The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-30
COLUMBIA.
Tuesday Morning, January 80, 1866.
,,,,. rscs!nn brotherhood.


not because we do not feel an interest
in the success of their operations,
but because their recent division IN
Now York has rather modified Our
opinions in relation to that success.
The reason we now allude to the
subject is, that the ''Head Centre"
James Stephens, who miraculously
escaped from one of the strongest
British prisons, has written letter
to this country, which makes new
era in diplomatic and official cores
pondence. The men who are to
'swrite the epitaph of Emmett have
no time to spare for the unmeaning,
hollow and artificial formula of cour-
tesy with which ordinary official cor
respondence has been conducted for
many centuries.
Mr.. Stephens letter to the Ameri-
can Head Centre, O'Mahoney, are
admirable specimens of the plain,
straightforward style which will pre-
vail when the magnificent enterprise
of the Brotherhood is crowned with
success. There is no circumlocution
about the official letters of Stephens.
He certainly writes with gloves off,
and hits as if he wrote with the ma
tional weapon Of Ireland. In what
striking contrast to the ordinary
common-plrces of Seward, Russell,
Adams, &C., are the following tren-
chant, vigorous, incisive sentences
from the letter of Stephens to O'NIa-
honey. They sound like the ''whack''
of the shillelah, well delivered, after
a supplemental flourish and war
dance. We make the following ex-
tract from his letter:
TO John O'dfaAoney, Esq, Representa-
tioe and Financial Agent Of the Irish
Republic IN The United States.
********* December %, 1865.
Treason and baseness in
every shape have been at work around
you, and to such effect as to have put
the cause of Ireland in serious peril.
The manhood Of Ireland reioices at it
with me, for it indicates the Justice
of their Judgment regardingel wretch,
L. y. Meehan, whose advent to this
country was an insult to our reason.
manhood and patriotism. Wishing
to work harmoniously with the F. b,
put a curb on my temper in pre-
sence of this shallow knave, and even
risked my reputation in order to set
him fairly with my friends His pro-
fessions and letter to you, (were they
sent?) together with my representa-
tions, did away with much of the
disgust and indignation stirred up by
his presence. But, even before he
left, the cloven foot was again visible
to all. He sneaked out of the coun-
try. Well, l saved his life, as so often
saved that of his kindred carrion,
Gaula. Brand him now without pity.
1t grieves me to hear that Michael
Seaman is i'll the ranks of cowardice
and treason; but, whatever I may
have once thought of him or anybody
else, the instant they prove false to
Ireland, would lash them from me
like SO many dogs. Away with all
such fools and rogues at once. If our
ranks be somewhat thinned by this
summary riddance of traitors, our
reliable strength is but increased. BY
the-way, some good men were sent
over here by Scanlan We know how
to appreciate them. But he sent over
others of SO vile kind that, at their
first interview with me, they, in con-
fidence, accused each other of rob-
berry and know not what! It may
be that such scoundrels would fight;
but, till we are actually in the field,
fellows Of this stamp would be &
standing shame and danger to us.
Thank God, they have sneaked away
some of them at the merest shadow
of danger. May they never pollute
our shores Cut and hack the rotten
branches around you without pity.
This can be done safely at your side,
because the stag is harmless there.
The accompanying document con-
fers on you in America, Canada, etc,
the absolute and unquestionable
authority of Representative and FL
nancial Agent of the Irish Republic.
With the old friendly feeling, I am
yours fraternally,
JAMES STEPHENS, c.. E.I.R.
The following is Mahoney's com
mission:
IRISH REPIJBIIc Doc 02 1861