The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-02
Icontinued from first PAGE

It is tanned with no falsehood-it Is pol /
ished with no fiattery. In the deseTt--on
the mountain-within the city-eyery
where-it has been spoken, throughout all |
ages. Itrequires no teaehing-ib is the inhe- |
rent and imperishable language Of humani-
ty. Kings, judges, hangmen have
proclaimed it. In pools Of blood they
have sought to cool and queneh this
fiery tongue. They have built the
prison-they have launched the convict
ship-they have planted the gal
lows tree-to warn it to be still. The
sword, the sceptre, the black mask, the
guilotine-all have failed. Sedition wears
the crown in Europe on this day and the
scaffold, on which the poor scribes Of roy
atty had scraWled her death sentence, is
the throne upon which she receives the
homage of humanity, and guarantees its
glory.
Therefore it is, l do not blush for the
crime with which / have been charged
Therefore it is. you have invited TRAITOR
GUS triumvirate to your ancient and gal
liant city, and have honored them this even
ing.
In doing so, you have taken your stand
against the government of England, and
know of no spot in ireland where Drawer
stand should be made than here, by the
waters of the Shannon. where the sword
of Sarstield flashed Whilst the old Treaty
stone. without the Thomond gate attests
the courage and the honor of your fathers,
the nerve and faith Of Limerick shall
never be mistrdSted
No, there could be no coward born with
in those walls, which. in their old age.
instruct so thrillingly the young hearts
that gaze upon them with reverence
whispering to them, as they do, memories
that drive the blood, in boiling currents,
through the veins-telling those young
hearts, not to doubt, not to falter, not TO
fear-that in SUMMER hour the Wild
Geese shall yet return from France
These sentiments are, no doubt, sedi-
tious, and the expression of them may
bring me within the provisions of this
new felony bill-the bill, mind you, that is
to strike the nation dumb.
Yes, from this day out. you must lie
down. and eat your words Yes, you-you
starved wretch. lying naked in that ditch,
with clenched teeth and starting eye,
gazing on the clouds that redden with the
flames in which your howell is consumed
what matters it that the claw of hunger is
fastening in your heart-what matters it
that the hot poison of the fever is shooting
through your brain-what matters it that
the tooth of the lean dog is cutting
through the bone of that dead child OF
which you were once the guardian-what
matters it that the lips of that spectre
there once the pride and beauty of the
village, when you wooed and won her as
your bride, are blackened with blood OF
the youngest to whom she has given birth
what matters it that the golden grain
which sprung from the sweat you squan
dered on the soil, has been torn from your
grasp, and heavens first decree to faller
man be contravened by human-what
matters it that you are thus panied and
stung-thus dashed and maddenei-hush
beat back the passion that rushes from
your heart-check the curse that gurgles
in your throat-die die without groan
die without a struggle die without &
cry for the government which starves
your desires to live in peace
Shall this be so ?
Shall the conquest of Ireland be this
year completed Shall the spirit which
has survived the pains and penalties O.
centuries, which has never ceased to stir the
heart of Ireland with the hope Of a better
day-which has defied the sword Of famine
and the sword of law-which has lived
through the desoIation Of the last year
and kept the old flag flying, spite of th'
storm which rent its folds-what shall
this spirit sink down at last-tamed an(
crippled by the blow with which it la;
been struck-muttering no sentiment thai
is not loyal. legal, slayish and corrupt?
Why should I put this question
Have I not been already answered b,
that flash of arms. which puriies the al
where the pestilence has been Have
not already caught the quick beating O
that heart, which many men had said wa
cold and dull, and, in its strong pplsation
have we not heard the rushing of tina
current, which. for time, may overflow
the land-overfow it, to fertilize, restore
and beautify?
The mind of Ireland no longer wavers
It has acquired the faith. the consistency
the heroism of predestined martyr. L
foresees the worst-prepares for the worst
The cross-as in Milan-glitters in TIT
haze of battle, and points to eternity
We shall no longer seek for liberty il
the bye-ways. On the broad field, il
front of the foreign swords. the soul O
this nation, grown young and chivalrou
again, shall clothe herself, like the Ange
of the Resurrection, in the white robe
and point to the sepulchre that is void O.
shall mount the scaffold-that eminenct
on which many radiant TRANSPORTATION
has taken place-and bequeath to thu
crowd below, a lesson for their instruc
ion, and an idol for their worship