The Irish standard., 1898-03-12

a foreign and unrelenting tyranny, and
from the more CALLING yoke OF a do
nestle faction. its joint partner and per-
petrator in the patrcide, whose reward
is the ignominy of existing with an ex-
terror of splendor and consciousness of
to extricate my country from this doub-
ly riveted despotism-I wish to place
her independence beyond the reach of
any power on earth. | wish to eXalt her
to that proud station in the world which
providence had destined her to fill. Con-
nection with France was, indeed, intend
ed, but only so far as mutual interest
would sanction or require. We're the
French to assume any authority incon-,
sistent with the purest independence, 1t
would be the signal for their destruction
We sought their aid-and we sought it
as we had assurances we should obtain
1t-as auXiliaries in war and allies
Ill peace Were the French to come as
invaders or enemies, unlimited by the
wishes Of the people, l should oppose
them to the utmost of my strength. Yes!
my countrymen, | should advise you to
meet them OH the beach with Il sword in
one hand and torch in the other.
would meet them with all the destruc-
tive fury OF war; and l would animate
my countrymen to immediate them in
their boats before they had contaminated
| rho coil pf
ed in landing, and if forced to retire be-
fore superior discipline, I would dispute
every inch of ground, raze every house,
burn every blade of grass; the last spot
on which the hope of freedom should de-
sert me, there would held and the last
intrenchment of liberty should be my
| grave What | could not do myself in
my fall, l should leave as a last charge
| to my countrymen to accomplish; be-
! cause l should feel conscious that life,
| more than death. is dishonorable when a
| foreign nation holds my country in sub
lection. But it was not as an enemy
| that the 3uccOrs of France was to land L
locked indeed, for the assistance of
france; | wished to prove to France and
to the world that Irshmen deserve to be
asslsted-that they were indignant at
slavery, and ready to assert the indc-
pendcnce and liberty of their country: I
wished to procure for my country the
guarantee which Washington procured
for America-to procure an aid which,
by its example, would be as important
as its valor; disciplined, gallant, preg-
nant with science and experience; that of
allies who would perceive the good and
polish the rough points OF our charac-
ter. They would come to us as strang-
ers, and leave lis as friends, after sharing
in our perils and elevating our destiny,
These were my objects; not to receive
new taskmasters. but to expcl old ty-
rants. And 1t was for these ends I
| sought aid from France, because France.
even as an enemy, could not be more
mplacable than the enemy already in
the bosom Of my country.
! Lord Norbury-You are making an
avowal Of dreadful treason, and OF Il
determined purpose to have pcrsevcred
in them, which | do believe has aston
ishcd the audience.
| have been charged with that impor-
lance in the efforts to emancipate my
country as to be considered the keystone
of the combination of lrishmen, or as
your lordship expressed it, 1.-The life and
blood OF the conspiracy" You do me
honor ovcrmuch; you have given to tho
the subaltcrn all the credit Of a superior.
There are men engaged in this conspiracy
who are not only superior to me, but
even to your own conception Of yourself,
my lord; men before the splcndor OF
whose genius and virtues l should bow
with respectful Difference. and who would
think themselves disgraccd by shaking
your blood stained hand
Lord Norbury-You have entleavored
to establish IL wicked and bloody provis-
ional government.
What, my lord! shall you tell me. on
the passage to the scairold, which that
tyranny, of which you are only the inter-
mcdiary cXccutioner. has erected for my
murder, that | am accountable for all
the blood that has been and will be shed
in this struggle Of the oppressed against
the opprcSsor"- shall you tell me this,
and must | bc SO very Il slave as not to
rcpel it?
Lord Norhury-A different conduct
would have better become one who had
cndcavored to overthrow the laws and
liberties of his country.
| who fear not to approach the On
nipotent Judge to answer for the conduct
of my whole life-am | to be appalled,
and falsiiied by Il mere remnant of NOR
| tality here? by you. too. who If 1t were
possible. to collect all the innocent blood
that you have shed in your unhallowed
ministry In one great reservoir your lord
| ship might swim in it?
Lord Norbury-l cXhort you not to de-
| part this life with such sentiments Of
! rooted hostility to your country as those
which you have expressed.
| Let no man dare, when I am dead, to
| charge me with dishonor; let no man at
Ant,