The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-06

roNs.-The movement celebrated by the tssti-
monial dinner given to the Rev. Robinson Scott
at Niblo's the other day, is one that has not as
yet received its due share of notice from the
press. 1t was an event that deserved the same
philosophical consideration that is usually ac-
corded to strange fanatical decisions. The
large amount of money raised for this scheme
entities it at the same time to be classed
amongst the most successful of the impostions
that have been practised upon the credulity of
the American public since the Irish insurrec-
tionary aid subscription of 1848.
That movement, it will be recollected, origi-
mated with the Tribune philosophers, who pro-
fessed to take deep interest in Irish affairs
At the period at which it was set on foot Irish
understood or at as great discount amongst
us as they are now. The clap trap sentiment of
the Repeal societies had not been submitted to
the test of physical analysis. The bogus patriot
ism of Young Ireland passed generally current
among our people, ever ready as they are to
aid any movement calculated to advance the
cause of popular liberty. 1t was, therefore,
easy for men protesting an interest in what was
styled the last death struggle Of Irish indie
pendence to draw heavily upon the sympa-
thies and the pockets Of the earnest and ener-
getic spirits Of whom the great mass Of our
community is composed.
What became of the large sum thus raised
amounting to nearly fifty thousand dollars
the subscribers are, we believe, ignorant to this
day. Of one thing, however, they are pretty
accurately informed, and that is, that but
very small proportion oft was applied to the
object for which it was destined. In vain
have efforts been made to elicit from the pro-
moters and managers of this fund some account
of the manner in which il was DISTURBED. A
discreet silence has been the only response by
which the various provocations to explana-
ton offered to them have been received. The
conclusion, of course, is, that the money has
been too satisfactorily divided for any of the
recipients to be tempted to quarrel with it.
Again we find another speculative Irish
movement in operation, and, singular to say,
the Tribune men again figure prominently In It.
This time il Is not question Of o revolution:
Ireland Is politically content, and there is no
longer any capital to be made out Of such
pretext Abolition and Fourierite theories find
no application in that land Of primitive faith,
and some other pretence in connection with II
had to be found TO satisfy the craving appetites
of our subscription mongers. What 80 profit
able, what so unctuous as the religious dodge
In England the evangelization of the Irish Pa
pists had already proved q mine Of wealth to
those who had embarked in il. There was,
therefore, no reason to suppose that in Ameri-
o. II would prove less acceptable or fruitful
The result has justified the speculation. So
venty thousand dollars In hard cash, and
a certainty of thirty thousand more, will we'll
repay the trouble that has been bestowed on
this enterprise. What the actual religious gains
will be ii is not difficult to calculate. The Ia.
bors of Protestant missionaries and of prose.
lytizing schools in Ireland have never,
as II is well known, been attended even
with the limited share Of success which
pecuniary temptations to the cupidty Of
starving population might have been expect
ed to secure for them. The poor Irish remain
firm TO their faith and TO their pastors, and the
only persons who profit by the gullibility of
the foreign populations amongst whom these
evangelizing missions are set on foot are the
missionaries themselves and their psrtsans II
is time that all such impositions should be ex-
posed in their true colors, and that well -meaning
people should be protected from being cheated
out of their money by PharisAical pretenoss If
IL be desirable that the Irish Catholic should be
weaned from the religion Of his forefathers
why in Gods name is not the work commenced
heres The field u large enough to employ any
amount Of clerical zeal, and the parties favor
ing II will have the satisfaction of witnessing
the manner in which their money is dsbursed
This closenese of supervision. however, does not
suit either the Irish evangelists or the Tribune
philosophers. II is more convenient that the
subscriptions raised for these purposes should
end their way into the fathomle~ bourne in
which the Irish revolutionary fund Of as has
disappeared.
THE LITTLE LANE Duck WESLEY ON THE