observations." he said, "must be to tell against you with those who
have to consider the sentence. I advise you to say nothing more of
that sort. I do so entirely for your own sake." But O'Brien was not
the man to be cowed into submission by this artful representation.
Possibly he discerned the motive of the interruption, and estimated at
its true value the disinterestedness of Judge Blackburne's "advice."
Mr. Ernest Jones in vain used his influence to accomplish the
judge's object. O'Brien spurned the treacherous bait, and resolutely
proceeded:--

"They cannot find words to express their horror of the
cruelties of the King of Dahomey because he sacrificed 2,000
human beings yearly, but why don't those persons who pretend
such virtuous indignation at the misgovernment of other
countries look at home, and see if greater crimes than those
they charge against other governments are not committed by
themselves or by their sanction. Let them look at London,
and see the thousands that want bread there, while those
aristocrats are rioting in luxuries and crimes. Look to
Ireland; see the hundreds of thousands of its people in misery
and want. See the virtuous, beautiful, and industrious women
who only a few years ago--aye, and yet--are obliged to look at
their children dying for want of food. Look at what is called
the majesty of the law on one side, and the long deep misery
of a noble people on the other. Which are the young men of
Ireland to respect--the law that murders or banishes their
people, or the means to resist relentless tyranny and ending
their miseries for ever under a home government? I need not
answer that question here. I trust the Irish people will
answer it to their satisfaction soon. I am not astonished at