Page 283 - Demo

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name to the Orange Order. The aim of the Society was to ‘support and defend the King and his heirs as long as he or they support the Protestant Ascendancy.’ On the other hand, many of the Defenders joined the ranks of the United Irishmen. To add further to the con- fusion, there also existed at the time in Ireland a government-run militia whose numbers in 1795 reached 25,000. Oicered by Protestants, the rank and ile were largely Catholic and among both the oicers and men were former Volunteers, Peep o’Day Boys, Defenders, and United Irishmen!
“Come ill your glasses to the brim, and let us still be drinking;
Since it is treason for to sing, we can’t be hanged for thinking.
The green and white will stand upright, triumphant round our shore, And the harp and shamrock will unite, when tyrants are no more. Our cause is just, we shall and must, will ight and not surrender, Will plant the tree of liberty by united bold defender.”
Now among the ranks of the Defenders and United Irishmen were several men whose aims went further than simply resisting land encroachment, linen manufacturing, or cam- paigning against Church of Ireland tithes-these individuals believed in ‘Liberty.’ At irst, many of the leaders of the United Irishmen, including Wolfe Tone, adopted what has been referred to as a ‘lofty view of the rabble,’the ordinary members; others, notably ‘The Man from God knows Where,’ Thomas Russell, quickly realized that without the support of the people, the United organization would never achieve anything worthwhile or lasting. Russell was acutely aware of the political insight and dedication of the average person. He recorded in his journal: