The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-04-18
HOW TO FREE IRELAND.
What General James Shields says On IN,
Subject.

From lecture recently delivered in
New York, by General James Shields,
we extract the following, which will be
to Irishmen, at least: &c Were
I dictator for the Irish race for only
three years l would form all the men of
Irish blood on this side of the Atlantic
into a complete military organization.
This would do openly and in strict con-
formity to law-not for the purpose of
revolution or violence, but fer the pur-
pose of forming a great race into a COM
pact body, and to teach it the habit of
disciplined union. Then. with half a
million of organized men at my back,
and with the sympathy of forty millions
of freemen to support me, l would send
well-chosen delegates to Ireland. Some
of those who ought TO be chosen l could
almost lay my hand upon tonight, and
by those delegates acting in concert
with the leaders of Ireland, Cath~
Ollie and Protestant, lay and clerical,
programme could be agreed
upon which would not fail to ameliorate
the country. The programme ought to
be in Berlect accord with the desires
and aspirations of the Irish people at
home. For us who have abandoned that
country to attempt to dictate any partic-
ular line of policy to the people who re-
main there, would be an arrogant as
sumption, which would prove to the
world that we had gained but little
wisdom by our association with free
people. No; we must make their pro-
gramme ours, and we must support that
programme with all the moral and mate
rial aid which this transatlantic Ireland
can possibly furnish. And remember
4hof %hSc TralorA hoe fhan don hlo
the number and quadruple the wealth
of the ancient home of the race itself
This programme, thus agreed upon at
the Joint conference, should be presented
to England and proclaimed to the world,
and in the present condition of Europe,
Asia and the world generally, England
could not safely afford to reject it. Some
such plan as this, were l temporarily
dictator, would commence to prepare
this present year. [ would tolerate no
invasions of Canada, no secret societies,
no conspiracies, ne tOmfOoleries of any
kind, for, however well meant, they are
only frittering away the hopes and
wasting the energies of q great, gen.
erous, too confding people. This is
my plan, and feel morally certain that
it would be eminently successful. Let
us not for one moment anticipate the
rejection of an overture so fair in itself,
and preferred with such an accompani
ment of moral force. But should Eng
land blindly reject it, then l refer youto
the historic parallel 1 am running to-
night between the life of Patrick and the
life of the race. Milcho was Patrick's
master, but Patrick, instead of seeking
to avenge the past, wisely and nobly
sought him out, and did his best to con-
vert and save him. This friendly over
ture Milcho rejected with scorn. Now
mark the sequel; there is a terrible
warning in it. MilchO, maddened at the
sight of his former slave returning with
power and majesty, set fire to his OWE
home, and persisted, raging maniac, il
the flames. This retributive power ex
lists, and still performs her terrible Ofic.
in the government of this world Aftel
the lapse of centuries in the case O
nations, she strikes implacable balance
| She keeps strict account between op
pressors and oppressed, and then strike
her balance, and when that fatal balanc
is struck powerful nations are swept from
the earth, like Babylon, in a night, ant
the world that bowed before them know
them no more. Let all whom this ma,
concern take warning in time"