The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-14 00:00:00

82EPIIENS AND Ml 7 CHET,.

In his paper, which is published in New York, Mr. Johri
Mitchel gives the following account of an interview between
himself and James Stephens, relative to the Fenian orga-
nisation :—" Exactly nine years ago James Stephens came
to this country to organise the American branch of his
Irish revolutionary organisation. He came to me in East
Tennessee, stated his plans and resources; and required
rather than proposed that Meagher and myself should
place ourselves at :the head of the organisation in the
United States, appeal to our countrymen here for money,
and plenty of money, and remit all to him. This was
cool. I questioned him closely upon the progress he had
nude in Ireland, and he assured me that he bad then
(nine years ago) fifteen thousand sworn confederates (they
were not called Fenians) all armed with rifles. I did not
believe him. A few days later Meagher and myself met
Stephens, by appointment, at my led; ings in 'NV:isle:ll;bn.
He demanded of us, in a somewhat high tone, that we should
enter into his conspiracy, and should use all the credit and
influence which he supposed us to possess amongst the Irish
citizens of the United States, in order to procure money
for the purposes of that conspiracy. It was a startling
proposal. Unfortunately for him, we could not believe his
statements, and speedily arrived at the conclusion at which
many others have since arrived, that he was a humbug.
It was in vain he told us that our antecedents and the
position we held (as he said) amongst Irish patriots im-
posed on us the duty to place ourselves in the hands of him,
James Stephens, as the only representative and standard-
bearer of the Irish national cause, and with full confidence
in him, his promises,-and pretentions, ask our countrymen
settled here for their hard-earned dollars, and plenty of
them. Now, Meagher and I knew very well that the Irish-
born citizens of the United States would be free enough
with their dollars, if they only felt some confidence that
their contributions would be honestly and intelligently used
for the purpose of freeing their native land ;.but we had
more than scruples in this case. It will always be a source
of gratification to me that my friend and myself felt and
acted alike on the proposition made to us by that most
plausible gentleman. I told Mr. Stephens that, although
fully bent upon taking advantage of any legitimate occa-
sun and opportunity for liberating our country and
destroying British power, we had never id- asked our
countrymen to contribute to a revolutionary- fund, because
we Lad not any assurance that it would be properly and
effectively used ; that we believed no Opportanit3r whatso-
ever then existed for a revolutionary movement in Ireland,
England being at peace with all the world ; that we de-
clined, therefore, to make ourselves responsible in the eyes
of the whole Irish race at home and abroad by calling on
them to pour into our hands the savings of years—as we
know they would—on the mere faith of his assurance that
he was going to overturn the British Empire. Thereupon
Mr. Stephens attempted to assume a rather lofty and
peremptory style of discourse ; told us of our duties, and
of the responsibilities to which we would one day be held.
This tone did not answer. We declined to be informed of
Our duties by him ; and he ;Very soon took nu his hat and
left the house."

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