The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-31
IRELiND--L!BERTY SPRINGS FROM HER
MspTYp.S Ry0OD

honor to request that l should speak to-
night on IRELAND" and l consider, there
fore. that it is my duty to put you in pos
session ot my opinions on subject that Is
now agitating the British Government, and
will continue to agitate until justice Is done
to the Irish nation-a justice demanding the
utter destruction OF that flag which mas
ioated for centuries over the homes or a muir
dered people. Ny theme, then Is ireland,
the land of our affections and our hopes.
There was time when 1T was considered an
evidence of utter degradation for man 10
avow that he was native OF that dlstaht
and beloved isle. There was time when
even in your beautiful City of Raleigh, the
irresistible pen of distinguished politician,
a name known and lionored throughout the
land for staunclr fidelity to the t"toh ana
civil liberty, had to be welded in vindlca-
ton of the rights of foreign born citizens
under the constitution and the laws. Thank
God, and say it with rejoicing heart
these dark periods have passed away, and
the thinking men of all classes are now ca
ger to do Justice to that country, to which
much Of the prosperity and glory OF TINS
great nation is due. Ireland, heroic, Illus
trious island--once a word OF reproach,
veined with sneering irony, only spoken OF
by some religious big"t in a sermon, or by
some marrowless politician on the stump to
cover it with SANDER and abuse. History
has written it as our prondest eulogy. &c
geographically considered, 1t is but small
island with an area OF thirty-tWo thousand
miles, and yet to most of her sons, scattered
over the earth's wide surface, there is an in
describable charm aud fascination in the very
name. There are SO many delightful assocl-
atoms over which one fingers in enthusiastic
love and which suggest to the mind illus
trious memories of time when it produced
warriors, poets saints, and orators. The
climate is so charming, the scenery is so full
of noble beauties the soil is so fruitful, the
men so brave, and the women ST. fair, and
the whole people so brimtul of wit and of a
generous hospitality, that even the iron
hearted Cromwell exclaimed while viewing
the beautiful valley of the More from the
cupalo of ST. Canicc, Behold, here indeed is
q 1and 'oOrth .J5ghtiagJor.'
Biographies tell us, that the world
NAV he divided into two hemispheres, one
of water, and the other of land. Ireland is
the centre of the land hemisphere. A most
admired poet SAYS that her back is turned
to Britain, and her face to the West in
dicating that Ireland is favorably situated
to become the great entrep0t OF the commerce
between Europe and America. The Irish
claim tniI the SioIS vi NlSCo'ciihS WIS N'ii-
tinent belongs to one of their Saints, st.
Brendau, and that Ireland was the first as
she is now the most friendly and trusted
ally of the great Republic. That no other
country, visited by travellers. approaches
Ireland in patural attractions, is the belief
of every freshman. Where else do we behold
so many great and characteristic features?
where such mountains, as the magnificent
chain of the Connemaras where gardens so
sylvan and lovely, with winding walks. like
those in forests. fountains and springs I!
where lakes, like those OF kIllarney-where
savage wildncss ceases to be terrible, because
it is inconceiveahlely lovely where Cathe-
drGls and churches OF such grandeur and
awe melting vastness where such a soil,
fruitful enough TO support fifteen millions of
people? where else can we feel in every air
which blows the spirit ofhealth the freedom
from the world, the communion with ones
self?
Glorious old Ireland-the temple of ma
ture where man casts off for a time all
thoughts but of her and drinks deep of the
purests and loftiest sources of enjoyment
mighty and grand in thy unrivalled beauties,
wonderfully beautiful in thy enchanting
loveliness, and thy mountains noble and
magnificent images OF eternal power and
grandeur.
THE Niobe of nations there she stands
Childless and crownless in her voiceless woe,
An empty ur1 within her withered hands
Whose holy dust was scattered long ago"
Ireland is heroic nation. The records
of Liberty are tull of the praise of Irish
valor. Satirical Voltaire. the cync of the
human race, may ridicule their gallantry,
saying they fight everybody's battle but
their own. Can Greece, Rome Switzerland
Holland, or even America present more g!o-
rious fields, or more gallant struggles for
Freedom Their seiges are so many Eulog
isms, the most heroic are those of Derry,
where the brave Walker held out against
pestilence, famine, death, until God him
self fought for him and that of Limerick
where the immortal Sarsefeld splendidv
detied the bullets of the enemy Show me
the man "said the queen of Navarro that
tells the nations that / am beautiful that l
may shower honors upon him. We love
Davis for singing of Ireiand's charms:
oh! she is rich and rare land Oh she is fresh
and fair land
She is and dear land this native land of mine
The patriot Irishman loves to refer TO the
glorious period of the United Irishmen-
producing host of brilliant men, among
them, poor Emmett, the beau ideal of sol
dier, a patriot, and a man. Pity smiles
through her tears on the strange and chcalier-
red scenes of his life in connection not only
with the scatfold which he made radiant
and glorious as the Cross, but also the tender
and touching. separation from him of the
young and beautiful daughter of a well
known Irish barrister. The muse of Byron
has immortalized the maid of Saraoossa
why should the amiable Sarah Curran. the
betrothed of Robert Emmett, be denied
equal honors2 The story of the bridge of
Wexford where so many dauntless hearts suf
fcrred cruel death by the remoseless SOL
diery, and the recent butchery in Manchester
where three young Irishmen were strangled
to death show the desperate fidelity with
which the sons ofErin cling to the unconouer-
ed purpose of securing independence for the
land of their fathers. Where in the annals
of nations, do we. find such calm and digni
fed beroism in the very presence of death
The murder of these gallant men has rung
the death knell of English domination in
Ireland. From the depths ola million Irish
hearts on this side of the Atlantic. the crv
of vengeance has gone FORTH There in the
very heart of brutal England, these Young
heroes lifted up their dying voices, kept their
flag flying and break forth in electric enthu
siasm with the anthem God saoe Lreland!''
Eternal honor to their memories. They leave
behind them stainless names To than ha