Page:An address to the Roman Catholics of Ireland.djvu/6

4 truth, I do not exhort you to a general and manly co-operation in refilling the ruinous project of an Union, with all the virtuous and public spirited of your countrymen of al persuasions, from the slightest apprehension that you have ever warranted the foul slander uttered against you; for if I felt such apprehensions, I would tremble at the thought o your alliance, and deprecate your co-operation. But I address you as the great body o: Irishmen, and implore you to confider seriously and anxiously the fate which threatens your country, and not suffer any mean resentment or feminine jealousy to prevent you from averting it. This is no time for personal or secondary feelings, the great cause of your country is equally before all descriptions of Irishmen and I behold already with pleasure, good resulting from evil, and this desperate enterprize of government, promising the absorption of all our interline and deplorable dissensions in one generous oblivion of the past and in one vigorous and patriotic combination in defence of the liberties of this land.

The public have been already appealed to and you have had the opportunity of feeing this projected Revolution canvassed and examined; it is not necessary, therefore, to exhibit to you here, the folly, the treachery and danger of the measure, I mail only, in a wore or two, remind you of its particular relation to yourselves. You have long desired to participate in the Constitution of your country and