Oration at the Grave of O’Donovan Rossa
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 thoughts and the
hope that
there 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
suffering,
should speak here, it is perhaps that I may be taken as speaking on
behalf of a
new generation that has been rebaptised 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
today'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 (135) 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 is has been
given to us
to come thus into so dose 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 today would surely
have her;
not free merely, but Gaelic as well: not 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
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 today, 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 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
‘65 and ‘67 are coming to their miraculous ripening today. Rulers and
defenders
of Realms had need to be wary if they would guard against such
processes. Life
springs from death; an from the graves of patriot men and women spring
living
naitons. 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 pacified 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.
