The Irish standard., 1889-03-02


view to the mitigation OF that sentenc
which you are here to pronounce, ant
by which must abide. But have tha
to Say which interests me more thar
life, and which you have labored, a.
was necessarily your Office in the pres
ent circumstances of this oppressed
country, to destroy. I have much tx
say why my reputation should be res
cued from the load of false accusation
and calumny which has been heapeC
upon it. do not imagine that, seated
where you are, your minds can be sc
free from impuritY as to receive the
least impression from what I am about
to utter. / have nc hope that can
anchor my character in the breast Of a
court constituted and tra1nmelled as
this is. Ionly wish, and it is the ut
most expect. that your lordships may
suffer it to float down your memories
untainted by the foul breath of preju-
dice until it finds some more hospitable
harbor to shelter it from the rude storm
by which it is at present buffeted.
Were only to suffer death. after being
adjudged guilty by your tribunal,
should bow in silence, and meet the
fate that awaits me without a murmur;
| but the sentence Of the Law which de.
liyers my body to the executioner will,
through the ministry of the law, labor
in it's own yindication to consign my
character to obloquv, for there must be
guilt somewh here-whethe in the SEN
tence OF the court. or in the catastrophe.
posterity must determine. A man in
my situation, my lords, has not only to
encounter the difficulties of fortune and
the force of power over minds which it
has corrupted or subjugated, but the
difficulties of established prejudice.
The man dies, but his memory lives
That mine may not perish, that 1t may
live in the respect of my countrymen,
/ seize upon this opportunity to vindi-
cats myself from some of the charges
alleged against me. When nav spirit
shall he waited to a more friendly port
when my shade shall have joined the
bands OF those 1nartyred heroes who
have shed their blood on the scaffold
and in the field in defence of their
country and of virtue, this is zuy hope
I wish that my memory and name may
animate those who survive mo while l
look down with compiacency On the de-
struction of that pertidious Government
which upbo'ds it's domination by
blasphemy Of the Most High; which
displays it's power over mau, as over the
beasts of the forest; which sets man
upon his brother, and lifts his hand, in
the name of God, against the throat Of
his fellow who believes or doubts a
little more or little less than the Gov
ernment standard-a Government
which is steeled to barbarity Dy the
cries OF the orphans and the tears of the
widow which it has made
| LORD NoRBURY-'"The weak and wicked en-
thusiasts who feel as you feel are unequal to the
accomplishment of their wild DESIGNS"
| appeal to the Immaculate God--l
swear by the Throne of Heaven before
which l must shortly appear-by the
blood Of the murdered patriots who
have gone before n1e-that my conduct
has been, through all this peril, and
through all my purposes, governed only
by the convictions which have uttered,
and by no other view than that of the
emancipation of my country from the
superinhuman oppression under which
she has so long and too patiently ira
vailed; and I confidently and assuredly
hope that. wild and chimerical as it may
appear, there is still union and strength
in Ireland to accomplish this noblest
enterprise. OF this speak with the
confidence of intimate knowledge and
with the consolation that appertains to
that confidence. Think not, my lords,
that say this for the petty qualification
OF giving you transitory uneasiness.
A man who never yet raised his voice
to utter lie will not hazard his char
acter with posterity By asserting false
hood on a subject 80 important to his
country and on an occasion like this.
Yes, my lords. man who does not
wish to have his epltaph written until
his country is liberated will not leave a
weapon in the power of envy nor a pre-
tense to impeach the probity which he
means to preserve, even in the grave to
which tyranny consigns him.
LORD NoRBUEY-"You proceed to unwar-
! rantable lengths in order to exasperate or de-
lude the unwary, and circulate opinions of the
most dangerous tendency for purposes of mis-
chief.''
Again say that what have spoken
was not intended for your lordship,
| whose situation I commiserate rather
than envy; my expressions were for my
countrymen. If there is true Irish
! man present, let my last words cheer
him ia the hour Of his affection
LORD NoRBURY-"what you have hitherto
said confirms and justifes the verdict of the