“Be advised by me: join not with these people; do not embark with them
in their enterprise. Their enterprise!” repeated he, scornfully: “they
have none. The only men of action here are they with whom no man of
honor, no soldier, could associate; their only daring, some deed of
rapine and murder. No! liberty is not to be achieved by such hands as
these. And the other,--the men of political wisdom, who prate about
reform and the people's rights, who would gladly see such as me
adventure in the cause they do not care themselves to advocate,--they
are all false alike. Give me,” cried he, with energy, and stamping his
foot upon the ground,--“give me a demibrigade of ours, some squadrons
of Milhaud's cavalry, and trois bouches a feu to open the way before us.
But why do I speak of this? Some midnight burning, some savage murder,
some cowardly attack on unarmed and defenceless people,--these are our
campaigns here. And shall I stain this blade in such a conflict?”
“But you will go back to France?” said I, endeavoring to say something
that might rally him from his gloom.
“Never,” replied he, firmly, “never! I alone, of all my countrymen,
maintained, that to leave the people here at such a crisis was unfair
and unmanly. I alone believed in the representations that were made
of extended organization, of high hopes, and ardent expectations. I
accepted the command of their army. Their army! what a mockery! When
others accepted the amnesty, I refused, and lived in concealment, my
life hanging upon the chance of being captured. For fourteen months I
have wandered from county to county, endeavoring to rally the spirit
I had been taught to think only needed restraint to hold back its
impetuous daring. I have spent money largely, for it was largely placed
at my disposal; I have distributed places and promises; I have accepted
every post where danger offered; and in return, I hoped that the hour
was approaching when we should test the courage of our enemies by such
an outbreak as would astonish Europe. And what think you has all ended
in? But my cheek burns at the very thought! An intended attack on the
Government Members of Parliament,--an act of base assassination,--a
cowardly murder! And for what, too?--to prevent a political union
with England I Have they forgotten that our cause was total rupture!
independence! open enmity with England! But, c'est fini, I have given
them my last resolve. Yesterday evening I told the delegates the only
chance that, in my opinion, existed of their successfully asserting
their own independence. I gave them the letters of French officers, high
in command and station, concurring with my own views; and I have pledged
myself to wait one month longer,--if they deem my plans worthy of
acceptance,--to consider all the details, and arrange the mode of
proceeding. If they refuse, then I leave Ireland forever within a week.
In America, the cause I glory in is still triumphant; and there,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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