--A vast amount of absurdly is gabbled by the
Federal press about the aid they would receive from
Ireland, and a possible alliance with
France, in the event of a war with
Great Britain.
There never was a more insane delusion than this reliance upon Irish and French aid. The last attempt at a rebellion in
Ireland, in which ‘"Meagher of the Sword"’ figured so extensively was a complete flash in the pan.
Great Britain disdained to award to any of the leaders that palm of martyrdom which they seemed to covet.
She opened her broad palm, and addressed these patriots in the sentiment of Uncle Toby to the fly, ‘"Go, poor devil, there is room enough in the world for me and thee."’ The local constabulary, of, which
Corcoran was once a member, could have easily snuffed out that rebellion, if it had even reached the blaze of a fallow candle.
But it never did; no life was lost on either side.
The Government, grown wise by experience, exhibited a humanity to the conspirators which puts to shame the bloodthirstiness of the
Lincoln despotism; not a drop of blood was shed, and
Meagher lived to adorn New York with his illustrious presence and marry a ion of the house of
Sands's Sarsaparilla.
Whilst the
British Government demonstrated by its humanity and forbearance in the rebellion of 1818 that it had grown wise by experience, the Irish in their turn have learned to distract the bar-room leaders and highfalutin orators who have so often instigated them to rebellion for the sake of their own personal advantage.
They have emigrated in large numbers to
Australia,
Canada, and America, where they have been received with open arms, and been enabled to reap such rewards of their labor as to benefit materially those whom they left behind.
It is natural that the feeling of
Ireland should be friendly to
America, to which they owe unnumbered blessings, and especially to the
South, which sheltered them from a storm of intolerance and persecution which would have proved more litter and relentless than any they ever encountered in their native land.
Ireland has discovered that the highway to the independence and happiness of her people does not lie in the bloody and profitless path of rebellion, but in the peaceful enterprise and industry which have so elevated the condition and character of her people on this continent and enabled them to ameliorate by their aid and example the lot of their whole race.
We imagine, therefore, that
Ireland has the good sense to look for her ‘"opportunity"’ in the pursuits of productive labor, and not in a rebellion which she has no means in conducting to a successful issue.
We see by the example of
Maryland how impracticable it is for en unarmed people to rise against their oppressors, and a revolution in
Ireland, where at least half the population is loyal, and the enormous military power of
Great Britain could be concentrated in a week upon any disaffected point, would be still more difficult and perilous.
We believe that the sentiments of
Mr. Smith O'Brien, in which he expresses a desire for the independence and welfare of both.
Confederacies, are the sentiments of
Ireland generally, but certainly the position of
Mr. O'Brien is a Southern and not a Northern position.
We attach no importance, therefore, to the ravings of a few run mad revolutionists still left in
Ireland, and predict that, in the event of a war with the
United States, Irishmen, instead of rebelling, would be found, as they have been found in all former wars, among the best and bravest soldiers under the
British standard.
