Page:An address to the thinking independent part of the community.djvu/5

( 5 ) sacrifice of national independence. Their long train of dependents: the needy and obsequious followers of every minister. All who suck in, thro' its remotest or minutest channels, the foul stream of corruption—These are all ranged on one side. They are making ready for battle. They willingly appeal to the sword, because they would be defeated in an appeal to reason.—But are these the Irish people?—Is the cause of such men their cause?

Opposed to these, speaking merely with relation to the present contest, are principally the Society of United Irishmen. The name is an honourable one:—It ought to be an universal one:—But it is said to have been made the bond of a base and traitorous union,—Having no other means of informing myself concerning the constitution or the object of this Society, I must take the description given of it by administration. That description certainly cannot be considered as too favourable, which is drawn by their enemies. It is said then to be a combination of restless, ungovernable spirits in this country, who aim at the entire subversion of social order and happiness, and the introduction of a system of violence, confusion and rapine; who meditate the pillage of property, and the massacre of its owners, as the means of accomplishing their deigns; and who avail themselves of certain