Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-01-22

/ them every rlght-rig ghts of -duca-
ton, OF religion, of property, of dome.-
tic order, except the right to become
pauperS III property, barbarians in
science and general education, and
/ apoStatps to their faith.
In I777, the British army, in its
! pride of place, surrendered at Sarato-
/ ga to the once dcsris-d. insulted, and
/ calumuiated provincials. The penal
code was relaxed in Ireland in 1873,
I but the relaxation WAS not the strik-
( ING off of lreland's fetters it was
simply lengthening by link or two
of the chain which in its stringent riv
etings had so long and cruelty crush
/ ed her energies. 1t gave the Irish
/ people control over such remnants of
I property as they had not legally been
previous generations. Yet they
/ could not acquire, even by this relax
alton, the right to purchase, or as ten
ants, % hold any freehold interest
! In 1892, England again became in
! vOlved in war with other enemies
whose fleets rode triumphantly and
! uuopposed IN the British Channel
/ She then called for 10000 setmen
/ and active landsmen for her marine
and military service, and in order to
/ obtain them from Ireland, she relaxed
/ the rigor OF the penal code a second
/ time. By this second relaxation they
were permitted to open schools for
the education of their youth in litera-
/ ture and religion, which was prohibit
/ ed and crime before the law during
/ the previous 80 years, and which re-
versed III a sad and literal sense-as
/ far as ireland was commemorative hol-
1 low compliment Of Lord Brougham,
to the enlghteniug genius of the
/ British nation, when he announced
1 that the SchooImaster was abroad
/ from lreiand-during 80 years. His
attempt to teach school, either pub
licly or privately, in any branch of
I literature or science, was punishable
by law with perpetual banishment,
and if he returned after banishment
he was subjct to be hanged as felon.
Under these circumstances 1t was
certainly the Irish schoomas IN
terrs. to be abroad. Ia short, Eng
land's difficulty generally compelled
her to relax the penal code by strik-
ing off a link or two Of diminished
bondage But l will forbear harrow
ing up your feelings. for it is enough
TO say that it furnishes a melancholy
recital of suffering to the end.
My good, sympathetic friends, IN a
country ike this, where there Is no
destruction of crceds, where all are
alike res ponsible and equal before the
law, where also a large number Of our
worthy citizens are English born, and
on an occasion of enjoyment and fes-
tivitv like this, assembled as we are
without any very special regard to
nationalities, except IN good will to-
ward ALL and parti~ularIy the suffer
ING victims of political persecution IN
our native land, it is far from agreea-
bic to me, and very far from my wish
or intention to wound the feelings Of
any one by alluding to the past treat
ment Of ireland under British domin-
ion. vet l do not think it would be do
ING Justice to the character and object
Of the organization | have the honor
to represent, aud to feebly speak for.
tonight. to fOrbear stating the cause
Of persecution and injustice toward
Ireland, which have originated the
great Fenian Irish national organiza-
tiun that has become so formidable an
assailant of the abominable system Of
tyranny and oppression which the
m. Il I, e ]
termined to guard and uphold /
think that, from the past events OF
Irish history. in connection with the
government of Great Britain. but few
Of my hearers will deny to Ireland
the right of self government, or refuse
10 admit in the premises, the duty and
necessity of united organization on
the part, not only Of all Irish born
American citizens, but Of all true
friends and lovers OF liberty through
out this independent American Re
public. With respect TO Irish born
Americans. while all Of them are true
10 the cause ofIrish liberty, yet. when
the question which concerns the free
dom Of Ireland IS discussed, many ofI
them are disposed to modify matters.
and make the question an exception
TO the general rule. Some recommend
moral suasion' and constitutional
agitation a the means to work out
the salvation Of ireland Such is the /
advice and opinion OF those who can
not yet forget that they once owed
ALLEGIANCE to the British government, +
but who are not now suffering under /
its baneful and degrading influences. /
Others reason from the impractica- /
bilitv OF the undertaking, and positive
" assert that revolution ought not +
to be attempted by the people of Ire
land, and that force of arms Is not /
likely TO surceed in securing their !.
rights aud liberties. consider the I
opinion or these men inconsistent.-I
How comes IL that they fail TO apply +
their doctrine TO other countries simi f
larlv situated? Why not recommend /
IL TO Hungary to Poland and 20 Crete, (
in their noble endeavors to break from .
their necks the accursed vokes of Aus +
trian. Russian and Turkish tyranny? .
Ireland with her brave. hardy and .
war-Like people-the descendants OF a /
thousand generations. immJred to war
is Certainly 10: . more unequal