Do hiarradh orm-sa labhairt indiu ar son a bhfuil cruinnighthe ar an
láthair so agus ar son a bhfuil beo de Chlannaibh Gaedheal, ag moladh an
leomhain do leagamar i gcré annso agus ag gríosadh meanman na gcarad atá
go brónach ina dhiaidh.
A cháirde, ná bíodh brón ar éinne atá ina sheasamh ag an uaigh so, acht
bíodh buidheachas againn inar gcroidhthibh do Dhia na ngrás do
chruthuigh anam uasal áluinn Dhiarmuda Uí Dhonnabháin Rosa agus thug ré
fhada dhó ar an saoghal so.
Ba chalma an fear thu, a Dhiarmuid. Is tréan d’fhearais cath ar son cirt
do chine, is ní beag ar fhuilingis; agus ní dhéanfaidh Gaedhil dearmad
ort go bráth na breithe.
Acht, a cháirde, ná bíodh brón orainn, acht bíodh misneach inar
gcroidhthibh agus bíodh neart inar gcuisleannaibh, óir cuimhnighimís
nach mbíonn aon bhás ann nach mbíonn aiséirghe ina dhiaidh, agus gurab
as an uaigh so agus as na huaghannaibh atá inar dtimcheall éireochas
saoirse Ghaedheal.
It has seemed right, before we turn away from this place in which we
have laid the mortal remains of O’Donovan Rossa, that one among us
should, in the name of all, speak the praise of that valiant man, and
endeavour to formulate the thought and the hope that are in us as we
stand around his grave. And if there is anything that makes it fitting
that I, rather than some other, I rather than one of the grey-haired men
who were young with him and shared in his labour and in his suffering,
should speak here, it is perhaps that I may be taken as speaking on
behalf of a new generation that has been re-baptised in the Fenian
faith, and that has accepted the responsibility of carrying out the
Fenian programme. I propose to you then that, here by the grave of this
unrepentant Fenian, we renew our baptismal vows; that, here by the grave
of this unconquered and unconquerable man, we ask of God, each one for
himself, such unshakable purpose, such high and gallant courage, such
unbreakable strength of soul as belonged to O’Donovan Rossa.
Deliberately here we avow ourselves, as he avowed himself in the dock,
Irishmen of one allegiance only. We of the Irish Volunteers, and you
others who are associated with us in to-day’s task and duty, are bound
together and must stand together henceforth in brotherly union for the
achievement of the freedom of Ireland. And we know only one definition
of freedom: it is Tone’s definition, it is Mitchel’s definition, it is
Rossa’s definition. Let no man blaspheme the cause that the dead
generations of Ireland served by giving it any other name and definition
than their name and their definition.
We stand at Rossa’s grave not in sadness but rather in exaltation of
spirit that it has been given to us to come thus into so close a
communion with that brave and splendid Gael. Splendid and holy causes
are served by men who are themselves splendid and holy. O’Donovan Rossa
was splendid in the proud manhood of him, splendid in the heroic grace
of him, splendid in the Gaelic strength and clarity and truth of him.
And all that splendour and pride and strength was compatible with a
humility and a simplicity of devotion to Ireland, to all that was olden
and beautiful and Gaelic in Ireland, the holiness and simplicity of
patriotism of a Michael O’Clery or of an Eoghan O’Growney. The clear
true eyes of this man almost alone in his day visioned Ireland as we of
to-day would surely have her: not free merely, but Gaelic as well; not
Gaelic merely, but free as well.
In a closer spiritual communion with him now than ever before or perhaps
ever again, in a spiritual communion with those of his day, living and
dead, who suffered with him in English prisons, in communion of spirit
too with our own dear comrades who suffer in English prisons to-day, and
speaking on their behalf as well as our own, we pledge to Ireland our
love, and we pledge to English rule in Ireland our hate. This is a place
of peace, sacred to the dead, where men should speak with all charity
and with all restraint; but I hold it a Christian thing, as O’Donovan
Rossa held it, to hate evil, to hate untruth, to hate oppression, and,
hating them, to strive to overthrow them. Our foes are strong and wise
and wary; but, strong and wise and wary as they are, they cannot undo
the miracles of God who ripens in the hearts of young men the seeds sown
by the young men of a former generation. And the seeds sown by the young
men of ’65 and ’67 are coming to their miraculous ripening to-day.
Rulers and Defenders of Realms had need to be wary if they would guard
against such processes. Life springs from death; and from the graves of
patriot men and women spring living nations. The Defenders of this Realm
have worked well in secret and in the open. They think that they have
pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us and
intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen
everything, think that they have provided against everything; but the
fools, the fools, the fools!--they have left us our Fenian dead, and
while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at
peace.
------------------------------------------------------------------------