The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-05-31
TEE HIsToRY OF THE FENIANS.

The formal reception of James Stephens, the
Head-Centre of the Fenian Brotherhoods took place
at Jones' Wood, New York. On that occasion he
made speech, in which he disclosed the historical
facts of the movement of which he is the present
chief 1t originated in this country, WITH Col.
oMahony and Col Doheny as principal organizers
IN the year 1857. In Decembe. of that year they
sent an ambassador to Ireland, who then conferred
With Stephens, ard he became the chief in the
home branch Of the enterprise. For means, he
relied upon the friends in this country These
were not promptly furnished, and he made two
several visits to America in the premises and final
ly became the chief director OF the enterprise az
home and abroad, giving several months 10 organ
i1e In this country, and in arranging detans lor
tfuture operations. Going back to Ireland IN 1905
30 consummate the enterprise, he proceeded Vigor
ously and enrolled large army But his men
were unsupplied with arms and munitions. They
looked to this country for these. Instead OF fur
nishing them, discords sprang up and factions
rrew in the ranks Of the Brotherhood on this side
In tho meantime the British Government took the
alarm ard began to make arrests This comphca-
ted affairs, and retarded their progress But the
Nesd-Centre said he did not come to blame, but TO
unite and harmonize the intestine troubles OF the
Brotherhood.
Such is the outline Of the Fsnian history-with-
ont details numerous and interesting for which We
have not space. The general reader will be moro
Interested in the condition of affairs in Ireland at
che present time, and this we give in the ordD OF
Mr.. Stephens, as reported, as follows:
saI can ten you now that the organization in Ire
lard to-day is stronger than it ever has been IN
numbers, discipline, and in all the requirements OF
an army, save only in war material The organi-
aation in ireland toward the close Of last year num-
bered two hundred thousand men, and of that force
afy thousand were thoroughly drilled, with large
proportion of mon VINO had seen war and smeit
powder on the battlefield large proportion OF
veterans, in short fifty thousand were partly drilled
men, and the other hundred thousand quite IN
drilled. But if there bea man among you VINO
thinks that fifty thousand Irishmen thoroughly
drilled, with fifty thousand others partly drilled
yonld not make force sufficient to meet anything
that England could bring against us, then indeed
ho is uofully ignorant of the resources of England
what army could be brought against Ireland by
Englands What is the military force of England
ct presents There are some twenty thousand En-
siish troops in Ireland at present, and it would
tske England from thirty to forty days to ooncen-
trste a force of thirty to forty thousand men in
ireland. It would take her three months at least
to concentrate force of seventy thousand, and it
is not likely she would ever be able 10 concentrate
o larger force OF our force we could concentrate
in Ireland at four or five given points, one hundred
thousand men in twenty-four hours. AL we want
cd in Ireland from the middle of September to the
end of December, was arms to put into the hands
Of our. men. The men we're there, and only wanted
the arms. But, in the very hour of our strength,
there came to Ireland the melancholy news ofyour
disruption here Still We held on. We did not
think possible that any body men on this con-
tinent could be found that would withhold from
ireland in that supreme hour of her need the sue
cor they had promised to give"