The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-05-06

Nations which have been long oppressed
must perforce struggle long, arduously, and
AcalDsta fearful odds 10 achieve their free
dom. The sympathies OF mankind do not flow
forth very strongly, certainly not very syste-
matically nor earnestly In behalf OF an OPP
pressed people There is much truth In that
emphatic utterance that, ION the side OF the
oppressor there Is power" There are plenty
OF takers on the side Of the subjects Of
tyranny, and this Is we'll as far as 1t goes but
1t takes a long while for mere speechifying or
ane writing TO paralyze the rod OF oppression,
or to shake and unsettle the foundations of
tyranny, so that the structures reared thereon
topple and fall. We read of the prostFation
Of Dagon before the ark of the Lord, and Of
the fall OF walls Of Jericho by the blowing Of
rams horns around the city, but In these
modern times miracles OF this sort are rare,
God is on the side Of the oppressed, and we
are taught to believe that He will deliver them
in His own good time out Of the hand Of the
oppressor. Almost always great deliyerences
Gome through seas OF blood, and when oppress-
orS have Allied up the measure Of iniquities
aad their crimes, God strikes the blow, and
the punishment comes, and how great and
Gesolating is that punish ment. History give,
fearful warning upon this point.
weare led to these remarks by reading q
very able and pointed article from the London
EIdmirer. That paper says, referring to the
recen. visit OF the Prince OF W alcs to Ireland
we quote only the first two paragraphs:
ireland has been long the land Of dreams
aad schemes Royalty has dreamed OF its re.
auction to obedience, without the requital Of
kind look, or the solace OF gentle word.
Anglcanism has dreamed of its adoption OF
ritual without its conversion to creed. Poll
ticians have dreamed Of its pacihcation by
Parliamentary promises, forgotten as soon as
the party purpose OF the hour was gained
Philanthropists have dreamed that its heart
could be stilled when Its brain was rendered
more quick BY being taught the knack Of read
Ing, writing and arithmetic.
Projectors have dreamed OF soci Al prosperity
TO De brought about BY public works, by emil.
grafton, BY retaining boys, BY fax culture, or
by deep sea fisheries; as II nine-tenths OF q
community could be perceptibly bettered in
health by iahnitesimal doses OF benefit admin
lstered TO the remaining one. Cromwell
dreamed Of reducing Ireland to happiness, by
Puritan plantation at the point OF the sword;
and the advisers of Anne and the hrst three
Georges dreamed Of extinguishing disaHection
aud poverty, by Wholesale jobbing in favor Of
the Protestant few, and wholesale robbery Of
Tights and privileges, liberties ald lands of
the Catholic many. Mr.. PITT dreamed Of us-
tiOnsl content, to be brought about by equal
franchises, and by equally well paying truth
and error; and Sir Robert Peel died In DIRE am
Of somewhat similar kind. OConncll
dreamed Of an Irish Parliament, aud Davis and
OBrien of an Irish Republic. They are all
gone" As Mr.. Carlyle has said Of other iilu-
siOnists, down, down with the tumult they
made, aud the rushing and the trampling OF
new generations pass over them, and they hear
II not any more forever" The dreamefs are
gone, but the dreams remain to dazzle and
deceive rs they did before.