New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-06-04

Editor GreSceat-Your issue of 2Sth inst. con
tanned very startling article headed THE Irisl
Chief and the Irish Cause" The writer com
I menced by saying the speech of James Stephens
. was calculated to make very deep impression
= So tits but what is food for one man is poison tt
another. Fornstance, the impressionthe perusal o
this speech left upon is Just the reverse of tha
! made upon your talented contributor. Consider
ing the Palmerin of the CRESCENT has thrown dowr
the glove to all who differ in opinion | long tc
break lance with him, but alasi being stranger
in the land, poor knight errant I am in Just al
bad fix as Sir Walter Scott's Iyanhoe before
the famous tourney Of Ashby-de-la zouche, have
neither steed or eaparsons both the Times ant
Picayune refuse me a mount on the grounds Of
strict neutrality In this strait throw myself on
your generosity, and humbly request the loan Of
your war horse. Should you refuse, must throw
aside my weapon in disgust, whilst the champion
of Stephens, locked in his editorial proof prances
round the lists in easy triumph. How.
ever, convinced you will generously accede
: to my request, now set my lance in
rest close my visor, and cry havoc
l do not think the writer INDUCES in any extrav.
gance when he speaks of the misconduct,
vanity" "boastful prefIamations," ludicrous
iascos," "unseemly feuds,' ETC., etc, which has
brought the Fenian organization in America into
"public contempt" previous to the arrival of
Stephens in this country, but do think he is ex-
trayagant when he alludes to a man who has
brought and is still bringing, hundreds Of his fel.
low-countrymen to misery and ruin--a conspirator.
compared with whom Guy Fawkes was a phiIan-
throphist Wat Tyler patriot, Lord George Cor
don man of sound sense, and Law (of South
sea bubble notoriety) paragon of honesty
when, I repeat, he alludes to such man as
noble apostle, instead of ignoble impostor.
| The life of James Stephens, as published in the
g Irish People" is singularly uninterestng.
Widow MeCormiek's cabbage garden is the scene
of the most moving incident,n and the hair
breadth escapes of this dauntess hero consist of
nearly being taken up as a poacher by a Tin
perary gamekeeper" in the early part of his
astounding career" and bribing his way out of
| prison a short time back.
ASST the waive of his hand was magical all
yield in his presenee''-so says the CRESCENT.
Mahony and KiIlian yielded certainly; they wanted
him to protect them from the dreaded conse
quences of their dishonesty; but the magical
waive of the hand does not seem to be very potent
with the 0'Roberts and Sweeny faction Does it
now, candidly2 He is not common man. GER
tanly not, and neither was John Brown. Poor
John was allowed rope enough and lilies a
mouldering in his graven in consequence, but
Stephens still goes marching on, you will say. |
Well, yes must admit the British government has
not given him rope enough; however, he will soon
get to the end of his tether, depend upon it.
" key to his character, a measure to his
abilities, are to be found in the speech we pub
isl" Agreed you have drawn your deductions
and formed your opinion from this speech: so
have l. Let as compare notes. have perused
the speech carefully, and this is my impression.
Mr.. Stephens commenced by stating that in De.
eember 1857, having been hoaxed into the belief
hat an organization had been established in
America by one Colonel Micheal Doheny, since
leceased) he Stephens), volunteered to get up
conspiracy inIreland for the moderate remunera
ion of fl00 per month he sent trusted friend
who has since beenin an Irish prison" what for,
J. is careful not to state), to America with the
roposal. On the 18th Of March. 1858, on the !
trength of having received 800, Stephens com-
lenced operations, was unsuccessful, funds ran
ut, and in December of same year he went to
.merica and sponged through the States in the
haracter Of starved cut Irish patriot. As soon /
; he had fleeced his poor countrymen out of
tile money, he formally resolved himself and
eneral Corcoran into an organization and ap-
ointed James Stephens CHIEF. He then started n
gular subscription list and as soon as his friends
llled out shares,n he found them very trouble u
me. He delicately insinuated that some of these NJ
friends" were greater swindlers than himself, e
1t still he was willing to shake hands all round
ther than bust up the concern" During the 9
st six years of the organisation only El5O0 were e
ceived from America, and the conspirators in Ire lii
nd were driven back almost on their own re. m
urces (Which do not appear to have g
en- very aourishing) Stephens regretted d.
~ had ever looked to America for assistance hi
would have been much better to have started to
me than to have experienced the bitter peeu. u
ry disappointments, and to have suffered from y
shame, scandal and ridicule which the Ameri. ou
brotherhood had brought upon them. In the th
II 1868, Stephens sent chosen friend to make -
,ther attempt at raising the wind in America, th
without success. This chosen friend, who 'is in!
cribed as the truest, brightest noblest, most Or
omplished, and, better than ALL most trusting TN,
nen, 'has since been condemned to twenty years to
al seryitude, is now a felon, with a VIII
ms clothes, and very properly D at Gu
felon's work" Alas poor dnpe vii
,ording to Mr. Stephens it is very difficult TO by
e money in Ireland, but if he could only have
months tour through that country as freely I
through these States, he could raise as much was
ney as would free Ireland Now, recollect emit
having boasted on previous occasion that he driy
ID go from one end of the Emerald Isle to the Mac
er in perfect security Failing in getting
ley from America, the indefatigable schemer ~
t devoted his energies to the estahlisbent of sea
Irish People newspaper; but that did not paw and
50 he again visited the States This time he was Gl
iek he got e2O0 out of the Chicago fair ar saRs
cement The convention was held and h.di, lady,
,hens learned to his great surprise that the Sym
otherhood" in America only numbered a6a, a5as,
%, men, women and children, all told. SnrI. SilI
had been led to believe there were Nv
100000 fighting men. At this period Rer
hens made the discovery that Mahony had no al, Il
i foru, 9lleotipg money Ut has since been Issm6
yered th,S his forte is in making away with Hoasi
Stephens asserted that in ls64I hes Nv