Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-19
THE FENIANs.


ihe DssF ute AZ aa En<i---s.esf~r f-on,
san,es stephens.
From the \. y. Herald. saturday,
IL will be seen from the followine dac,,-
ment that the Irish leader Of he Fen;s,,
movement Is not Only safe, bat in position
to exercise the executive. powers Of his
JAMES STEPHENS TO JOHN e.uAHoNY
IRISH kErUBLIc, Dec. q, 1855.
To John 0'Maheny, ESQ. REPRESENTATIVE anil
IT,;ss IT,aa,s. asent Of tho Irish Rcpublc m the
BROTHER AND FRIEND :-Taeonsy misur-
dersiaEding ever possible between you and
me has been occasioned by what i deenxd
your drag-chain policy. knowing the ab-
soiute necessity for action within given
length OF time, and aware that you did not
agree with me in this, il has been constant
lear With me that, so far as the F. +. was
concerned, the time would come and find ns
unprepared~ This apprehension has kapt
me in a state of pain and irritation also ss,d
50 L have Ollen said and written this.gS
which must have hurt you most keenly. For
all this now sincerely ask your forgiveness.
Let nae add, however, that i would not do
So though you Here ON vonf diving bed and
on mine, ii yon had not entered albeit
very late, on the only pasS Of salvation fer
our land and race.
Treason and baseness in srerv .haue have
been at work around you. and 10 s,,eh e1Tcet
as ~ have put tie cause Of Ireland in sari-
Gus peril Before my escape from Rich
mond Bridewell should have looked on
the actual state Of things As all 1t certain
ruin. That event--for It Is nothing less--
has given snch marvellous strength to our
work, aud to me such influence. lhat / can
now undertake to hold our forces t,cether
for some time longer. Still. il Is Of
the utmost urgency to make the lelaF as
short as possible. For delay In our case
Is OF more than proverbiai danger, and
could not long hope to hold asaiust he
strain Of time. But as you are on the ri,fht
path at last / rely on your bringing affairs
10 a speedy issue. To break with treason
and baseness Of all kinds.-to brand N
smash it--Was the policy, and I rejoice al
yoar having made il youfx. The man
hood of Ireland reioices 1t il with me. for il
indicates the justice Of their judgment re-
garding a wretch whose advent 10 this
country was an insult to our reaaon. man.
hood and patriotism. Wishing 10 work
harmoniously with the 4. b, I pst curb
on my temper in presence of this shallow
knave, and even risked my reputation In
order TO set him fairly with my friends. His
professions and letter to you (were thew
sent?l, together with my representation.
did away with much Of the distru 4
and indignation stirred up BY his pres
ence. But even before he left the sloven
foot was again visible TO all. He sneaked
OF of the country. Well, saved his life.
so often saved that Of his kindred car
rion. Brand him now without pity. II
grieyes me to hear that Michael scanian Is
in the ranks Of cowardiee and treason. Bat
/ may have once Thought o. him.
or anybody else, the instant they prove fssse
TO ireland would lash them from me like
so many dogs. Away with all such foala
or rogaes at once. IL our ranks besomewhat
thinned by this summary riddance oftraitors,
our reliable strength is but increased. By
the way, some good men were sent ovur here
by Scanlan. We know how to appreciate
them. But he sent others OF 20 vile kind
that, at their first interview with me, they in
confidence accused each other Of robberJ and
know not what. ID may be that sueh
would fight; but, till we are
actually in the field, fellows OF this stamp
would be a standing shame and danger 10
rs. Thank God they have sneaked AWAY
'ome of them al the mere shadow Of danger.
May they never pollute our shoree. c..s --,.f
hack the rotten branches around you with
out pity. This can be done safely at year
side, because the stag is harmless there
am pressed for time. This is Of little
hope, as almost all you could
leed to know will be found in the letter Of
he NJ. c. brought out by Gen. -; and
lnything that letter may lack the GeReral IA