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for Ireland, when, after two days' hard fighting, the Irish were driven back by the fresh troops brought up by the English to the bridge of Limerick, at that point when the Irish soldiers retired fainting it was that the women of Limerick threw themselves in the way, and drove the enemy back fifteen, twenty, or thirty paces. Several of the poor women were killed in the struggle, and their shrieks of agony being heard by their countrymen, they again rallied and determined to die in their defence, and, doubly valiant in the 10 defence of the women, they together routed the Saxons. Yes, I repeat, I have enough women to beat all the army of Ireland. It is idle for any minister or statesman to suppose for a moment that he can put down such a struggle as this for liberty. The only thing I fear is the conduct of some 15 ruffians who are called Ribbonmen. I know there are such blackguards, for I have traced them from Manchester. They are most dangerous characters, and it will be the duty of every Repealer, whether he knows or by any means can discover one of them, immediately to hand him over to justice 20 and the law. The Ribbonmen only by their proceedings can injure the great and religious cause in which I am now engaged, and in which I have the people of Ireland at my back.

the day

This is a holy festival in the Catholic Church 25 upon which the Mother of our Saviour ascended to meet her Son, and reign with Him for ever. On such a day I will not tell a falsehood. I hope I am under her protection while addressing you, and I hope that Ireland will receive the benefit of her prayers. Our Church has prayed against 30 Espartero and his priest-terrorising, church-plundering marauders, and he has since fallen from power- nobody knows how, for he makes no effort to retain it. He seems to have been bewildered by the Divine curse, for without one rational effort the tyrant of Spain has faded before the 35 prayers of Christianity. I hope that there is a blessing in this day, and, fully aware of its solemnity, I assure you that

I am afraid of nothing but Ribbonism, which alone can disturb the present movement. I have proclaimed from this spot that the Act of Union is a nullity, but in seeking for Repeal I do not want you to disobey the law. I have only to refer to the words of the Tories' friend, Saurin, to prove 5 that the Union is illegal. I advise you to obey the law until you have the word of your beloved Queen to tell you that you shall have a Parliament of your own. (Cheers, and loud cries of "So we will!") The Queen-God bless her! - will yet tell you that you shall have a legislature of your 10 own — three cheers for the Queen! (Immense cheering.) On the 2d of January last I called this the Repeal year, and I was laughed at for doing so. Are they laughing now? No; it is now my turn to laugh; and I will now say that in twelve months more we will have our Parliament again 15 on College Green. The Queen has the undoubted prerogative at any time to order her Ministers to issue writs, which, being signed by the Lord Chancellor, the Irish Parliament would at once be convened without the necessity of applying to the English Legislature to repeal what they appear to 20 consider a valid Act of Union. And if dirty Sugden would not sign the writ, an Irish Chancellor would soon be found who would do so. And if we have our Parliament again in Dublin, is there, I would ask, a coward amongst you who would not rather die than allow it to be taken away by an 25 Act of Union? (Loud cries of "No one would ever submit to it!" "We'd rather die!" etc.) To the last man? (Cries of "To the last man!") Let every man who would not allow the Act of Union to pass hold up his hand. (An immense forest of hands was shown.) When the Irish Parlia- 30 ment is again assembled, I will defy any power on earth to take it from us again. Are you all ready to obey me in the course of conduct which I have pointed out to you ? (Cries of "Yes, yes!") When I dismiss you to-day, will you not disperse and go peaceably to your homes("Yes, yes, we 35 will!") - every man, woman, and child?—in the same

tranquil manner as you have assembled? ("Yes, yes!") But if I want you again to-morrow, will you not come to Tara Hill? ("Yes, yes!") Remember, I will lead you into no peril. If danger should arise, it will be in consequence of 5 some persons attacking us, for we are determined not to attack any person; and if danger does exist, you will not find me in the rear rank. When we get our Parliament, all our grievances will be put an end to; our trade will be restored, the landlord will be placed on a firm footing, and Io the tenants who are now so sadly oppressed will be placed in their proper position. "Law, Peace, and Order" is the motto of the Repeal banner, and I trust you will all rally round it. (Cries of "We are all Repealers !") I have to inform you that all the magistrates who have recently been 15 deprived of the Commission of the Peace have been ap‐ pointed by the Repeal Association to settle any disputes which may arise amongst the Repealers in their respective localities. On next Monday persons will be appointed to settle disputes without expense, and I call on every man who 20 is the friend of Ireland to have his disputes settled by arbitrators without expense, and to avoid going to the Petty Sessions.

