The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-25

grim Fathers or the cavaliers. In every
struggle they bore their part-an inseparable
part Of the population. Their devotion 10
the liberties of the colonies was not dist;n.
guishable from the native born patriot. They
knew NO country but America, and thew
sought in her Independence, and in her free
citizenship, the resurrection of their dead
nationality.
Among no class of the colonists was the
spirit Of liberty more thoroughly awakened,
or the desire Of a separate political existence
80 strong as among the Irish. Nor was this
desire for American independence confined
the Irish of the colonists it was felt every
where among the Irish race. In France the
Irish legion volunteered to a man for service
in America. In Ireland DR.. Franklin found
the whole population in sympathy with the
cause and in the British Parliament Sheri-
dan and Burke threw the whole weight OF
their moral power on the side of American
Independence. When the war began, true
to their instincts and their love of liberty,
the Irish were with Warren at Bunker Hill.
They were on every battle field of the revo-
luton. On the sea, too, they were with o.
Brien at Machias Bay-with Barry on board
the Alliance. and at Marlborough with Paul
Jones. In the Continental! Congress and in
the Convention which formed the Constitu.
ton, the Irish were always faithful to the
Liberties OF the colonists. They we're more
over, sir, the founders of religious liberty on
this continent. The Irish colony of Mary.
land was the first to establish that liberty Of
conscience aud religious opinion which has
since become universal throughout the Re.
public.
From the first settlement of the country
down to the adoption of the constitution, the
Irish needed no panegyrist, their history was
inseparable from the history of the entire
American colonies So too during the en-
tire history of the Union, and during the Sc C.
ond War with Great Britain the Irish were
faithful to the precepts and the example Of
those who had struggled to esta blish their
liberty.
But since that period itmay be asked have
Irish in America been recreant to the great
trusts they have inherited? Most assuredly
no. The same devotion TO liberty which
aroused the opposition OF their ancestors
against the tyranny of England during ths
war of the revolution yet animstes the heart.
of their descendants. The old love of polit
icsl and religious freedom still charscterizes
them.
What America owes to Irish skill and Ia
Dor in the Development of her internal re
sources, l have not the time to recount
The great internal highways of commerce
and the development of the great West at
test alike their useful devotion to the land OF
their adoption. and their energy and skill
The readiness with which the Irish people
adapt themselves to the spirit Of our institu
a. IL e
people, is most remarkable. Their in1u.
ence is shaping the development of every
truly republican interest, and has made il
self felt during the entire period of our exis
tence as a nation. No class of people who
c ONE among us, evince a greater willingness:
to throw off their previous predictions, and
bend their whole energies towards the per
lection and permanent establishment Of our
nationality. They are faithful to the Law
which governs them, unsel6sh in the acquire
ment of political power, and liberal ii
the exercise of their political privileges
In America as elsewhere, the Irish are the
supporters of liberal and impartial justice
and the enemies of arbitrary power and
proscriptive legislation. Valuable wers
their services to the colonists in securing the
liberties Of this country and building it NJ
into greatness, prosperity and power, the ex
ertions put forth by the Irish in behalf of the
government during the late rebellion were
no less valuable.
Like their ancestors of 76, the Irish o
1861 were among the first TO battle for the
preservation:of the Union.
There were more Irish in the armies O.
the Union than any other class of our for
eign-born citizens. How well they performed
their duty, need not tell you. The same
devotion to free institutions which every
where charaterizes their actions, and the
same heroic valor which has made the Irish
soldier immortal on half the battle fields OF
modern times, marked their whole career
But no matter, sir, what cause. owing to theil
personal convictions of duty, the Irish. may
have attached themselves to, the same strik
ing characteristics mark their conduct
whether carrying aloft and onward the star
~ flag of our Mon, or resisting with Gle
burne the charge of Thomas veterans al
Franklin, the valor of the Irish soldier shOne
equally bright.
With a record such as the Irish have made
for themselves in this country from the be
ginning down to the present hour, record
| bright with patriotic devotion and heroic
deeds-bright also with the blessings which
their peaceful lalors have bestowed upor
the fabric of our national greatness, who i:
there that loves this Union and the honor o.
the American name that will deny 10 the
Irish adopted citizens that full and equa
protection in the enjoyment of all those
privileges which attach TO our native born
citizens? We cannot either in Justice or in
pactice make any distinction. The blessings
our institutions bestow are the Joint heritage
of both the native and the foreign-born cit.
izen-secured and established by the joint
labors of both-valuless and impossible to
maintain unless upheld by both. The sue
cess of the American Union has awakened
throughout the world the spirit of freedom
and rekindled the desire for independent and
separate nat:onalities. More especially have
the Irish caught that spirit invigorated by
their success and prosperity here. And,
sir, it is not strange that here, in the land
where Irish labor and Irish valor have &C
complished so much towards the elevation Of
their race, they should cast longing glance
towards the home of their fathers, and cher
ish the hope that at no distant day that
well-loved island home may take her stand
among the nations of the earth, independent
united, free.
trust this may be fulfilled. The memo
ry OF the Irish campatriots of 76 will keep
alive that hope in every American bosom
until the great moral forces, now at work
all over the world, shall have triumphed.
The Great Political Failure.
The statement is repeated. with sem.
blance of authority, that Arkansas has re-