The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-05
THE FFNIANs.

sAiNAoiio@ ~ WY 1ilshs Itt5 Dte1 lile
cry of the down-trodden Celt ever since
the Protestant religion became firmly
established in the British Empire, by
the triumph of the forces under the
Prince. of Orange. The union, since
that time, between England and the En-
efaid Isles, has been u one-sited affair,
of which all the benefits have been
! reaped by the English, while all the OPP
pressiens and burdens have been borne
by the Irish. Forced to support a reii-
gion they detested, and a government in
which they were denied representation
and equal rights while kept down
by the most odious and tyrannical laws,
enforced at the point of the bayonet, it
is not to be wondered at, that a fierce
and increasing hatred should have been
engendefed in the irish heart against
everything that is English. Various
attempts have been made during the
last tive centuries by her patriotic
and gallant SONS to throw off the
detested yoke of the British OPP
pressor, but each proved a failure,
and the leaders only succeeded in pass
ing to immortality through the hands
of the common hangman. Rather
than endure the terrible tyranny under
which they groaned, and the trials of
poverty, restitution and starvation to !
which they We're subjected by the mis-
rule oftheir British masters, they chose
repatriation, and millions of them left
Informative shores to seek in foreign lands
that liberty ofoonscience and ofperson, of
thought, speech, and action which was
denied to them at home. Every eoun-.
try in the world has received valuable
accessions- to its population, by. the
settlement within its borders of these
industrious, honest, single-minded and
brave emigrants, Scarcely nation that
has history, but presents us with an :
array of Celtic names that have rem
dered its annals illustrious. We, in
America, have been more abundantly
blessed through the short-sighted policy
ofNkngiand, and therefore have more,
reason to rejoice at her folly, than any
other people. America has been their.
principal refuge, and we have never yet
had cause to repent having welcomed
them to ourshoresand given them an asy-
lun. Neutrality-suspicious. america from
Ireland alone, since the first settlement
OF the country, We, believe were the sta
ustics known, would exceed that from
all othef countries combined. Instead
OF r.lglo-Saxon, our people would come
nearer the mark were they to style
themselves of Celtic origin. For the
prsudest blood that flows in American
veins springs from that prolific source,
while on every battlefield in the land it
has flowed in torrents. Owing SO much
10 this great " nationality it cannot be.
expected that we should be DISTINGUISHED
spectators of the renewed attempt which
is soon to be made by the Irish people to
establish the independence of their
native land; and, therefore, the orgahi-
cation known as the Fenian Brother
hood is exciting feelings of the deepest
sympathy with its movements through
hout the land. .'''
r This association has come prominently
before the public within the last thre
years, though for long time previous to
that1ts members had been silently plan
ming the great work which it is expected
to accomplish, itisasecret, oath-bouhd
society, and numbers at present in this
country alone million of men, Irish
men and the sonsof Irshmen, who have
sworn to devote their lives and fortunes
to the freedom of their country. Rut This
is not all : manifestations of the "conspi-
racy" extend to every country ON tba
globe, where Irishmen are to he fo,,,,d
and in the Green Isle itself large ma ma.
jority OF the inhabitants are numbered
an,1ng its members. Money is notwant-
ing either, for the man of means is as
willing to devote his wealth to the cause
and as freely offers his treasure, as doe
the poor man his strong arm and stou
heart-the warm blood that bound
through his arteriesat the mention ofhi
country's wrongs. Millions of none
will be ready when the moment arrivest
strike the blow, to insure it against mi
carriage;and SO perfectis the organizatio
and so secret are its werkin gs, that tt
British Government will receive its fir
knowledge of their plans only whe
the Fenians strike their first blow. VII
an army of half million OF men
Ireland, we'll armed and equipped, al
fully supplied, and an equal force IN u
British colonies and dependencies-1Wl
the sea covered with iron-clads an
privateers to prey upon BRUSH con
merce-England will find that her q
pressive policy has raised up against ht
one of the most formidable enemies tina
any State was ever called upon to cor
tend with.
We do not know the day nor the hou
when their plans will be developed, G
the first blow struck, but it may occu
at any moment. Wien we least ez
pect it, we may receive the news of a
outbreak in Ireland, for the plans Of th
brotherhood must be nearly maturee
When the time does come q fearful wa