But England became alarmed at O’Connell’s movement, and she put him and hundreds of men in prison in connection with it, just as she became alarmed at Parnell’s movement in the heyday of its vigor, and put him and hundreds of men to prison in connection with it. England gives great allowance to Irishmen in showing themselves great and patriotic in constitutional and parliamentary agitation, but when it goes a little too far beyond her liking, she is very quick at stopping it.
I recollect when O’Connell was put to prison, and when he was released from prison. I recollect the night the bonfires were blazing on the hills throughout the country in celebration of the release of the prisoners, and the song that was afterward sung about it, a verse of which is this:
“The year ’44, on the 30th of May,
Our brave liberator, these words he did say:
‘The time is but short that I have for to stay,
When the locks of my prison shall open.
You’ll find me as true—that the laws I’ll obey,
And I’ll always be so, till I’m laid in the clay.
For Peace is the thing that will carry the sway,
And bring parliament back to old Erin.’”