The Irish standard., 1898-08-13
THE MEMORY OF IRISH REBELS

entS who were massacred in the streets
by British troops in 1898, and whose re-
mains repose in the "Croppy's Grave
across the Barrow river, in the village
of Graigue awaiting the archangels
trumpet on the resurrection morning
The writer, in his peregrnations through
Ireland. visited the halowed spot and
read with emotion the inscription on the
tablet in the granite wall surrounding
the sepulcl,re or trench which contains
the ashes OF the Carlow patriots OF '9S.
The Frceman's Journal has an interest
ing article on the event, and says that
the field where SO many gallant rebels
lie has been rescued from the neglect of
century. and has been converted into
Il well-kept cemetery, with a beautiful
Celtic cross unveiled as a suitable mon
ument for those who died for faith and
fatherand at the hands of their British
prosecutors.
The great speech of the day was deliv-
cred by John Dillon, which was one of
power and dignity, and appropriate to
the solemn and patriotic occasion that
gathered the vast audience together in
the open air. The streets were hand
somely decorated and literally covered
with evergrcen@, flags and banners, and
a procession through the town, headed
by several bands. took place before the
meeting at the graveyard occurred. In
the course of his address Mr. Dillon said:
When see around this platform today
this mighty gathering. you, the descend
ants Of these men and the heirs of their
cause, l am reminded of the words of
| lrelands greatest poet, who wrote
Sweet tbs to find such faith can remain
In the cause of the men lying vail
quished and sain."
(Cheers.) Those men whose memory
we are assembled to honor and immor-
talize so far as it is in our power to do
it. We're vanquished and slain by treach-
cry in the streets of Carlow, and through
want Of skilled military leadership; but.
although they fell the cause for which
they died is alive today (cheers), and
you, who are their descendants, are
gathered here today to pledge yourselves
as faithful to their principles, and de-
termhed to maintain their cause
(cheers). while no man is bold or base
enough to propose that any monument Of
honor should be set up to the oppressor
or to the men who shot down the people
in the streets of Carlow (cheers). No
RI ind
conquered, and 1t was supposed by the
tyrnnts who harred Ireland in those
days that the blood of the men in whose
memory that cross has been set up, the
cause of Ireland would be blotted out
forever. Now ask you where are the
men who held Carlow a hundred years
ago? When we look around Ireland we
see on every side proofs multiplying day
after day that the cause for which men
died in Carlow Il hundred years ago is
slowly, is steadily. and is irresistbly
crushing down all opposition in ireland
(cheers). From South to North, from
East to West. the manhood Of Ireland
are assembling in their tens of thous-
ands to honor the so-called Rebellion of
49,. a name that has come to he ii name
of honor i'll Ireland, and contend that
we are entitled to say that the cause for
which these men died is today trium-
phant throughout Ireland, and we have
every reason to hope that we are on the
evo OF final victory (cheers).
What are the circumstances of the
struggle which took place in this town?
We read in the pages of the historian
l4ecky, Il Carlow man himself, who is
certainly not Il friend Of the Nationalist
cause. Il description of what took place.
He says: ''The houses in which the in
sur2ents sought refuge were set on fire,
and the soldiers shot On bayonetcd all
who attempted to escape from the flames
No less than so houses were burned, and
in the evening 10 carts were constantly
employed removing the clarrcd corpses
OF the insurgents. Another historian
says: No quarter was given, no mercy
was shown" | say that In the whole
history of modern warfare there never
has been blncker record of Infamous
misconduct and cruelty than that which
Is told by the historian of those DAYS
against the British officers and British in
this country in the year IS (checrs).
Mr.. Stead. an Englishman, writing on
this subject, says: in Ireland the CEN
tenary of 1898 recalls the fact that SINH
lar ontragcs, far more foul, because en-
ployed in cold blood over a wider area.
for a much larger period of time, were
resortcd to by British minister in fur
theraneo of British policy. A hundred
years ago is but as yesterday in the his
tory of nations; and although a century
has elapsed. Ireland is united to England
today by virtue of the crimes at which |
have briefly glanced" l say that if we
are to accept what is said about Gen,
Wcylcr in Cuba. the worst that can be
| alleged against him pales into utter in
| significance beside the action of the
| English troops in this country (chcfrs):
| and II VIC were as near the shores of the
United States rs Cuba the struggle for
| Irish freedom would be ended long ago
(chcerS) a hundred vCarS avn ic 90