From The United Irishman, April 29, 1848.
It is yet four months till the harvest. We have already, by open and advised speaking and writing, made known our mind to our fellow-countrymen. We cannot retract—we need not repeat. Besides, when the harvest-time comes round, the proprietor of this journal desires to be somewhere within the four seas of Ireland, and not in Norfolk island, with irons on his wrists.
All we shall say to-day is—First—Every man, in all countries, ought to possess ARMS, and understand the use of them, and not part with them upon any consideration.
Second—Constitutional agitation, voting at elections, petitioning ‘Parliament,’ or addressing ‘the Queen,’ is utter delusion in Ireland; and we repeat our entreaty, that any of our readers who have been so foolish as to register their ‘franchises,’ should burn their registry certificates.
We have further to inform our readers that the gagging-bill has already begun to operate upon us in an unexpected manner. This newspaper is printed by the proprietor, at No. 12, Trinity-street, and the press-work is done at a steam-press printing-office, Bachelor’s-walk. On Wednesday evening last, the proprietors of the press sent word to our office that they were advised by eminent counsel that they could not allow THE UNITED IRISHMAN to be pressed in their establishment any longer without incurring the risk of an indictment; and as it was then too late to make any other arrangement for the present week, we have been obliged to submit to the degradation of having our proof revised by a lawyer, in order to satisfy the parties, before this number could appear.
We have most heartily to apologise to our readers for this, and can only promise them, that no lawyer’s pen shall touch our writings a second time.