The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1883-03-24 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE PATRIOTS' ABNOAD.  Mr. Patrick Egan is not the only patriot who, when he is out of harm's reach, uses big words. According to telegrams which have been received from New York, the ravings of the O'Donovan Rossa faction are echoed by Sheridan and Patrick Ford. Sheridan says of the explosion at the Government offices, " I consider it a blow struck in return for the previous blow. It is one army retaliating on another, for I consider that the two countries are at open war. I think it will convince the English people that the only course open is to restore Ireland her rights. It will convince the League that it is out of the power of it or other authority to restrain the people from secret action as long as the present m thod of governing Ireland is tolerated." When asked if he approved the attempt to 4stroy the Government offices, he replied, "I disspprove no means or no method which may be necessary to put an end to English rule in Ireland. When I consider the amount of suffering entailed on the Irish people, my first and most earnest conviction is that it must be put an end to by mild means if possible, if not by any means." Ford says, Ido not regard it as criminal to advocate political agitation by means of dynamite. We must avail oursetves of the only means left. The cmviction is general among the Irish that only by such methods can Ireland gain relief. There can be no peace until Ireland is granted independence. I regard Mr. Gladstone as a Pharisee capable of very mean things, and Mr. Forster as a tyrant whom Irishmen would have been justified in shooting when he controlled Irish affairs." Mr. Forster will, no doubt, be delighted to hear that the men who are accused of complicity in the Phoenix Park butcheries would not think it right to shoot him now. Their gasconade shows to what depths of degradation the " National " party has fallen, It is, however, but right to say that the American newspapers of all parties denounce O'Donovan Rossa and his sympathisers, and among the Irish there is a universal belief that he had nothing to do with the explosion. John Devoy says: "The newspapers make a great mistake in publishing the ravings of these men. Rossa and all his gang are the veriest cranks.' They know nothing about the explosion. They are repudiated by all true Irishmen in New York. Their sole object is to raise the wind." President Gibney, of the Ancient Ilibernians, says: " They are all liars and had nothing to do with the explosion." But the American press is the reverse of flatteting towards Mr. Parnell, who has yet to disprove Mr. Forster's:assertion that he connived at murders and outrages for political purposes. The Tribune says: "We naturally expected to find Rossa rejoicing, but are startled to find Mr. Parnell's confidential friends and followers here treating the incident as a huge joke, laughing at the consternation caused in London, and predicting more explosions." It is, perhaps, not right that the United States should grant an asylum to preachers of assassination. But fellows like Rossa—who is alleged by Mr. Parnell to be his personal enemy—Sheridan, and Ford are doing less mischief there than they would be if they had the courage to remain at home and act their wolfish part in Ireland.