pangs
of poverty, and pity fills them with love and charity and regret that
poverty makes them powerless. But still thou hast a _voice_. Raise it,
and cry shame on those who may, yet will not save the nation from the
stain of this deep indignity to _woman_!

* * * * *

And how, you may ask, is this to be done? Most simply. Ireland possesses
wealth in soil--in fuel--in minerals--in fisheries--in water-power--in
short, in all things fitted to be developed by the great and wonderful
business capability, knowledge, and capital of England; but the latter
has feared without just reason--has been acted upon by groundless
prejudices and dreads, so as to prevent that business intercourse and
mercantile enterprise, for which Ireland offers such beneficial opening;
and she has been left to herself, to anarchy, misrule, and neglect,
until she has sunk into pauperism. In a word, let England but embark a
just portion of her enterprise and capital, and talent in Ireland, in
place of _seeking_ for opportunity to do so abroad. In doing this, she
will employ the people in useful occupations highly profitable, and in
proportion as such be done will Ireland's poverty vanish, and Great
Britain's wealth increase. _Ask for this;--and that the peasant labourer
shall be paid in money, not potatoes. And if you ask from your heart,
you will succeed._

Then, fair pleaders for my countrywomen!--then your labours may
cease--for even those who possess _your_ affections do not, nor cannot,
value them more highly; nor those who hold you in their hearts do not
love more truly, than the peasant of Ireland. Your labours may
cease--for it will then be his labour of love to guard and protect his
own from insult and indignity. And as you rest after your glorious
victory, your pillow mayhap will not even crease by the pressure of the
fair cheek upon it, so light and so sweet will be the sleep to follow so
kind and good a work.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Short tobacco-pipe.

[2] See Comparative Statement of the Crimes of England and Ireland, in
"_The Appeal for the Irish Peasantry_."

* * * * *

Transcriber's Note:

Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Dialect
spellings have been retained. Punctuation has been standardised. The
following significant amendments have been made to the original text:

Page 17, added 'that' to 'When this occurs ...