Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-12-19
HEAD oENrER STEPHENS.

It is not at all improbable but that
James Stephens, the present acknowl-
edged leader in the Irish emancipation
project, may rank before q great while
among the progressives Of Europe, with
Garibaldi and Bismarck. He may even
become greater in position than either
of those eminent characters, by assum-
ing the functions of the chief depart
ment of an independent government.
Already he is is admitted to be q re-
markable parsonage, and every day de-
velops some new quality which strength
ems the belief that his revolutionary
plans are wisely matured and that. his
resolution and brain are equal to the
contest. Mr.. Stephens possesses be-
yond doubt the cardinal qualities neces-
sary to a great leader. He has decision
and that peculiar attractiveness which
wins and holds the confidence and re-
spect Of the masses. By some means,
which can only be attributed to these
influences, he escaped without trouble
from an English prison, and was able
afterwards to travel without disguise
into France, and finally to embark in
open day, and without any attempt at
| concealment, in a steamer in a British
port for America. Arriving here, he
found the Fenian organization in a de-
moralized state, and its principal mem
bers divided in their plans.
Funds, literally supplied for the re-
demption of Ireland, had been squan-
dered in vain and useless extravagan-
cies, and the ardent friends Of the cause
were Responding and even disguised at
the violation Of pledges and the exhibit
! tioa of weaknesses. A blow had been
| struck at England through C~anada-at
the wrong point, as the Head Centor
| boldly northumberland for the moment,
;wo parties, with the same object in
view, threatened disaster to the enter
Prise by a fierce opposition to each
cther. 1t required u man Of more than
ordinary powers to restore confidence,
heal dissintions, rekindle the fires OF
patriotic fervor and direct attention to
the proper point Of attack. Mr.. Ste
phens was equal to the occasion, and
when he left u shores-if, indeed, he
has taken his departure-he was the &C
knowledged leader everywhere with the
American Celt, and the Washington o.
his revolutionary movement. The last
we heard of Mr.. Stephens was some two
or three weeks ago-probably less-a'
a meeting held by the Fenians in the
city Of New York. On that occasion
as on previous occasions, he openly de-
clared that Ireland would be in arms
before the close Of the year, and that hi
would be there to take part in the strug'
gle. -.
Suddenly he disappeared. Where il
he? The ocean telegraph conveyed his
remarks to the official car Of the English
Government without delay, and doubt
less at every seaport in the United King
dom detectives are watching his arriva
with the keenest vigilance. Can it bt
possible that, with the means Of instan'
taneous communication between the two
continents, the Head Center had the
temerity to embark in a regular lint
ship, or even in a commercial vessel
Or is it more likely that he has employed
some little Cred White-and-B Blue" zach
and from q rocky inlet on our coas'
means TO land in a similar out-of-the
way place on the Emerald Isle? Tit
latest dispatches by the cable give US Il
understand that James Stephens ha'
already reached Ireland. If this b
true, he has had a remarkable voyage
and has escaped detection in some re
markable manner. But the Head Cen
ter is a remarkable man. st. Loui
Democrat, Nop. 28h.