The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-09 00:00:00

Feniauism in the Kitchen Area.

We see that " Ellen A. Mahony, 11.D.P.5." (which is
said to mean Head Directress of the Fenian Sisterhood), is
out in a letter to the "intelligent Irish ladies " of America,
urging their co-operation in "the glorious work of Ire-
land's regeneration." She tells them what is wanted,
for the most part, is money—which is not difficult to
understand.

But the Head Directress is no less explicit upon the
purposes for which these funds are needed. "Money must
be raised to fit out a fleet and to equip an army ;" and the
cheerful assurance is proffered that "soon Green Erin will
be a battle-field ; soon the sunburst will stream over every
hill and valley of our land." Now, weoall know what
" intelligent Irish ladies " means ; it means Bridget. "Only
this, and nothing more." Poor, honest, hard-working,
affectionate Bridget, who has already sent half, perhaps
three-quarters, of her scanty earnings to the never-to-be-
forgotten circle in the dear old home, and become thereby
a proverb of faithfulness throughout the world. To Bridget,
thus depleted, comes Mistress Mahony kindly protesting :
"We only ask a portion of your worldly goods," and,lays
hands on two-thirds of the quarter that remains to her.
"Ten dollars," says she, "will purchase an Irish Revolu-
tionary Bond. Surely, surely, in view of the good to be
accomplished, I need not," &c. "And what good, thin ?"
asks hesitating Bridget. Is it credible, the impudence of
the reply ? "An army is to be equipped, and a fleet to set
sail " from this country " for the hallowed shores of Erin !"
And now, to show that we are not wrong in our surmise
of the class whom this shameless imposture is intended to
affect, hear the Head Directress further :—"lt is hoped
that each sister will endeavour to possess one of these
bonds. If impracticable now, as in some cases, make a
payment during each week, or at each meeting, requesting
the treasurer to credit you for amounts thus paid in. • .
I need not speak more at length to intelligerit Irish ladies."
"And again, do not consider your work accomplished by
liberal donations upon your own part. Each sister should
consider herself a bond agent, and work as she has never
worked before, in furtherance of the grand and holy work
to which we are pledged; a work so holy, that I call upon
you unhesitatingly ; nay, if need be, I beg of you, by every
tender, every endearing memory, to give even more than
you can spare."

We will not attempt to define the limits beyond which
this outrageous Fenian organisation may safely go, in thus
boldly proposing the equipment of an expedition (on
American shores) hostile to a foreign power with which
we are at peace. Perhaps the very transparency
of the humbug, becoming daily more apparent, is making
the whole movement a matter for the cognizance of the
police rather than of the Secretary of State. It is quite
useless, too, trying to arrest the fatal alacrity with which
the common class of Irishmen rush to the snare of every
sharper who would lure them to their ruin. For many a
day yet, we fear that the Irishman's best, as well as his
worst qualities will be played upon by designing men, to
bring him to mischief and to grief. But this new phase of
the nefarious game—this attempt to abuse the finest traits
of the Irish character with pretexts for levying onerous
tribute upon the monthly earnings of the poor and indus-
trious women, we have some hope will find a check in the
sound sense of the contemplated victims. We have much
faith in Bridget ; and we sincerely trust that when Mistress
Mahony, or any of these mousing bond agents, comes
fumbling round her strong-box, or sniffing at her savings-
bank-book, she will rise in the majesty of her wrath and
turn the trollop out of the kitchen.—New York