Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-10-12
THE FENIANS.
FACTS ABOUT THE FENIANs, By one wBo EHows
THEM.


Under this heading the Liverpool Jo4raa!
publishes the following statements:
The Fenians are the topic OF the day -
They monopolize the attention OF the Lon
don editors, aud are the particular pets of
the papers. Irish correspondents shroud
them iu moonlight mystery, and would lead
one to believe they are species Of invisible
green conspirators. Some people call them
fools, some designate them madmeH, and
great many halieYe there is some method in
their madness. Some doubt their existence
altogether, some believe in them, aud can
give rehearsal of some misadyentuye N
the moonshine to ustain the story Of tbS,-
credulity. Every dog has bis day, aud the
Fenians are certainly having their iuil share
Of the daylight. VINO or what are they
ORIGIN.
The Fenian Brotherhood, We are told, is
an entirely Irish American organization. 1t
is no new institution, for ii has been in ex-
istence for the past eight years. LIS founders
We're two OF the Irish exiles Of l648, Colonel
John O'Mahony and Michael Doheny, the lat
ter one of the most talented and dangerous
members of the Young Ireland party and Z
fervent sdmirer of John Mitchell. In con-
junction with them was the late General
OOTCOTaI, tl Y Dlltu
TIE FOUNDER.
3 O'Mahony was totally uncoDnected whh
the Young Ireland movement ill the year
ls4S. He is the presen. representative Of
one OF the oldest and most respectable fami-
lies in Munster, possessing large estates II
the county Of Tipperary, and Il. the time Ct
Mr. Smith O'Brien's fasco was mere
youth. Youth as be was, however, hs hal
ia t,,r inn oil
fifteen hundred of the peaSantry, who en-
camped on the Tipperarg hills, and maiL-
tanned their position for three weeks, ill,
being completely surrounded by the militia
ry, the futility of further resistance became
apparent, and they quietly dispersed. O'Ms-
hony and some of his friends, among them
youth named Savage, who has since made
himself known as an Irish-American liEerd-
| tely, made their escape to France, wbert,
| tits said, :he plans for the future revolution
ary organization were formed. After some
years. residence in France, O'Mahony emf
grated to America, where in conf jincI;oa
naa S 63ssh II he h, sss say tAG days avs
the Fenian Brotherhood differed much from
its present form Of existence. Il was at frs.
semi-secret association. Its meetings
were secret, and though its chief officers were
publicly known as such, the operations Of tho
brotherhood were hidden from the public
view. Originally numbering perhaps score
of members, il progressed so rapidly among
the Irish population 10 America, that in few
short years numbered scores OF thousands,
ranking as its members many Irishmen OF
position and Influence. The Irish are GER
taiuly good haters, aud wolld have charmed
the heart of DR.. Johnson. They hate tho
English in Ireland, and do not learn the art
of loving them abroad. To this detestaton
OF everything, English and Fenian orglnizs-
tion owes the number and influence il has at
tanned under the guidance Of Colonel 0'Aa-
hony. For five years Or more the brother
hood maintained its semi-secret character
rapidly spreading its ranihcation= through
every State Of the American Union and
through Canada and toe British Provinces.
A regular system of communication vas
maintained by all the branches with the
Head Centre, O'Mahouy, 10 whom was cou-
United tie despotic rule Of the vast fraternity
EAELY DIFFICULTIES.
The brotherhood had its assaianls. Z
portion OF the Catholic clergy of America q:
first opposed its operations some were it5
virulent denouucers, while some asdeHtly
espoused its cause. But in America it is no
torious that clergy of whatever denoni1t-
| tion have little or no political influence WITH
their congregations.
CHANGE OF BASE,
Three years ago the Fenlaa organization
assumed a new character. A grand national
convention Of delegates from the various
branches OF the brotherhood was called and
| met at Chicago. The delegates assembled
to the number Of two hundred or th:re-
abouts they reformed the constitution 0i
the organization, and boldly ayowed its pur-
pose aud the mems relied upon for its al
tainment.
The objection which was urged by ,he
clerical opponents of the movement was
removed, and the brotherhood becam"
thenceforth an open organization. The men
bers were endowed with power TO elect their
officers, the head centership itself was de
clared an elective office, the organization
was divided into States, each ate Of t5e
Union having its chief centre, who is called
State Centre, and means were taken 70 as
snre ths furthersnce Of their one object.
Since that time the F1na1 movement has
spread more rapidly than before, and 1t IS
now, perhaps, saying much less than the fact
to state its numbers at not less than three
hundred thousand members. Each member
paws dollar as his entrance lee, aud sub.
scrbes, in a great many instances, the Same
amount weekly to the funds OF the orgln1i-
ton. f6CuIdE PIeChulIOuS aic tahou Iudt
no member shall have chance Of dvulginZ
the vital secrets OF the body, ana that kind
of miniature Republican government. Is
maintained successfully throughout every
department.
The CISCIHSATTt C0svsaTIos.
Another "Grand Convention" was heli in
January of this year at Cincinnati, attended
by some three hundred delegates from tie
United States, representing two hundred snd
fifty thousand members, and by delegates
from the British provinces and from Ireland.
American newspapers state that its proceed
ings were conducted with all the dignity aud
courtesy OF a national representative assem-
bly,. Not so much of the business Of that
convention, however, has been divulged q, OF
the former one.
One important resolution OF the convention
wa, call made upon each branch OF the
brotherhood for five dollars member, which
call, we are informed, has been promptly ie-
sponded TO and another, perhaps the most
suggestive resolution, to the effect 50 that
the next convention be held on Irish SOIL"
About the period of this last convention was
established Fenisn Sisterhood, which Did,
fair to rival the masculine fraternity.