I advised them to keep their arms; and further, I advised them to use their arms in their own defence against all assailants--even assailants that might come to attack them unconstitutionally and improperly, using the Queen's name as their sanction.
"My object in all my proceeding has been simply to establish the independence of Ireland for the benefit of all the people of Ireland--noblemen, clergymen, judges, professional men--in fact, all Irishmen.

I sought that object first, because I thought it was our right; because I thought, and think still, national independence was the right of the people of this country.

And secondly, I admit, that being a man who loves retirement, I never would have engaged in politics did I not think it necessary to do all in my power to make an end of the horrible scenes the country presents--the pauperism, and starvation, and crime, and vice, and the hatred of all classes against each other.

I thought there should be an end to that horrible system, which while it lasted, gave me no peace of mind, for I could not enjoy anything in my country, so long as I saw my countrymen forced to be vicious, forced to hate each other, and degraded to the level of paupers and brutes.

This is the reason I engaged in politics.
[Illustration: Kevin Izod O'Doherty] "I acknowledge, as the Solicitor-General has said, that I was but a weak assailant of the English power.