Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-08-29
Gen, O'NeiII'S Speech,

Below are the remarks of this distinguished Fe-
MAN leader at the great Pic Mic of the Order at
Chicago, some time ago. An immense throng was
on the ground, the utmost enthusiasm prevailing.
All the speeches expressed Union sentiments and
we are glad TO chronicle the fact that the Fenian
Organization as a mass will stand to and heartily
support the rallying cry of the country "The Union
men, who preserved republican institutions, have
the right to and must control the government they
fought for and saved
General ONeili, the hero of Fort Erie and Lime
stone Ridge, then introduced 10 the audience
and said that he did not know why he should be
called on TO speak except because his countrymen
thought that, as he was brave enough TO 90 to Can
ada he would be bold enough to stand up before
them and make a speech. He had seen bullets and
he would rather face them than address them; he
was not speech-maker. He thought that was an
Irish fault. They did that too much and acted too
little And TO do after listening to the eloquent
and beautiful discourses they had heard, would be
presumption.
The cause Of Fenianism was a great and glorious
one. 1t must be So when the Governor of the State
Gen. Logan, and Speaker Colfax bad expressed
their sympathy with the order. The cause which
those men were willing 10 advocate was that Of hui
man liberty for all men. black and white, who had
been made after the image Of God. He was him.
self willing TO lay down his life at any time 30
cure the victory Of those principles.
He knew abolitionsm was not popular theme
with his countrymen because il had been denounced
10y party who would deceive and sell them, and
traffic in their aud patriotism, but yet would
not aid the men who struck for Irish independence.
But it was beginning 10 be popular even among his
own countrymen, and a trcacherous party would
hold them bound TO them no longer.
Here some of the audience began 10 express sur
prise st the juvenile appearance of the General
who replied that he was not old, and that he hoped
before he was old that ireland would become free,
A. a., Hlo, l.,f ,1.sAp l,0l I'D
dressed them she must. That those speakers were
honest in what they said he had no doubt.
What others, and among them the President, had
said of their friendship TO the Irish false He
had broken his pledges TO them. The speaker 5
friends at Nashville had urged him not TO aSSall the
President, claiming that he was friend 10 the Fee
mans; but though he had never before voted, he
intended hereafter 80 vote for the party and the
men who, by their deeds and not words, had shown
their sympathy for the Irishmen. They had been
deceived often enough.
President johnson had canvassed Tennessee
against the Know Nothngs, but that il was merely
10 become Governor. He did not love Irishmen-
OF late that man construed the neutrality laws in
such manner 20 ruin their hopes, while if he
had given them fair chance they must have been
successful. Many men did not believe they could
have Put 10000 soldiers in Canada, but if it had
not been for the great vigilance of the President
and his subordinates, 100000 men would have been
there and they would in month have held every
fortified position in Canada.
Those Democrats who had pretended to be their
lifelong friends had betrayed them. He believed
President johnson would turn him lthe speaker
over TO the British if he dared, but the American
people would not permit it. Their pretended friend
had sold him, but he trusted they would be disap.
pointed no longer, and while he did not intend Il
become politician he was going for the party that
would assist them, and he hoped that every Irish
man there would do the same.
They had been deceived and cajoled long enough
But that Democratic party had showed that when
the Irish were prepared to strike of their chains
they would not allow it. fearing that they might
lose something thereby. At the time when the free
dom Of their land was within their grasp it was
snatched from them by the President and his as
SOcstes.
Their army was not purely Irish one. Hun
dreds and thousands of Americans who had fought
North and South, were ready TO Join in striking a
blow for Ireland Many officers were ready to &c
with them bnt the President had by his great spec
diness stopped that. He was probably afraid to let
the Irish 90 Canada lest they would not be pres
sent 10 vote the Democratic ticket
Had those men been allowed 10 stay IN Canada
the English would have been on their knees to the
Fenians With Canada they could have fitted out
T,rivateers destroyed English commerce. and before
tzo wears have brought her on her knees. 1t wa.
his opinion they could have liberated Ireland with
out striking blow there.