The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-28
Grand Gathering of the Fenians.

New York, on Tuesday last. Our rolick-
some Irish friends and fellow-citizens
had some rare sports, and pastimes, but
the mythical shilala was not brought
into use. Several speeches were made,
all breathing devotion to Ireland, and
eternal hatred to English rule. What
will all this come to? is very pertinent
question, and one the future alone can
answer. We give the following extract
from one of the speeches-that delivered
by Colonel Roberts, the first and princi-
pal speaker:
could tell you much that would
cheer every true Irish heart, and ad-
vance the cause with the cold and the
unbelieving outside the organization;
but it would be not alone imprudent,
but criminal in me to do so, as the ears
of our enemy are long and open; her
spies are about, even in this very city,
perhaps in this very crowd And
though much her press pretend to sheer
at the movement, assure you the
British Government has very different
opinion of it, for we'll she may, for she
is beginning to hear the rumbling of the
storm that will shake, if not destroy,
her rotten old hulk from stem to stern,
Immense cheering.) She little thought
when hunting the Irish children from
their homes and country, with her cruel
and unjust laws, and her brutal and un-
feeling execution of them, she was but
placing them where they could one day
furnish the means of redeeming their
country and avenging her martyrs; she
little thought that her determination
was but regeneration, and that the wild
geese who crossed the Atlantic would
one day return with the sinews of war
and the genius for conducting it, to en-
able their brothers at home to make the
most heroic struggle that has been made
since the days OF Clontarf, and which
they have since proved themselves ca
pable of making on the battle-fields of
Europe and America when we'll equip
ped and we'll led. And then what a
special dispensation of Providence there
seems in atfording a school for military
training and experience to Irishmen in
the late unhappy war. We all know
how they have availed themselves of it.
The enian Brotherhood means to avail
itself of it; and know they are but too
anxious to use their dearly bought expe-
rience for the benefit and in the cause of
their own cherished native land. l ask
when can you be ready to go, the an
swer invariably is, in an hour if neces-
sary. Believe me, when the blow Is
struck there will be no no Ballingarrys
or Slievenamons. England this time
will not meet a handful of undisciplined,
unarmed men, led by true-hearted,
high-souled, self-sacrificing, but unfit
man, poor Smith O'Brien. No, she will
have to meet-well, won't say what,
for it would be giving her information.
She willsee whenthe time comes. In the
late American troubles England played
her old game to divide and destroy.
How ready she then was to use herpow.
er in the struggle, SO al to enable the
weaker to hold out against the stronger,
until there would not be as much left of
the national life as there was of the Kill
kenny cats; not that she loved the
ed both North and South. loud
cheers.) I wonder if she is as ready
to take offence now; I rather
think if Brother Jonathan should pull
her nose, and squeeze it well in so doing,
She would be disposed to look upon the
act as friendly intimation that 1t want
ed blowing, and would blow it accord
ingly, to please her dear American cou-
sin, for blood is thicker than water you
know; and now that her fears induce
her to claim kindred, we may expect to
hear the whole relationship cast up, al
though few months ago the Americans
were nothing but uncivili2ed savages;
but all this will be remembered for
final and grand reckoning; and T haz-
ard nothing i'll saying to-day that nine
teen-twentieths of the American people
hate and despise England as thoroughly
as the Irish ever did. Great applause
The feelings engendered by the revo-
luton of 1776 were passing away; but
the devilish perfidy and baseness of
England in seeking to engulf the Amer.
lean ship, when struggling and straining
in the tempestuous sea of gigantic civil
war, will never be forgotten while
plank of liberty remains in this repub-
lie, and an American citizen to stand by
it. loud and continued cheers.) Now,
fellow countrvmen, is it not reasonable
To suppose that when the Irish republic |
has her auxiliary bureaus of finance, of |
var and of the navy here, just as the |
south had in England, Nassau and Can
by the way, We could make
short work of, If President Johnston
thinks the Blue Noses would be worth
the taking-and unless to deprive Eng
land OF an ally and America of an enc
my, don't think them worth the hay-
Ing. is it not fair supposition that the
Irish republican government will find
as liberal friends among the Americans.
not to mention the Irish Americans-as
the south found in Canada and England?
think the navy bureau alone will have
us nands full in equipping cruisers like
the Florida, the Alabama, the Tennessee
aila the Stonewall. The names will be
dinerent. We will have the Robert En-.
mettIlloud cheers)-the Edward Fitz-
gerald-(prolonged cheers)-the brothers
Shears, and the Wolfe Tone. tEnthusios-
NC cheers. They will all be called after
irisn martyrs, SO that their names when
1ead VIII strike more terror into British
hearts than even when living; for their
blows Will be aimed at the most vulner-
aoie and vital part of Britain-her COM
merce. Of course expect that our prac-
ticai common sense plebian President, |
Andy johnson, will follow the example |
OF her most ungracious Majesty, Queen |
victoria, and declare the Irish republic |
pelligerent. Loud "heers,) English |
vessels of war will receive notice to quit |
American ports twenty-four hours after
arrival, should they think it prudent to
arrive asre at all, lest theircrews-msny |