The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-09-21


vastly greater difficulties of going back
1t cannot be denied but the cause of Irish ndenond
ence is beset with immense difficulties We are really
great people in point of numbers, and are five times
more numerous than the Americans were when thew
beat England, and established the greatest and most
magnificent empire ever the world saw Yet in spite
of the numerical strength of the Irish race they are still
in bondage, and their country is wretched as ever
They lack neither energy courage but they full
to overlooking with the elements of dscord and never
will conquer their independence until they first learn to
conquer themselves and it is in the school of Fenanism
they must make beginning.
Not long ago we were speaking to an American on
the subject of Irish nationality He was an intelligent
man, and although entirely unconneoted by blood or
birth with Ireland, ardently desired to her free
and prosperous He made remark which we felt cut
ting our very marrow he said he could not account for
the ptabe state of Ireland any other way than by the
painful of supposng that there oas not ui,e enough
IN the Irish people to oczieoe their liberty They have
now, said he and had during the war; such chance as
no other oppressed people had since the beginning
OF time but instead taking advantage of their oppor-
tunities they began to fight among themselves Just
imagine the impossibilty of Poland OR Hungary being
held in subsection if they had new Poland and new
Hungary outside the old ones 1t must be confessed
that the Americans remarks fairly staggered us and we
driven to the sad alternative of acknowledging the
truth of what he said but explained that was British
perfdy and British rule that made many of our people
what they
The whole question: then narrows itself down to this
Are going to give up the of Ireland, and have
Nv, 4ho 1,-L Al 7
porM and all posterity say that were left without
country because nation of blackguards, and
unfit for liberty?
There is no in shutting eyes to this perfectly
certain verdict which posterty will pronounce if we fail
without struggle 1t matters not how any individual
one of us is crcumstanced how we'll off or high placed
he may be, he WILL if the spirit of becomes dead,
and the old country desolaton feel the stigma of his
birth or his descent surrounding him everywhere he
turns and may find even America not the most pleasant
spot in the world Anyone who remembers the days of
Acknowledgement must have pretty clear idea of the
sort of times we may expect again if Fenanism dies
out and the old regime of drunkenness, county faction
fights bgoy and intolerance becomes once more pop
uar way of existence amongst Irishmen. During the
years between 1849 and 1860 the Irish people were in
continual danger Of being extermnated and when we
remember the animosy with which the greater portion
of Americans regarded them their preservation seems
almost miracle. Catholic chapels were burned in Bos-
ton, New York. Philadelphia Louisville, and in several
other cities Irishmen were shot like dogs and their
very name had become almost reproach and byword
Far be it from us to Defend slightly the brutal
tiles that were perpetrated the Irish people emust
however not ignore the fact that in too many instances
it turbulence and intolerance that reused the
indignation of the Americans They ancied they us
race of soues paupers without aspiration beyond
shanty or desire beyond bottle of whisky But Fe-
lial and there almost immediate improve
moa IL the habits and manners of people. We must
Lot. q Il.