The Irish standard., 1886-12-25
THE MANCHESTER MARTYS.


versary of the Manchester martyrs in Cleve-
land:
Hnrrah! Old Ireland strikes another blow
The cursed English rule to overthrow;
Again she challenges the English right
no rule the land, and marshals for the light.
In Manchester two Fenian men are taken,
But friends have sworn their freedom to ob
tain;
And as from court to prison back they go
Out dash their friends and cavalcade erthrow
The English power defied in open day
Her prisoners rescued and borne safe away,
And England reels and staggers with alright
She knows not where the daring Celt may light
Now pause, proud England, in yeur boosted
might,
And think you, is ii we'll to wage this fight?
'Tis true, the land you trample on is weak:
But il they could the very stones would speak
Ard tell you hold your cruel, wrecking hnnd
THAT desoiates and ruins our dear land.
But no, the cruel tyraut would not pause
She even trespasse.' or her own fixed laws,
And called q specinl court to hurry through
The work She feared stated one might fail tC
do;
And for the daring work performed that day
All England vowed some Irishman should pay.
One Englishtnau, It's true, had lost his life
A straying bullet hit him i'll the strife:
It was not aimed To kill or spill mans gore,
But at the lock which safely held the door.
Their trusted leaders we're inside the van
They freed them and icplored the dying man.
"Revenge! Pevenge!'' the British masses cry,
>.For this bold act some Irishmen must die.
Az English man by accident they slew,
But for his death We'll hang the entire crew. u
SO in the dock, with >,hains upon their hands.
Five Irishmen appear: each bravely stands.
And proudly views the hostile Judge and crowd
And pleads his cause with voice calm clear
and loud.
They swore that by tlleir hands no man had
died.
And told the judge his witnesses had ied
They knew he thirsted fcr their Irish blood,
And vowed they d freely die for Ireands good.
Inuy scorned alike his pity and his grace,
and told hnm lrclnn yet would win the race;
That irishmcn would only be more true,
And England yet it's cruel work would rue.
Then, when the judge his deadly task had done,
They looked as proud as though the case they d
won.
'-J,hcn, us the throng with dread emotion
swayeL>
Brave Coutton from his friends stepped forth
and prayed
..Goc save Ireiunr !''--his bold words ring
through the air.
God save ireland Ibis brave comrades Join
his prayer.
The startled. judge looks round in wild dis
Tic heroes prayer will haunt him many day.
Il
The titne OF execution has arrived,
And Of their lives three murtyrs are deprived,
For mighty England spares he lives OF two,
And thinks the sacrifice: OF three must do.
They died rs lrishmen know how to die,
Dctj,,iit TO heir foes. with hopes on high.
Now, what has England gained The wise lay
say
Has she crushed Irish spirit forad day?
no. no! that spirit s,ili is nndislnuyed~-
Those martyrs Ea s,cs III gold are ali arrayed;
Their God save Ireland S now nations
prayer,
Aud by rhcjr race is chanrcd everywhere.
krpm year To year, us time goes on apuce,
THOR deeds are honored by the Irish race
Still Irish patriots tread the rugged line,
And Ireland, confident, awaits tue time
When forth she'll drive the tyraut from her
shore
And will her ancient fame and rights restore.