The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-06-01

G1ADsroNE-has at this moment hundreds and
thousands of political prisoners on its hands. Unlike
the Neapolitan victims, they not natives OF the
land which robs them of their liberty. Even that
Door apology is wanting. They belong, every man
of them to another race and country-a race and
country which England holds in thraldom by no
better title than the power of the sword. They
have committed no "crime" but-seeking to save
their scourced and cruci6ed country from foreign
oppression. That is the alpha and omega of their
fault" the very head and front of their offend
ingo With anything worse than that we deibe-
rately defy their most rancerous enemies even to
accuse them.
We will be told that it is necessary for the safety
of the British empire to deprive these men of their
liberty. And precedents," plentiful as black
berries will be quoted to justify their detention.
The French Bastile of former times, the Russian
Siberia of to-day and ST. Helena, the island prison
and grave of the great Napoleon, will all be pointed
to in defence of British treatment of the imprisoned
patriots Of Ireland.
Let u.s. for moment, grant that these Infamous
precedents applicable. The utmost that they
establish is the detention of men whom tmorous
tyrants deem dangerous. You can deprive them
of their liberty; but, mark this you become the out
laacs Of the civilized qoorM if you dare to do
more.
Deprivation of liberty. 1t is hard fate enough
God knows. Who that has read Byron's "Prisoner
of Chlon" but must remember the opening lines of
that beautiful poem with heavy heart?
My hair is grey, but not with years
Nor grew it white in single night,
AS mems have grown with sudden fears.
My limbs bowed, but not with toll
But rused in vile repose;
For they have been the dungeons spoil
And mine has been the fate Of those
To whom the goodly earth and air
Are banned and Observation-Disclosures fare"
This is bad enough. But bad it is, is it ALL
that England and Mr. GLADSTONE have inflicted
are noao Gnfictjng-on our captive brothers? Let
the facts speak, for candidly confess that we
feel too strongly and bitterly to express opin-
ions. What, then, are the facts?
The first is that these men-not q few of whom
were brought up to literary pursuits, and learned
professionalism forced to do in stone quarries the
heaviest and most grinding work, that is usually
assigned to burglars and murderers. Second, no
regard is paid to the preservation OF their health
Third some of them, such as O'DoNovAN Rosa,
are kept almost continually under punishment
that is, additional torture. They are left without
bed, or light, or food, except such as ruins their
constitution. Fourth, men of still higher grade
such as CHARLES JOSEPH KIcKHAM-whose writings
speak for his cultivation and intelligence, and who
for his amiabity of character slowed and mourned
by all who have ever known him-are chained to
felon criminals whom it would seem impossible for
hell to deteriorate, and who habtuay guilty OF
acts which, in this paper, we dare not name-acts
identical with those which drew fire from Heaven
on Sodom, in the days of old. Ffth, letters from,
interviews with, or any intelligence Of their families,
their wives and Children are sternly refused This