New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-11-11
THE FENrAN BROTHERHOOD.

the United States, calling tseli the fenlah
Brotherhood, and having for it, ayowed object
the liberation Of Ireland from British rule and
the establishment Of an independent Irish na-
tionality. Outside of their own people. they
haye hitherto attracted but little attention in
our country, and certainly never eycrted any
influence in public affairs.
In Ireland, the party is more commonly known
rs the Na,ionalis.s, or the National Brother
hood and they have made themselves some
what more conspicuous than here. They are
represented in the town councils OF every town
of Ireland, and never fail to protest against any
act which implies an acknowledgement of the
English rule. They were charged by The En-
glish press with insiigating the riot' which, on
the marriage day Of the Prince of Wales, took
place in number of The large Irish cities.
when our civil war broke out. they openly
avowcd their hope that war between the
United States and England might furnish to
Ireland The long.wanted opportunity for a sue
cessful revolution. They have. during the pres
en-, year, begun to convoke public meetings 10
discuss again openly the question of secession
from England.
| The most important meeting which this or.
gan.ra'on has yet held. convened on the 81 Of
November in Chicago. Some 800 delegates
from all parts Of the United State, from Canada
and Iceland. were prcsni. Stirring speeches Oh
the primary object Of the association, the
establishment Of Irish independence. were
made and the organization was completed by
slcctng John O'Mahony a.; New-iork. Head
Center" OF the organization, Central Com.
mit,ec Of five members, one Of whom is Gen.
Corcoran. and - Head Center FOR each cf the
following States New-York. Pennsylvania,
/ Illinois, Ohio. Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky,
/ Missouri. Mas. achusctis, Tennessee. Michigan,
California. a. well as the Dis,r.c; Of Columbia.
Among those who have expressed their sympa.
thy with this movement We notice the name OF
Gen. Mcagher. The accounts of the proceed
ings Of the congress say that great unanimity
and enthusiasm prevailed, and that the dele
gates separated highly gratifed and determined
to work on earnestly and cnorgciically in the
work IL freeing Ireland from the dominion Of
the opprcssor.
With The primary objec, Of the Fcnan Both
eihood tho people of the United States have
nothing 30 do. Ireland has, undoubtedly, like
Italy, Poland, and the Christian provinces OF
Turkey, great and Just grievances 10 complain
Of. She was annexed to England not Of her
own accord and Ireland and England have
never yet felt like members OF one nationality.
Bur whether on tina, account a separation would
be o bic ling for Ireland is a question on which
the opinions both Of llshmen md their warincst
friends widely differ IL is we'll known that
O'Conncil was not in favor of Irish independ-
once, bat only ~ favor Of an llish Parliament.
! More recently, the author of one OF the best
works ON ireland, G.. d. Beaumont espresso
bis opinion tia, tie material prospects Of the
country would greatly suffer by total separa-
/ ton rom England. Bat, however Ibis may be,
the Irish have to settle this question ihemsclyc,
and they are the only competent judge Of Il.
There are some mIturei IN thi. new national
lpa5y Of Ireland which viii interest tie people
Of ne United States. Ia our war the Irish
Ne laiists have generally expressed -ympafhy
VITA our cause, differing in lhls respect from the
vas majority o! Tie Irish papors which have
bcsi ardent champions of the South. But our
ratification nj THIS sympathy has been greatly
le-scned by The frank syowal on the part OF the
Nal0naN-ts that the cause OF their sympathy
wa chiefly the hope that The greatness Of the
United States would be the downfall Of En-.
eland; that therefore the restoration OF the
Union would be in the interest OF Ire.
land; aud that this restoration was more
likely TO proceed from the North than
from the South. II was admitted by
more than one of their spokesman that they
woald just as well have sympathizcd with the
South If they could have hoped the, tho South
would be able to restore the Union. A due az.
probation of the greet moral interests that are
u, sue in The war we have nowhere met with
among the leaders OF the Irish Nationalist.
IL onr country, the prominent influence Of
The Irish generals and colonies OF our army in
this Fenan Brotherhood seems 10 indicate that
inc organization il more under the control Of
tho War Democracy than that of the outspoken
Copperhends hut neither in their congress ror
in any oil their other manifestations have we yet
found word Of cordial sympathy with tho greai
cn-r Of Freedom.
11ero eMcar 10 be o@e progressive element