The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-11-09
Under which King, Bezonian?

Under which King, BeZOn1an!
We commence in this issue the publication of series
of letters from Captain T. Fl. OBrien, of Troy, New
York on the subject of American citizenship. The
generality of Irshmen unsophisticated as to
imagine that in swearing allegiance to the American
Republic they the links that bind them to the
vulture England) who lived by devouring its Irish
subjects" Captain O'Bren believed in this
sweet deuson but eighteen months of incarceration in
Mountjoy Prison, Ireland has dispelled the charm.
Captain O'Brien fought for the American Union and
has an unsulied military record At the close of the
war he went to Ireland and while there arrested
by military authority, and consigned to an English
dungeon What he went'to Ireland for is of conse-
quence as the power that had him ncarcerated
brought him to trial. preferred any charges against
him "I an American citizen, says the Captain,
&C and demand my immediate trial release g shall
report my case to the American Government and de-
mand it's protection" Heaven bless him, the English
knew that the socalled American ministers in Ireland
and England were more interested in kissing the
Queens hand, at ST. James attending the leyees of
the Lord Lieutenant in Dublin CASTLE than listening to
the voice of American citizen family sounding along
the cells of Mountjoy. For eighteen months did Captain
O. Brien call the American Government for protec-
tion but the misrepresentation in Washington and
elsewhere had no ears Seward and johnson were in
tercsted in destroying the American Government at
home, and their consuls were but carrying out " my
policy" in doing the same abroad Captain U Brien, at
the end of his ighteen months confinement had to
undergo the humiliation of signing papers, to the
effect that he acouM return to his fathers
tY He had to choose between this or rot forever in
British jail. The American Government had nothing
to do with his liberation England had him conveyed
between files of policemen and shipped, like convict
back to his adopted country Think of this We who
boast of the glory of the Republic Think of it, ye
millions of Irish adopted citizens for 1t you aoo
closing the doors Of English dungeons your fellow
countrymen. In the face of the treason to America
and liberty of this Administration you by your votes
indorsing their actions You indorse the denial of
the rights of protection to who have traced their
names on the battlefeds of the Union when they may
desire visit the land of their ancestors We will not
rant in the usual style about bloody Saxons" and
" murderous English" but we will lay the charge
directly at the doors Of the IrishAmercan citizens who
supporting the and the party who the
friends of England and who laugh at the ndignities
offered to American citizenship" abroad Let Captain
OBrien and the hundreds of brave who have Ian
.guished, and who languishing in British pens,
arragn their IrishAmerican fellowcitizens who have
it in their power to rebuke England by rebukng this
Administration Those who have the power to open the
dungeon DOORS and will not the real criminals and
these the preudiced and factional who prefer
old party shbboeths to the cry of Ireland and liberty
While our own race are blind to their interests and
deaf to the calls of their country while they receive in
suits from Administrations and merely lick the
hands that smte them, England afford to laugh at