Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-30
WILLIAM HEIsLEs, ESQ.
HIS VOICE is FOR WAR.
The Great Speech of His Life.

OlLN MOu1u Uc Z III o4aAAaAA . LLdAA AuoN
evening, and be addressed by Colonel W. r.
Roberts, President of the Fenian Brother
hood, and General sweeny, Secretary of
War Of ditto, availed to pack the building
from top to bottom, and hundreds, bent on
getting int the already full hall, were at
length foreibly kept below by a line of
guards. Every seat was occupied and every
inch of standing room fairly fought for and
pugnaciously maintained.
1t was advertised that the meeting would
be organized at eight o'clock, but the ire
pressibls enthusiasm of the crowd, most of
whom sat with hats on, compelled it to
commence much earlier, and on reach
hing the stage at eight o'clock we found
| that Gen. Sweeny was about concluding the
reading of his speech. His address must
have been very impassioned,. for the au-
dience were w~roughtup to white heat We
caught q prediction, momentous if true, and
a few sentences Before the sun of July
shall gid the Emerald Island with his rays,
a note of Joy will thrill the heart of our ma
tive land. Tremendous cheers.] He
pledged his name, fame, sacred honor, all,
to the work of redeeming Ireland from the
| thralldom of centuries. The cheering, as be
resumed his seat was perfectly frantic and
deafening.
Thomas Lavan, Esq, Head Centre of the
Fenian Brotherhood for the State, and Pres
ident of the meeting, then introduced Col.
W. R. Roberts, President of the Fenian
brotherhood in this country, who was re-
| ceived with the warmest expressions of ap-
| plause. While the crowd are swinging
their hats and emitting frantic, patent yells
/ of welcome, we will inform the reader that
President Roberts is a very fine looking
gentleman, of good height and pleasing hg-
urs, liquid hazel eyes, regular features,
a musical voice and q warm temperament,
and he possesses those qualities which in
sure personal popularity and 1T men for
commanding positions. Nevertheless, he
believes in Utopia, and draws largely on
fancy. We give a brief synopsis of his
speech:
After thanking them his fellow-country-
men, for their kindness, he said that he and
his friend, Gen. Sweeny, stood there not in
any individual capacity, but as representa-
tives of a principle. Our hope in the final
triumph of that principle depends upon you,
your support and persistent efforts. We
come TO make a calm, clear statement of the
condition Of affairs, the present status and
the prospects of the Fenian Brotherhood.
All who have been connected with this or
ganisation are true and honest mon. The
Fenian Brotherhood owes its existence to
the sentiment of love which is warm in all
Irish hearts for their native land. It was
the masses of the Irish people who made it,
and it is they who must and will sustain it,
and make it eventually successful. Six
wears ago it was a mere infant in the era
die. 1t was nurtured and supported, nomi-
nally, by men in New York, but really
by the masses in the great West.
Conventions were called to give
its principles currency and make
known its aims. The knowledge spread
rapidly, and the organization grew up with
equal rapidityj till, last year, il numbered
over 100000 members in the United States
That it attained to such magnitude is owing
to the fact that the enterprise was taken out
of the hands of the few and given into those
ofthe masses. All contributed freely, and
asked only that their contributions
might be rightly used. A Council
was called around the Executive in New
York, to look after the interests of the peo-
pie in the organization, and they did their
duty so well that a collision occurred be-
tween them and the Executive. He claimed
that they were there as d~ictators, but they
insisted that their Office was simply that Of
guardians of the people and their interests.
They appealed TO the people, and a congress
assembled at Philadelphia, and after several
days Of succession, bitter and disastrous as
we admit, 3 Constitution was adopted which
was modelled upon the Constitution of the
United States, with only such differences as
were inevitable. A self-controling influence
was lodged in it, and the supreme power
vested in the hands of fifteen men who were
to be elected in consideration of possessing
peculiar fitness for their positions. Senators
and Representatives were elected under it,
and q President chosen by the Senate and
House. He and they took the solemn oath
of office. Within thirty days after the
registry Of those oaths in heaven a test was
given 10 President and Senators, and while
the latter stood true to their oath, to their
country and the Constitution, the President
kicked over Congress and Constitution alike,
LHisses.l We deplore the occurrence of the
collision. But it was not fatal. Those who
asserted the collapse Of the formidable en-
terprise knew not well the feelings which
l una dl0 AAO bAO AOoAb " Vi hhO Al
people in America.
After enlarging upon the characteristic
traits of the Irish race, he stated that from
200, 600 to 800, 600 men in Ireland stood ready
for revolution. Hundreds have been known
to pawn their coats to buy rifles with.
Think of it, Irishmen, in your adopted land
How can such men, capable of such sacri-
fees, be kept forever in bondage? 1t is our
duty to unite, work together and contribute
Of our means in their aid. 1t is within your
power TO make good their claim and desire
and hope. If you will purchase rifles fol-
the arming of one hundred thousand men
who are ready to march with
General Sweeny at their head [cheersl
you can annihiIate your traditional and &C.
tual enemy. For England was never in
such a predicament before. If we do oul
duty, we shall strike q blow which mus
send her TO perdition. Immense cheers
with a tiger.1 She has not over loo, 600 meI
in arms, and not more than half this mum
Der are on British soil to-day. What could
this handful do with 100000 Irishmen
IYells.1 What would become Of her power
and positioni Ireland will yet sustain the
relations to England which England hai
sustained to Ireland for the last seven cen.
turtles. Ireland will be the master Isle anG
Irishmen have the English race as theil
slaves. Frantic yells. But l do not wish
this, / would not encourage it. We wan
liberty, and we must accord it to others.l!
We shall have allies in the very midst O
the English race, for her lower classes are
slaves to the rich. When we strike, they
will rise, throw off the yoke Of the,oppressor
and help US in the work Of wreaking ven
geance on England. She will then be sunl
lower than any nation in Europe. And NJ
one will weep. lLaughterl All will shOut
ahosannas," rather. "The harlot of nations
lie swept from the face of the earth, never
more to return I' Immense hooting1
believe that 500, 900 1rismen, led by an Irish
General, fighting for liberty, for their homes
for their native land, would be invinciblt
and gain all we wish.
But there are difficulties. He admitted
them. First, the United States government
will not help US as England helpedthe Soutl
in the late war. Second, we have no soil o
our own, on which to maintain an army
There is an Irish Republic, but it il
yet ideal, without a local habitation, though
not withouta name. 1t is absolutely neces
sary, first Of all, to possess ourselves of SOM
place, some country, whereon TO erect
government, raise q flag, build chips, issuC
letters Of marque, &C., &c. England is grea.
in marine and naval power. She could sur
round Ireland with a Gordon of ships of war
But once possessed Of q country, with sea
ports, we can send out ships to prey on hel
commerce and thus destroy her navy, and
blockade runners, bearing material Of wal
and provisions, who could effect entrance
- 49, g ~ 49, Ar.,l.AI - $500