The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-05-18


guished AS it is, not only are we not extn-
guished, but we are still as unbending and as I'M
conquered as when the first traitor brought the
curse Of invasion on our shores. This being so,
we have much to be proud Of We also have some
thing to be ashamed Of
The IRISH REPUBLIC has been started for the pur-
pose of pointing out and correcting those errors
which injure people. Therefore, at the risk Of
hurting the sensitive feelings of persons who cannot
bear the light of TRUTH without getting into spasms
over what they call outrages on national pride, we
intend to talk very plainly. Being of the people
ourselves, and loving the land of our birth with
holy love, cherishng changeless faith in her fu-
ture gIory-having worked somewhat, and sacri-
feed little, for the cause in the past-it will be
plain that, if we have any desire to probe the
wound, it is that we may heal it.
AS people we have been fattered by heartless
demagogues long that many of us positively
look upon our faults as virtues So little inter-
course have we with the rest of fellow citizens
that onehalf of our countrymen do not understand
the real state Of American feeling towards them.
The Americans, on the other hand, we feel con-
WINGED, do not understand u.s. We-American, Ger
man, and Irish-have lived in one building in sepa-
rate apartments, scarcely on speaking terms, dis
trustful of each other, and, as consequence, ap-
pearing to each other in the worst possible light.
1t will be the mission of The IRISH REPUBLIC to
break down the barriers that have separated the
families SO long. After good introduction, and
fair explanation all round, it will be that the
division imaginary and that the interests of all
require cordial, mutual friendship.
Our motto being to pluck the beam out of our
own eyes, before we take microscopical look for
notes in the eyes of our neighbours we shall COM
mence with the Irish in America, promising
American and German friends that, in good time,
we shall haul them over our Irish turf fire.
In speaking of our people we wish it understood
that we mean the general people, not the excep-
tons. We don't care about exceptional cases.
They count nothing in national sense. The Irish,
as people, are dependent. That is, they are the
bone workers. They work for others, and SO, to
great extent, are dependent on others. Our course
in America, then, should be conciliatory, without
surrendering our manhood. AS nation we were
the guests of America, invited to the banquet of
Liberty, and, in true Yankee style, requested to
"pitch in and help ourselves.'' Our true course
should have been to partake Of the bounties of the
House, and afterwards show the hostess, Liberty,
that we appreciated her generous reception of us
by "pitching right in," and producing twice as
much as we eat. Also by treating the children " to
the manor born with that respect due to the head
of the family Did we do this?
What would be thought of stranger coming in
to the homes of our big-hearted fathers, and be-
ing assigned to an honorable seat at the board,
who would violate the laws of hospitality and right,
by driving the children of the house away from
their fathers table? And not content with that,
smashing things in general, and telling the Oldham
HE knew how to carry on his household affairs
better than he did himself and that he came to