The Portland daily press., 1866-05-12
> y" IN ~ - - -
Head Center Stephens.

Some time ago, Mr.. Whiteside, late Attor-
-ney-General of Ireland, delivered speech in
the House of Commons, of which the past ca
reer of Mr.. Stephens formed one of the prin-
cipal topics. az t5la- 5H4 t.4..
+ He said that he had first made the acauain-
lance OF Stephens in 1S4S, at the trial of
Smith OBrien, in Which he (Whiteside) act
ed at the attorney of OBrien and Measher.-
Stephens was at that time one of OBrien's
aides de- camp be was wounded, and, together
with OMahOny, pursued by the police. He
succeeded, however, in making his escape to
France, and resided for some time at Paris,
where he probably made his principal revolu-
tionary studies. At a subsequent period he
returned to Ireland, and established himself
as teacher Of the French language, in which
capacity be won the reputation of a very able
and estimable man. h3'fW .3s- 3c8I. 81 q
n In 1858 and 80, Lord Eglinton found in the
reports OF police officers traces of an extern
sive conspiracy in ireland, which, as was af-
forwards discovered, had its ramifcations in
America. A reliable Government detective
was dispatched to the United States, who
soon returned with the information that dan
gefous Revolutionary organization did really
exist here, which was in active co-operation
with similar organization in Ireland II
soon appeared that the members of the con-
spiracy had bound themselves by a secret
oath, that Stephens was the leading spirit of
the whole movement, and was continually
travelling about, administering the oath, and
enliSting recruits. The form of the oath was
also found out 1t was that the candidate for
admission TO the Brotherhood renounced his
allegiance to the Queen, that he would use
his best endeavors to make Ireland a demo-
cratic republic, that he would be ready at all
times to take up arms for that purpose, that
he would yield blind obedience to his superi-
ors, and keep secret everything concerning
the brotherhood. As early as 1859 Govern
ment detective testified that it was the set
purpose of Stephens to liberate Ireland with
the aid of the French and Americans. 4441 .
In consequence of these discoveries several
persons in Killarney were arrested, tried, and
found guilty of treason. But all these persons
were set free again, although Attorney Gen
eral Whiteside declared his opposition to so
liberal policy. Stephens fled to America,
but soon again returned to Ireland. Nothing
was heard OF him for some time, until about
ntteen months after the Killarney trials
sleas popular demonstration, with revolution
Az speeches, was made on the grave of Nc
Ir;si, IN commemoration of his efforts for
1oen stephens was heard of again>in
nrosa,,t t ao, ne was active in organizing the
p,, ,ea ooIspracy. He came to this country
IN %, ana endeavored to enlist irish Amar;,
can troops Tor the invasion of TroIonJ A. n
trial IN ireland letter came to lioht i, Witch
Stephens stated that he had travelled over
The whole country and enlisted sixty thousand
1868 and 1865 he visited America se~eraI
times, where, as Mr.. Whiteside computes two
hundred and fifty thousand men had Joined ned
the Brotherhood. Stephens then started the
revolutionary journal, The People, at Dub
lin, which he conducted for two or three
years, without, however, appearing as its chief
editor. A Government detectives, who had
watched Stephens some time, and followed
him to Cork. stated that, on one day, Stephens
had received seventy visits fiom Americans,
who had all been connected with the con-
spiracy.- zr -fr 80 80 ~ - ~,
Only IN September, 1866, the English Gov
eminent saw lit to act Ithad then become
GEAR beyond doubt that the revolutionary
that it was especially strong among the lower
classes. whom Stephens had all united for the
suoversion OF British rule in Ireland. But