The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-09
CAPT BREEN or THE SIXTY-NINTH.
Ills Reasons why the IrIsh Regiment should
Not CO Peacefully into Canada.

Not 10 fencetuiiy into Nhhhuhs
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-SU: The
invitation extended by tho st. Patrick's Society
OF Montreal to the Sixtyninth Regiment to
visit that city on the LIST OF July with a Wow OF
celebrating the anniversary Of the consolida-
ton Of the British provinces under the Govern
ment OF England. is creating considerable dis
cussion among the Irish people Of this city. As
one deeply Interested 1t may not be nmiss Tor
me to say through your journal word upon
the subject.
Prior to the consolidation there wcro several
provinces Of British America which. by reason
Of their geographical position. were in constant
danger Of being absorbed 10y the United States.
The Government Of England was made uneasy
from tmWo tme by tho evident desire Of these
sections Of her MaIcsiy's dominions to become
n part and parcel of this republic, and nm open
rebellion in the province of Quebec and tho
burning Of the Parliament buildings brought
the ruling power face to face with disloynlty.
and then enlightened English craftsmanship
devised the scheme OF consolidation. the better
to rcprcss in the future such ungracious
Whether this strengthening Of British power
on this continent Is an event which an Irish
representative military organization should
feel honorcd in celebrating is not the question
| propose to discuss. Apart from my settled
convictions rs a student nj American cOnstitu-
tional history. that the celebrating or any event
which tends to encourage or uerprtunte on this
continent the despotic forms Of European gov
ernmcnts is violating IN spirit the gr'nt prnct;
pies enumerated In tho Monroe doctrine"
which am iain TO believe have become n cher
ishcd instinct with the American people With
9ut AT al attempting To discuss this btoai ana
deep subject, have simply 10 say rs an IRISH
man by birth that m acceptance oi the invita-
tiou I'm question must necessarily entail serious
embarrassment to all parties concerned.
Sl1nt tho sixty ninth Regiment visi: Canada
IN the manner prop Sod IL will Hs matter OF
etiquette be compelled to conform TO the cstah-
lished usages observed hy CANADIANS on public
occasions NJ this character The Irish people
In ('uuuuu however much tlpV desire tho
freedom Of Ireland. are nevertheless. rs Cana
dians. loyal TO tho British Crown. The mem;
bers Of Parliament. Judges. magistrates, all
men in nny public capacity. and the members 81
the militia and volunteer forces have willingly
taken the oath OF allegiance. and the people OF
Canada of every nationality are not at the pres
ent time other than loyal subjects OF her Ma
forgotten that recent history has demonstrated
that they would. almost To man. resist with
fire and sword any invasion OF the Dominion
by an Irish army hostile to England.
AT the great entertainment proposed to be
given to the Sixty the banquet halls will
be- decorated with several embcms and devices.
No doubt these will fly the Irish flag and the
Canadian fag. but AWAY above them, all will
iloat in exultant glory the Union jack" Of
England. This will be n pleasing sight to the
members Of the Sxty-nnth Regiment. The
scene will be Furthermore enliycned with the
whcreupon the Canadians will stand up in n
spirit OF loyal reverence. And then comes on
Queen I victoria U q Engand God bless h eg
Long may she reign" The loyal Canadians
VIII then rise, glass in hand and drink 70 the
royal head Of the humane Government OF Eng
land. Now the question suggests itself. What
will the boys OF the Sixty ninth do on this glori-
Gus occasiOnp Should they remain seated and
refuse 10 conform 10 50 good n custom. they
will be Offering gratuitous insult TO their hos
pitnblo hosts. Should they on the other hand
rise and to n man swallow the dose the Irish
people will stand aghast at 80 marked recan-
taton OF principles which nre the handspring
and life of their organization.
Seven hundred years 81 unprecedented per-
secution and spolation the long litany Of mar
tyrs TO the cause OF Irish freedom; the eXtin-
gushcd hearths and demolished homes OF an
honest and industrious race: the grim and
CHASTITY ruin which made n lovely island a spec
tacle Of horror. which appalled, the whole world
except England herself must all be forgot
ten in the supreme moment Of courteous loyalty
to the Government which holds Ireland in fet
tiers.
Whenever mn Irish military organization shall
step within the confines OF Engand's do
minions let IL be not 10 the attitude OF defer
enta loyalty. but with the high and holy pur-
pose OF raising the standard OF freedom and
tearing down the emblem OF tyranny. So that the
colors Of our regimeutM plume may not be re-
versed, and that still the green may wave above
the red. MATTHEW z. BRERS.