The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-18
IRELAND FOa LIBERTY AND EQUAL
RIGHTS.

RIGHTS.
In another columnwe publish the resolu-
tons Of the Fenians Of Chicago in favor Of
universal liberty and equal rights, and in re-
puAistion Of the one-sided and hypocritical
principhas Of the copperhead party in this
country. Va rejoice to see this indication of
returning reason on the part Of the Irish in
this country 1t is well that they see at length
that no people can aid in the oppression OF
smother race without, at the same time i'm
pairing their own claims to freedom and i'm
perilinx the equal rights Of all men. 1t 10
only upon the broad platform of equal rights
and universal freedom that Irishmen can
claim the freedom and Independence Of their
own people and their own native land.
lift is right to Cypress four millions Of the
human race in America 10 deprive them OF
liberty, and to withhold from them civil and
political rights, upon what principles OF
morals or flogic is i. wrong to oppress eight
millions of people in Ireland and deny them
civil and political rights. The difference cf
complexion or color viii not justify it, nor
will the difference in the length Of the heels
of the two people, or the difference in their
religious faith in the eye Of God or Of man
kind.
The truth is all men are entitled to liberty
and to equal rights, else there is no broad
foundation upon which 70 claim liberty and
-t--s-- -l.a---- g s>~n-i~ Al 49, AZ
Irish people clearly recognize this principle
Of universal justice and are willing to give il
. practical application they can fairly and
boldly claim its benefits for themselves and
their down-trodden country before High
Heaven and in the face Of all mankind. Bu,
while they continue to insist that the ignorant
and oppressed, however degraded, ought to
be deprived of personal and civil liberty and
equal political rights, and assist to keep them
down and trample them under foot, they need
not wonder if they fail to receive sympathy
or aid, divine or human, in their efforts in be-
half of their own liberties and the indepen-
dtnce of their country.
It is to the eternal honor Of Ireland that an
Irishman inaugurated the movement TO abol-
ish slavery in Europe, and that
Saint Patrick, the patron Saint Of the Elmer
aid Isle having himself endured the pangs Of
bondage in his own prison, inspired Chris
tianiy in his day and for centuries thereafter
with horror against slavery. In his time
slavery was common in Europe and the con.
querors Of the Britons not only made slaves
of their csptives, but sold their own country
men and even their own children into bond
age. And ii was TO the principles of Chris
tianity, proclaimed by slaves, under the d.
rection Of the Pope, according TO the histo.
rian Lingzrd thai Britain owed its deliverance
not only from Idola,ry and human sacrifice,
bu. from slavery also. And it was Saint Pat
rick, who had been q slave in Gaul, and made
his escape, shhs denounced slavery and de-
nounced anathemas against slave traders,
and commanded Christians neither to eat nor
drink with . Prince guilty Of reducing the
servants Of Jesus Christ to condition Of
slavery. Six centuries after the Irish Bish
ops, in the Council Of Armagh. denounced
slavery, and attributed all the mistortunet
which had 10 the mean time befallen theil
county, to the violation Of the policy and
principles Of Saint Patrick, ir reference tc
slavery, and urged and effected the immediate
emancipation Of the captive slaves then held
10 Ireland. The early record of the Irish
people on the subject Of human freedom and
human rights ID . glorious one, and nothing
would tend more TO promote the welfare ant
exAlt the character Of the Irish in ou
day than return to the early policy ant
principles inaugurated by Saint Patrick il
behalf Of human liberty and the equal right
Of all men. Let them adhere TO Christia,
principles and do As they would be done by
Let them concede to oil men the same right
and the same liberty which they demand 70
themselves, and they will cover shemselve
with imperishable honors.