The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-18
The COntending Hosts.


The "grand advance guard" of the OMahony
Fenians, under the generalship of the redoubt-
able Killian, are making comic history in a style
of which Gilbert A'Beckett never dreamed. A
quiet vein OF the grotesque, verging on the
ludicrous, and rising now and then to the laugh
able, was all of which that funniest of funny
historians was capable. But the Fenians and
their dispatches, as manipulated by Killian,
beat ABecketts inventions hollow. From the
far-off corner ofTMane comes an unceasng peal
of uproarious fun and folly, the only drawback
to which lies in the fraud that taints the whole
affair. --
In the first place, there was to be surprise
and easy capture of some tangible point of
British territory, TO which end General Killian
advertised in the newspapers that he was on the
road thither. So valiant hero scorned the
idea OF doing anything except in the most polite
and public manner, and therefore, he invited
the British army and navy to gather in sight of
the spot and calmly witness hrs conquest.
In the next place it was necessary to convey
to wondering world some distinct evidence of
the mighty rush OF armed Fenians to the scene
of the predicted triumph. Despatch number
one told us that thirteen stalwart Irishmen had
gone by steamer to Eastport leaving their arms
and ammunition to be conveyed by schooner
advertised to sail on the next day. Despatch
number two announced the journeyings of nine
teen more soldiers OF the same stamp, OF whose
three sgnalized the arrival of another equally
extensive band, one half of whom were said to
be general officers, deeply in love with the skill
and proves of the illustrious Killian But We
need not recapitulate too mrnutely. Each sue
ceeding day brought tidings of the same sort;
Killan gathering mighty host at the rate of a
bakers dozen daily, and plating some
prodigious deed of which the wide awake Pro-
vincials were regularly apprised beforehand,
that they might render its accomplishment I'M
possible. ..
After having thus whetted the public appetite,
and prepared all of us Tor some decisive blow,
Killian transmitted over the wires on Sunday
an intimatlon that five armed Feniansn had
captured British flag on Indian Island. Here
was something TO be proud OF. Here must have
been fighting, with vengeance. And then the
astounding Tesult-''fve armed Fenians" over
powering regiment of New Brunswickers and
carrying off the flag after performing prodigIes
astounded us. Our appetite for breakfast
vanished as we glanced along the electrifying
lines, and we were ready on the spot to do
homage TO the genius of OMahony for planning
such a campaign, and the power OF Killian for
carrying it to a triumphant issue. Further
study, however, converted our newborn admi
ration into intense disgust. For we discovered
that there was no hght-no reslstance-no cap
ture; the whole affair amounting simply to the
carrying away off revenue hag,, which had been
hoisted as thing of course, and the securing
OF which might, therefore, have been performed
as easily by one smart Yankee school-boy as by
Kilian dwells with evident pride. "Go to In
dian Island to steal flag, and then proclaim a
victory" we said to ourselves; ''why FIVE steve
dores might any day or night do the same ter
times over without leaving New York"
These mighty movements of the O'Mahonyites
however, are evidently unpalatable to the Swee
ney faction, whose glores are thus eclipsed by
the warlike Killian. Something must be done
to sustain Roberts in the Presidency and Swee
ney as the great Fenian Generassmo. Wha
shall It be? The capture of one of the Thou
sand Isles decent upon Manitoulin in LAX
Hurong ieint TO threaten Goat Island, in thu
Niagara Martial reader, be more moderate il
your exactions. Messrs. Roberts and Sweene
are going-yes, are positively going, are advei
tised TO go, and unquestonably will go-to
public meeting to be held in this CITY thi
evening That is all. They don't intend L
march to the battlefield until the Feniap bond
have been sold, and when none of these are left
there will be no reason for fighting.
Just now, the odds are in favor of 0Mahou
and Killian and their bonds, as against Robert
and Sweeney and their bonds. The people az
tired of talk, and demand decisive action. Ha
inc carried off an unprotected, uhdetended fla
Killian is at least a league ahead of his rival
Roberts and Sweeney must talk lightning t
night If they would overtake him.