The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-02-01

than one Thousand citizens OF the Republic founded by
George Washington, have been seized by the govern
ment authorities and without trial or ceremonial of any
Sort consigned to prison. and in some instances, to
death. Among these were hundreds of officers of the
American army, bearing the commission and wearing
the uniform of the United States These were men
who had done the State some service" and therefore,
who had good right to expect that it would not for
sake them heartessly and dishonesty when they fell
into the hands of their implacable enemies They
were men who had left business and home and friends
at the call of the national government-who had risked
life and limb to defend in the hour of its dire necessity
who had shed their blood for it in the field and bore
upon their breasts the battescars which they had
ceved while fighting for its preservation government
which berays and abandons such men as these for any
earthly consideration of arstocratc fattery or
pecuniary advantages nuisance and disgrace and
the worst enemy of the country best interests
is permitted to sacrifice We have excellent reason for
saying For let us not lay the fattering JUNCTION to
souls" that treason is dead in America Let not
get too careless, haoo too bosterously till we are
perfectly certain that are finally "out of the wood"
We all know the reverse. We are everyone well
vnced that rebellion rampant STILL and that too, in
the highest places of the land If it no longer casts
balls at Richmond it FORCES far more dangerous
missiles at Washington. And should the enemies of the
countrys liberty and prosperity again hazard trial of
strength should rebel rags again be seen futterng in
the breeze and rebel hosts again be engaged in perpe
trang the wholesale slaughter of the best and bravest
of the Republic it would be no harm to have on
hand those gallant who rottng in British
dungeons That, it is needless to say, is at present
thing impossible, and must continue to be so while we
have suchan Executive rules in the White House.
which for the last three years has acted to please Eng
land not serve America Loyalty and protection are
duties which are and ought be- nseparaby connected
together The one the duty of the citizen the other
of the State Where the one is withheld the other is
no longer due. This is constitutional principle
founded in truth and Justice It absolute necessity
Are bound to yield obedience to those by whom our
liberties and lives wantony carelessy sacrificed
And again assert that the principle is old
liberty ITSELF and extensive the rights of reemen
Let the people of America and their loyal Represent
atives in Congress assembled, look well to it. Can you
expect that devoted loyalty from your adopted citizens
which will freely sacrifice all for the salvation of
country which they sure from sad experience does
not protect and will not protect them Can you expect
that if the necessity should arise such men will rise in
their million might and crush they did before the
accursed power which aimed at this countrys destruc
ton If you do compelled to declare that you
are building castles in the all" ndulgng in expecta
tons which not warranted either by reason or
justice, and which may day meet with disastrous
disappointment
Here, however, we are met by certain small English
sympathizng snobs with the objection that "the per-
sons now under arrest by the British Government are
punished for their ofenses" Fenans and that this
is not violation of the rights of American citizens"
No matter how contemplate and unpatrotic how worth
less in themselves and how unaithful to their country
such DIRECTORS may be- let u.s. for the sake of truth