More Monster Meetings - The Last Conquest of Ireland (Perhaps)
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in favour of the course pursued by Government, Ministers have every hope that with the confidence of the House, they will be enabled to triumph over all difficulties (cries of oh, oh, and loud cheers). I appeal, then, to both sides—not to one, but to both—I appeal to both sides, and say, if you falter now, if you hesitate now in repressing the rebellious spirit which is at work in the struggle of Repeal, the glory of the country is departed—the days of its power are numbered; and England, this all-conquering England, must be classed with those countries from whom power has dwindled away, and present the melancholy aspect of a falling nation (oh, oh, and cheers)."
To refuse a Committee of Inquiry was reasonable enough; because Parliament, and all the children—men, women, and children—already knew all. The sole and avowed idea of the Government was that to admit the idea of anything being wrong, would make the Repeal movement altogether irresistible. The various projects now brought forward in England showed the perplexity of that country. Lord John Russell made an elaborate speech for conciliation; but the meaning of it seemed to be merely that it was no wonder Ireland was unquiet, seeing he was out of power. The grievance of Ireland, said he, in effect, is a Tory Ministry. Let her be ruled by us, Whigs, and all will be well. Lord Brougham also gave it as his opinion, that "you must purchase, not prosecute Repeal." The Morning Chronicle (Whig organ), in quite a friendly spirit, said, " Let us have a perfect Union; let us know each other; let the Irish Judges come circuit in England; and let the English Judges occasionally take the same round in Ireland," and so forth. "Is it absolutely certain," asked the Westminster Review, "that we can beat this people?" And the Naval and Military Gazette, a high military authority, thus expressed its apprehensions:—
"There are now stationed in Ireland 35,000 men of all arms, but widely scattered over the island. In the event of a rebellion—and who can say that we are not on the eve of one?—we feel great solicitude for the numerous small detachments of our gallant soldiers. . . . It is time to be up and doing. We have heard that the order and regularity of movement displayed by the divisions which passed before Mr O'Connell, in review order, en route to Donnybrook lately, surprised many veteran officers, and led them to think that some personal training, in private and in small parties, must be practised. The ready obedience to the word of command, the silence while moving, and the general combinations, all prove organization to have gone a considerable length. In these trained bands, our soldiers, split up into detached parties, would find no ordinary opponents; and we therefore hope soon to learn that all small parties have been called in, and that our regiments in Ireland are kept together and complete. That day, we fear, is near, when ' quite peaceably every Repealer will come armed to a meeting to be held simultaneously as to day and hour all over the island, and then ...continue reading »
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