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

torgued patriots men who, openly and unbush-
ingly, swear allegiance to the power which is the
hereditary hater and murderer of Irish liberty?
Have not our people been taught-are they notaaoso
tauoht-the infamous and atrocious lie, that to
fighter even to think of fghting-for their
try's liberty is SIN, sufficient to exclude from
Christian rites on earth, and from the Christians
heaven hereafter? Have they not been taught that
to beg and whine like soulless spaniels, for rights
which they know they will never get till they take
them by force-to crowd, in unarmed helplessness,
at "monster meetings. (monstrous enough, in all
conscence) and shout and yell, like many wretch
ed and ridiculous gus-is the way to national indie
pendence? And have they not done it, till their
enemies relaxed from their usual contemptuous in
difference, and swept them i'll millions, like much
vermin into the poor-house, and the emgrant ship,
and the grave?
These are painful questions; and the only
swers that can be given to them are painfully and
terribly true We say advisedly-let who will be
ofended-that such people-while they remain in
an intellectual and political condition deplorabe
as this-are not fit for the possession and exercise
of full and untrammeled republican liberty. Nay
more Before they can become 50, they must pass
through what may prove long and troublesome
process of education, which may very possibly be
one in the fiery school of disappointment and adj
versity Let them not be surprised at it, if it
comes but let them be assured Of this, that above
all things, they require it,
The subject is an unpleasant one. But we
not help that. The time has come when it must be
handled, and with no timid grasp. To tell ones
friends their faults may not be the best way to gain
their favor But it is the only way to save them
from their worst enemies, which very often
themselves and so to elevate them in the scale Of
intelligence and moral responsibility, among the
community of nations.
Have the majority of the Irish people of Amer
ica or even the 1.-THE of them, been to the
of humanity and of universal liberty, since they
became residents and citizens Of this great coun-
try? The question deserves an answer We trust
it will receive plain and true one.
We shall pass over that for the present. We
shall suppose that the lesson of real practical lib
erty has been learned-liberty universal as man,
and impartial as God.-liberty to ourselves and to
all men.
We are still oppressed people, without land or
country which we can call own. We have
still to close, in mortal strife, with tyrant and
oppressor, and wiring our rights from him by the
only arguments he is prepared to recognize-fre
and STEEL This demands men-thousands and tens
of thousands of men, armed, trained, and equipped
effectuay for their arduous work. 1t demands
money, and that to no limited extent. 1t demands
far-seeing sagacity, and enormous preparation, to
say nothing of the necessary opportunity.
Have we these things in readiness? Let us see.
The Fenan Brotherhood is the only body of
Irishmen in America, or on the face of the earth,
that even processes to undertake this noble and
magnificent enterprise. 1t is beyond all question,
the advance guard of nation, the very pick and
flower of our race and the enemies of Ireland fear