I believe I am now in a position to announce to you that in twelve months more we will not be without having an 25 Hurrah! for the Parliament on College Green. (Immense cheering.) Your shouts are almost enough to call to life those who rest in the grave. I can almost fancy the spirits of the mighty dead hovering over you, and the ancient kings and chiefs of Ireland, from the clouds, listening to the 30 shouts sent up from Tara for Irish liberty. Oh! Ireland is a lovely land, blessed with the bounteous gifts of Nature, and where is the coward who would not die for her? (Cries of "Not one!") Your cheers will penetrate to the extremity of civilisation. Our movement is the admiration of the 35 world, for no other country can show so much force with so

much propriety of conduct. No other country can show a

people assembled for the highest national purposes that can actuate man; can show hundreds of thousands able in strength to carry any battle that ever was fought, and yet separating with the tranquillity of schoolboys. You have stood by me long-stand by me a little longer, and Ireland will be again a nation.

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II.

W. E. RUSSELL.

Address at the Democratic National Convention.

Chicago, July 9, 1896.

["Governor Russell was extremely fortunate in the time of his political activity. [He was mayor of Cambridge, Mass., 1885-1888, unsuccessful candidate for governor of Massachusetts, 1888-89, and governor, 10 1890-92.] The Democratic party had had a revival, and a revival under its best form. Under the leadership of Cleveland it promised the country an administration the object of which should be, not the advantage of partisans, or of certain classes, but of the Nation. believed to be a man of the same stamp as Cleveland, whose personal friend he became. . . .

Russell was

15

In the spring of 1896 Mr. Russell declined to be a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Chicago, and refused to be thought of as a candidate for the Presidency. Later he decided to attend the Convention, hoping to be able to exert some influence. It was probably the most painful experience of his life. He had been a Democrat from 20 his childhood up. His father held an honorable place in the party as well as in civic life, and from him young Russell learned the lesson of party loyalty, and doubtless learned to honor the party in him. He was a partisan, but he loved his party as no mere partisan could do. He saw it assuming the position in which the best hopes of the country 25 could be placed upon it. His patriotism and his partisanship became

one.

He went to Chicago to find his dearest hopes disappointed. The politicians who had unwillingly followed the lead of Cleveland till they secured power, turned against him in Congress, and thwarted his most cherished plans. Now, in the Convention at Chicago, they were wild 30 with joy because they could cast him off forever, Russell found the

party that had been his hope and his pride stooping to alliance with the most extravagant elements of American politics, and for the sake of success adopting the most perilous financial heresy - [ free coinage of silver].

He strove vainly, [in the discussion of the report of the committee 5 to draft a platform] to check the disastrous plunge of his party into disgrace and ultimate failure.

The Convention listened but swept on in its mad career. He wrote to his wife: I had no idea how hard and distasteful this task would be. I have but one comfort in it. I know that I have done my 10 duty with fidelity.'" Memoir of W. E. Russell, C. C. Everett, Publications of Colonial Society of Massachusetts, V, pp. 89–92.]

MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THIS CONVENTION: I have but one word to say. The time is short for debate

upon the merits of this issue. I am conscious, painfully con15 scious, that the mind of this Convention is not and has not been open to argument and reason. (Applause and cries of "That's right!")

I know that the will of its great majority, which sees fit to override precedent, to trample down rights, to attack the 20 sovereignty of States, is to be rigidly enforced. I know that

an appeal will fall upon deaf ears. There is but one thing left to us, and that the voice of protest, and that voice I raise, not in bitterness, not questioning the sincerity, the honesty, of any Democrat; that voice I utter with a feeling of 25 sorrow, and, mark me, my friends, the country, our country, if not this Convention, will listen to our protest. (Applause and cheers.) I speak for one of the smallest States of this Union, not great in territory or population, not prominent in her material resources, but glorious in her history, great in 30 her character, in her loyalty to truth, in her devotion to principle and duty and the sacrifices she has willingly made for independence, liberty and her country. (Great applause and cheering.) That State has taught us, her children, to place principle above expediency, courage above time, and patriot35 ism above party,- (Applause). And in the cause of justice and of right, not to flinch, no matter how great the majority or how overbearing may be its demands.