Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-20
Fenianism Defended by a Member Of
ParfinmenL-

Attention has been drawn 10 the speech Of
Alderman Dillon, NJ. p, at the national as
sociation meeting in Dublin on Tuesday. 1t
is considered remarkable for the curious OBJ
servations about the Fenians and the state Of
Ireland, and the cheering they received:
81 do not think il either wise or becoming
| to indulge at the present moment in threat
ening or exciting language; but, express
conviction which Is present 10 every reflect
| ing mind in this country when / say We are
| entering on period Of great peril, Of great
trial, and, | will add Of great and beEef-
cent change; and trust that we shall show
ourselves worthy of the occasion. Cheers. .
Let it not be supposed thai desire 10 exag-
gerate the extent or importance of the con-
federacy which has been formed in this
country and the United States--l Cheers T.
to overthrow-[A voice: There Is nothing
like it Ito overthrow the government Of
Great Britain in Ireland. [Cheers. IL may
be shadow-Icries Of No, no l-butit il
the shadow Of great and mighty fact. Pro-
longed applause.l
6What statesman will fail to see under
living all these outward manifestations Of
treason and oppression, Of which the public
have grown tired2 These few pregnant facts
that a great military and naval power,
destined in all probability to become at no
distant day the greatest power on earth
| Tloud applause has sprnng suddenly into
existence within ten days sail Of the Irish
shores; [renewed applause j that those in
whose hands mainly rest the guidance and
control Of that power are now animated by
the deepest resentment against England
that this resentment is iniamed and stimu-
lated 10 activity by the presenee and iniiu-
ence of 100000 citizens Of Irish blood;
Ieheers;l and finally, that deep and wide
spread disahection pervades the population
Of at least three of the provinces CT Ireland.
ICheers When you add TO this fact, which
is now manifest-that the Emperor OF the
French cheers has made uP his mind
To Weld 10 the wishes Of the United
States in respect to Mexico, and that
the national friendship Of these two
aucieut enemies Of England will remain un-
brokeE-lIoud cheers II think youwill say
that II Is time 10 issue that Earning with
which we are all 20 familiar, that gales may
be expected from nearly opposite quarters
IProlonged cheers il seems 10 me that
the conditions Of disturbance and Of change
are here in abundance; whether it is TO be
benefcent change or not viii depend, under
Heaven, on ourselves. [Cheers- Our so
cial system, as il now stands, is not calcula-
ted to bear the impending shock-the tree
that would defy the tempest must strike its
root deep into the soil. Hear, hear. Yes,
we want change, and radical change, in this
country. Hear, hear.l Should onr peo-
pie be summoned 10 war, let us make sure
this time that they shall fght in defence Of
| homes that they can call their own cheerSl
land of Mitars freed from insult and dis
honor. loud cheers.
"We want change, but VIC want neither
Jacobinism nor anarchy, nor spQliation-we
want rather, 70 advance, with safe sna
steady steps, toward the goal we have in
view, under the guidance Of religios and
intelligence" Hear"
Afterwards the speaker remarked:
"Here il the key 10 all this Irish disaf-
fection by which some people Affect % be
so bewildered The law robs and extermi-
mates the people; the people naturally hate
and defy the law. For my part | shall
content myself with saying that such laws do
not deserve 10 b respected, and that the
perpetrators Of Aich outrages az Just de-
scribed are greater enemies Of law, peae,
and prosperity in Ireland than these heroic
though mistaken men who have been sent
10 penal servitude during the last SIX
| weeks" Cheerz.