The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-05-25

OF old, would be known Ho HoIe lOr race Vi
slaves would fill the land, whose highest duty
would be to "pray for the Queen and all
the royal family that they might lead quiet and
ho1y lives" Fenianism then has saved our nation
from burial The great majority of the Irish peo-
pie seven years ago, and good majority of sleek
satisfied slaves to-day, would to please their foreign
masters, fold up three thousand years OF History in
Manchester calico, blow out the lights, and so con-
sign our glory and our shame, our sorrows and our
Joys our blood and tears, and, greatest OF ALL
our future hopes, to the tomb OF oblivion.
During the eight years of our organizations
istence it has had to contend against 1rishmen
alone Neither the British Government nor the peo-
pie of England have ever given the least trouble,
until within the last year. So far we have been fight
ing the slaves whose freedom would come with our
success. Whatever defeats the organization has
suffered it has suffered at the hands of Irishmen
England has played against each other now, as
she has often done before, for our own ensavement
She has met us, in the shape of Bishops and Priests
hurting their anathemas against us as bloodthirsty
nfdels. She has met u.s. in the shapes of plethoric
Parsons denouncing as butchering papists, ready
to cut the Threats of all our Protestant brothers.
She has met us in the goodly form of the extermi-
mating landlord and the cringing shoneen. She has
met in the shape Of the lowest slave who delved
the barren earth for miserable sustenance and in
thousand other forms but never in her scarlet
robes until the last few months. She has also
met us in the shape of cowardly Irish press that
had not the manlness to take the side of the enemy
openly, but who I" damned with faint praise
from seemingly friendly standpoint
A national press is the greatest engine for good
or evil according as it is directed. In the hands of
bold uncompromising men, it is the lever that up
sets tyranny, and establishes liberty the ruins of
thrones In selfish and cowardly hands it demon
Allies the nation, feeds it lies, fatters it to
destruction, and paves the way for despotism.
| For years we have felt the want of journal
whose principle would be to speak the truth, and
correct error, even at the risk of arrayng ninety
out of every hundred against it. We do not mean
to say that there are not Irish Journals ably con-
Quoted, and, from their own .standpoints, boldly
and honestly carrying out their principles All
papers that we know off are owned by individuals,
and started as legitimate and honorable business
undertakings. 1t follows then that the first duty
of such papers is to attain the largest circulation.
This cannot be done by boldness. 1t is done by a
cautious panderng to the tastes of its readers and
never advocating great truth, or great principle,
where either would be likely to offend any member
of it's supporters This is not the fault of the press
it is the fault of the people, who will not tolerate
expressions distasteful to themselves.
THE IRISH REPUBLIC, started to speak
boldly, regardless Of consequences 1t assumes that
truth is ndesructble and has nothing to fear from
assault or criticism 1t is the CALLED jade that
winces" Therefore it was to be Journal where
men could write their thoughts on all things that
either might read and compare notes. 1t does not
follow that, because men support paper on gene
raj principles, they are to require strict compl
ance with all their notions. There can be no