Morning Appeal

IRELAND'S ALTERNATIVE

The Irish troubles seem likely to result in a serious uprising. A few days ago an extraordinary scene was witnessed at the court in Sligo. Rae, a Belfast attorney who was retained by the defence, sprang to his feet during the examination and called for a summons against Dr. McCabe, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.

"What right," he demanded, "had counsel for the crown to read a pastoral published by a foe to the Irish people! What right had the Archbishop to say that they were driving God from their side by violation of the law? What right had he to say that the doctrines preached by his client struck at the root of good faith and mutual confidence? This pastoral was a libel on his client. It was a libel on the Irish people. He extolled the Fenians and Ribbonmen as heroes and martyrs. He said Ireland should yet have a Parliament sitting near the statue of King William. He addressed the people saying that he would hold a public meeting and there denounce the magistrates as prejudiced and incompetent, whereupon the Court was cleared. Rae was the last to leave it, shouting and gesticulating to the end."

The present state of affairs in Ireland is attracting the attention of the civilized world, and it seems as if England must discontinue her oppressions of Ireland or a general revolt will be the result. The eloquence of the Irish orators can avail but little against the stolid indifference of the Crown. Nothing short of the roar of artillery can give tongue to the wrongs of an oppressed people. Eloquence cannot move the heart of tyranny, there must be squadrons in the field, argument is lost in the contest of right with might; the oppressed must bring their infantry to the fore. God never gave monarchies the right to oppress, but he gave every man on his footstool the right to his liberties and the right to fight for them. There is no such crime as sedition or treason when oppression compels its victims to argue their cause in the field of battle, after they have refused them their rights in so called courts of justice. The Irish must either remain in slavery or fight.