The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-12-15

tarers Of i'elapd and the workmen were
contented. and they shipped of and
came to America )" and then he, begins Co
enlist the ~ mps.hies Of America apon tho
side OF the Protestant men that came over
from Ireland. II he stopped here, would
not have aword TO say to the learned histo-
rian. When an Eaglishmsu claims the gym
patty Of this, or any other land, for men Of
his people and Of his religion, If they are
deserving of that synpatby, I, an Irishman,
am always ready, and the frst to grant it
TO them with all my heart. And therefore
do not md the slightest fault with this
learned Englishman when he challenges
the sympathies of America for the Orange
men Of ireland, and tho Protestants who
deserving OF Americas sympathy, why not
let them have itf But Mr.. Froude went
on to say that, whilst be claimed sympa-
thy for the protestant emigrants from Ire
land a. staupch Repablicans aud lovers of
American Liberty; that the Catholics OF
ireland on the other hand, were clamoripg
at the foot Of the throne-telling King
George the Third that they would only be
too happy to go out at his command. and
to shoot the American people in bis cause.
Was that statement tue or mott My
friends, the learned gentleman quoted q
petition that was presented to Sir John
Biackier n 1775, the very year America
began to assert her Independence. In that
petition he states that Lord Fingal aud
several other Catholic nobiemau of ireland
speak in the name of the Irish people, and
pronounce the American Revolution an un-
natural rebellion, and manifesting their de-
sire TO go ont and devote themselves for
the best kingsito the suppression of Amer
lean liberty. First Of all, ask, when, at
any time ~ our history, was Lord Fingal,
or Lord Hope, or Lord Kenmore, or any
one of these Catholic lords of the Pale, as
they were called-when, at any time in our
history, has any one of them been author
lied 20 speak in the name of the Irish PEG
plef Their presence in Ireland, although
they have kept the Catholic faith their
presence in Ireland in every struggle, in
every national manifestation, has been q
cross, and o hinderance, aud q stumbling
block, to the Irish nation, and that people
know it well. But, not doubling Mr..
Froude's word at all, aud only ANTIQUE to
satisfy myself by historic research, have
looked for this petition. have foand in.
deed, petition in Curran's Collection"
"a petition signed by Lord Fingal and by
addressed to his majesty, the kisg, in which
they protest their oyalty in Serms of the
most alavish aud servile adalatisn but in
that petition have not been able to dis
cover one single word about the American
Revolution, not single word Of address
to the king expressing desire to destroy
the liberties Of America. Not enc word.
In the records and in every document that
was at our hands for this petition Of which
Mr.. Froude speaks, and could not find it.
There must be q mistake somewhere or
other. 1t is strange that such petition of
90 much importance would not be publish
ed amongst the documents of the time.
We know that Sir John Biackier was SEQ
tn hn 1.nr d.Ti
naturally enough tho petition would go to
him, not to rest with him, but to be pres
ented to the king. And yet, think may
state with certainty that the euly petition
that was presented 70 the king in l775, was
the one Of which L speak, and in which
or about the American Revolution. Bat
the learned historian's resources are SO
much more ample than mine; bis resources
of time. of preparation, aud of talent his
resources in the varied springs Of informa-
nation amongst which he has lived and
passed his years, that no doubt he will DO
able to explain this. 10 any case the petit
through Sir John Blsckier's hands-for he
was the Secretary of the Lerd-Lieutenant
then passed through him to the Lord
Lieutenant, to be inspected by him, then
to the Prime Minister of England, and then
to the king. We have an old proverb in
Ireland WHICH lpUiCdtSo ebo way tHey iAau-
age these things at home: "To speak to
the maid, to speak to the mistress, to speak
to the master"
In that glorious year of 1775 the Catto-
lies of Ireland were down in the dust the
Catholics of Ireland had no voice-not as
much as a vote for Parish beadle, much
less for member of Parliament. And
does Mr.. Froude mean to tell the American
people that these unfortunate wretches
would not have welcomed the cry that
came from across the Atlantic; the cry of
a people who arose like giant, although
a. yet only an infant in age, to proclaim
the eternal liberty of man and of ma
tions to proclaim that no people on the
earth should be taxed without representa-
ton, and to give the first blow right across
the face of English tyranny which that old
tyrant had received for many years;
blow before which England reeled, and
which brought her to her knees.
Does he mean to tell you or me, citizens
of America, such an event as this would be
distastefnl to the poor Irish Catholics of
Ireland3 1t is true that they had crushed
them as far as they-couid, but they had not
taken the manhood out of them. Now.