Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-26

FENIAx NESTING AT THE Masonic HALL
SPEECH or Mr.. JANIS BRESNAN.-At an earl
hour last evening the Masonic Hall was crowded b
the Fenians and those sPmpathizing with them
After several pieces of music. Mr.. Patrick Doyl
introduced Mr.. Brennan, the General Organize
Of the Fenian Brotherhood, with some very AZ
propriate remarks. Mr.. Brennan said the objec
Of the meeting was to speak upon certain ques
ton. and that was Could Ireland be redeemed
aud by what means2 That she should be fire.
and independent nation was beyond a doubt, ans
all who loved republican liberty thought 50
That revolution was inherent none would denv
and that this right should be exercised when al
appeals for redress ofgroyances failed TO be hear
10y those oppressed.
ireland stood in this attitude. She hadlbeenlOp-
pressed by England for years. and had sought re-
dress for her wrongs by petitions, but. so far had
failed in having her pleadings needed; and now
she was determined to exercise her right-the righ
Of REVOLUTIONARY called upon all who loved and
appreciated liberty to come 10 her assistance
But the armies Of England were in the way; these
must be removed; they stood between Ireland
and freedom. An organization had been in eX-
istenee for eight years having for its purpose the
Liberation Of Ireland and to this end every effort
was now being made to get an army in the field
and means to support it, This was necessary
from the fact that the English army could only
be defeated by a well disciplined soldiery
To equip the army and prepare it for such ac-
ton, money was required. that was indispensable.
The organization Of the Irish people was the mo-
tive that prompted the Fenian movement and
that it was the only method by which they could
be prepared for the struggle. The people Of Ire
land had done their duty nobly. while those in
America had failed to do theirs. The wealthy
Irish in America had contributed nothing to the
cause as a general thing: that the main support
had come from the working or laboring cl ass. All
must support the cause in America. Should the
cause fail in America, it was failure in ireland.
In 1867 the despots Of Europe rejoiced at
what they deemed the death of the spirit of
revolution in the breasts of the Irish people,
but the Fenian Brotherhood had dispelled this
delusion.
The people in ireland were ready for revolution,
and all they needed to insure success was aid from
America, and this they must have, and that at
once. And this aid should consist in making war
on England here and not in ireland.
Can we do this2 Taking the condition of the
finances of the Republic into consideration, we
CdhAolf uuteH0 hldleIldi - luTulshcd 1T Oiicc 70
supply this deficiency. With this means we shall
be able to secure basis Of operations which
alone can guarantee success The Irish people
have no lands that they claim their own. but
they will have territory in less than a week
that soon the green flag would float in triumph
over soil that they could claim AS their own.
lie stated further that some doubted the right
Of the Irish making an attack upon Canada, but
those objections did not amount to anything. lie
said that he had no respect for the man who said
that the Fenians had no such rights. All that he
wanted was for the United States to take neutral
grounds and leave the fight to them Cthe Fenians)
and England. and that with such protection they
could make a conquest of Canada and sweep
English commerce from the seas.
The Fenian organization replete with tn {
abest Of Generals-GeneTals who had seen years
of service in the field, and in whose views coursed
Irish blood. Bat 10 weaken England was the OBJ
joct To do this, such influences must be brought
bear, a. will induce the Irish who are in
the employ of the English Government to desert
her This done. and two-third of her support is
taken away and she will fall an easy prey. In
the great battle Of Waterloo hree-f Ourths Of the
English army were Irshmcn.
The cause Of the bondage of the Irish people
was to be found among the people themselves-
discussions and factions having always prevented
any concert Of action when opportunity
offered for them to cripple their oppressors.
These factions had been in great measure dis
sipated by the union Of the Catholic and Protes
tant churches in Ireland, and the Catholic and
Protestant would soon go forth to battle together
to fight for Irish independence.
He closed his remarks by saying that there WAS
every cause for hope Of success and all that they
had to do TO realize the freedom of their oppress-
ed countrymen, and the establishment Of the Re-
public, was to do their duty. Troops were now
moving. some having already left Nashville and
other points for the scene Of action.
At the conclusion Of his address, he notified the
audience that those who sympathized with the
Fenian cause could have an opportunity Of ex-
pressing that sympathy by purchasing bonds
which he had with him. Several hundred dol
lars worth were purchased. Mr.. Mccormack sub
scribed 800.
Speeches were delivered by Col. 0'Neil and
Others. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed
throughout the entire meeting. Mr. Brennan was
cheered repeatedly during the delivery of his
address.