF a determined though gene
foe and the restraints ana relations imposed by
civilized warfare.
ISiPnedJ T. w. SWEENEY,
MajOr-Gen Commanding the Armies Of Ireland.