Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-07
Union and American.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
IRELAND. f
Description Of the. Leaders of the
Revolution.
QuarrelS Between the Priests and
the Fenians. "
Oath Of a MaynOOth Priest
Oath of a MaynoOth Priest

Gath Of a MaynoOth Priest
From the Correspondence ofthc New York World.
DUBLIN, December 10-Fenianism i
now and has been, for the last three months
the all-absorbing topic of discussion in the
Irish capital. The Fenian trials, now draw
ing to close, after continuance of over
two weeks, have been the means of keeping
all classes of the people in ferment, to
which presidential campaign in the United
States would bear but a very feeble resem-
blance for the feyerish excitement and bitter
animosity now existing between the oppo-.
nents and adherents of Tenianism. Dublin
is virtually, though not literally. in a state
Of martial law. The streets are full of SOL
diers OF all arms OF the BRUSH service, ana
the vicinity of the courts where the prisoners
are being tried for the reasonable offences
alleged is in possession of strong detachments
of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Arrest
| and imprisonment are the only weapons
which the government design to use, and the
bad example caused by the treacherous
course pursued by Pierce Nagle and his COM
peers in infamy has created distrust and sus-
picion among the warmest friends All
efforts at insurrection or resistance in any
shape against the authority Of the English
government have been rendered futileby the
thorough and vigorous preparations of the
authorities, and the disorganization caused
by the fight of the great Fenian chieftain,
james Stephens.
THE IRISH REvoLUTIoNIsTs.
The men who are implicated in the Fe-
nian movement as leaders are worthy of
little description, and having watched the
movement rather carefully from its first out
break, it will probably interest the readers
of The World if may be allowed to tell in
print what | have observed of the Fenian
leaders. james Stephens, the great impel-
ling power of the organization is peculiarly
fitted for the post which he filled up to the
time of his flight from prison. Stephens has
made revolution study, and so great hold
has never been gained by any man, since the
days Of Daniel OConnell, on the hearts of
the Irish people, as shat which is now pro-
fessed for James Stephens. Stephens studied
originally in the school of the impracticable
theorists of 1849, but for the last ten years
he has forsaken his early teachings, and
during the primal stages of the Fenian
movement he was a great advocate of French
rationalism and infdelity-rather startling
theories to be advanced and propagated
among nation of pious Catholics. During
the trial of Stephens, he was the centre
of attraction to the crowds that forced
themselves into the courts, despite the vigil
lance of the police and soldiery who have
acted throughout this emeute with an open
and avowed contempt for the Irish people
in general, and all malfeasant Fenians in
particular. Pre-eminently a man of intel
lect, Stephens is below the medium stature,
with smoothe cheeks, fair complexion, a |
fine, large auburn beard covering the lower
part Of his face, and hair of light brown col
or curling around the back of his head, the
front and top being entirely bald, showing a
large development of the intellectual and |
moral faculties, firmness being remarka- |
bly, large. The eyes are small, lively and |
restless. Stephenss temperamentis evident
ly sanguine and nervous, indicating quick |
ness of perception, energy and determina-
ton. He speaks English fuently and cor
rectly, with slight American drawl. His |
manners are gentlenranly, betraying certain |
abruptness and impatience when disturbed. !
During his trial he evinced the most COM
plete selfpossession and sang froid-a re-
contrast to the nervous irritability |
of the judges on the bench, and the veno-
nous acerbity of the Crown prosecutor |
Stephens seemed to have the most |
disgusting confidence in the right
eousness of his cause and to those who
watched the Fenian leaders face during
the trial, buoyancy and cheerfulness was
impressed upon his features, which was
accounted for by the manner of
his mysterious flight from prison. Doctor
O'Leary is handsome, elderly looking fell
low, of evident education and refinement,
who looked upon his conviction as a matter
of course under the formula of British law.
Thomas Clarke Luby is cultivated gentle
man, possessing a small landed property,
now confiscated to the Crown by reason of
his conviction of felony. Luby and O'Leary
were editors on the Irish People, the most
fiery and forcible Irish newspaper against
the system of English government in Ire
land. jeremiah ODonovan. or the ODon-
ovan Rosa, as he is called from the place
Of his nativity, is young man about twenty
eight years of age, of large frame, saturnine
features, bold-looking and selfeompetent
in his manners, with mustache and goatee,
which gave rise to the rumor that ODono-
van had served in the Federal army.
ODonovan formerly published a rev.
weekly newspaper in the
city of New York, in conjunction
with the famous Col O'Mahony, and was al
SO implicated in the Phoenix conspiracies of.
1859, in which so many ofthe young men of
Cork and its vicinity were involved. ODon-
ovan has been convicted and sentenced to a
lifelong Imprisonment of penal servitude,
after defending himself in person with the
most dogged obstinacy and contemptuous
manner toward the Mortified Judges Keogh
and Fitzgerald, who looked upon the pris-
Dner as a dangerous man who should be con-
fined in order to prevent his further action
with the Fenian organization. Charles J.
another of the Fenian prisoners,
IS native of Tipperary, about six feet in
height, long features, sallow complexion,
With an abundance of dark hair and whis-
kers, and rather n vacant look, resulting
rom the fact that he is quite deaf, the testi-
nony having to be handed to him by the
crown attorneys to read. He converses with
he aid of an ear-trumpet and is in appear
lnce very gentlemanly person, with an
earnest and truthful manner. Kickham is the
ION of Tipperary farmer in comfortable cir
and is one of the leading poets in
he revolutionary movement, having contri-
Duted under various nom dc ptatmes in the Irish
prior to the suppression of that jour
nal The London AhenGlnn criticised his
Doetical productions rather favorably short
ime ago, and all accounts convey the i'm
preston that he is man of considerable
literary ability, from the fact that his songs
If Patrick sheehaIl," The Irish Peasant
iirl," Rory of the Hill" The Shan Van
Vocht," and numerous other ballads from
lis pen are slng universally by the street.
iawkers and the peasantry throughout the
south of Ireland. Duly is a delicate look
ng youth of quiet and unobtrusive manner,
irving TO the spectator the idea of pale
who had overworked himself on
morning newspaper. Stephens and Kick
lam were always well, nay, fashionably,
lressed during the trials, in the most elegant
'roadcloth suits, and it is said that Stephens
'onverses fiuently in six languages, having
Il one time been tutor to the children of two
n three of the highest families in ireland.
IN the whole, the men Of 1866, who have
the Fenian movement, are su-
'erior, as far as practical ability goes, in
,rganizing ard welding together the contra
lictory elements of the Irish character to
he fanciful theorists Of 1873
REASONS FOR REVOLUTION.
The roaso,,r for J;saffac4;,, o,d Hen | .