The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-05-04

State prisoners iD As, and who ia looked
upon as one of The ab!e,t lawyers and
jurists in the British empire, in putting
putting question to the Government
relative to Stephens escape, had 10
acknowledge The greatness Of the man as
a conspiraior, and how lie had bsfled and
fooled tho English authorities and gov
eminent. Mr.. Whi,eside in the course
Of his speech said
1t ia not nv intention, in dealing with
the rircumstaE ces to which | am about to
ieier, to enter into any details with respect
to tie causes Of the late Fenan conspiracy,
which has done so much to distract the
affairs Of Ireland. The notice which |
have given relates to Mr.. Stephens, and
the first question which arises is, who is
Mr. Stephens? | became acquainted with
him laughter but not personally,
during the trial of the late Mr. S. O'Brien,
in 1913. | was engaged for Mr. Smith
O'Brien aud Gen. Meagher. When first
heard Of Mr. Stephens, be was aid-de-camp,
or'ofoJ " WI tiilltu " DTle!l, dbu
together with Mr. O'Mahony, he got into
conflict With the police, that Mr.. Stephens
was wounded, and that then, with his
accustomed dex,erity be managed to quit
Ireland, and fixed bis residence with
O'Mahony at Paris. There, | am informed,
he studied French and other revolutionary
accomplishments ughter)-and every
thing which gentleman undertaking SO
serious matter as the overthrow of the
iri>h government, ought 10 acquain, him
self with prior to embal king in SO perous
and desperate an effort. (Hear, hear.
lie afterwards returned, and was intro
duced to many respectable families as a
teacher Of the French language, and |
have heard that be was very much es-
.eemed and admired for his qualifications.
Towards the year 1859 a conservative
government was in power, and then Lord
Eglington, from his habit of reading tie
police and magisterial reports, perceived
plainly the peril of conspiracy 10 ireland;
alter some time 1t was found to be con>
uected with persons in America. The
member for Cockeru outh (Lord Nais) re-
COMMENDED that faithful man should be
despatched % America, to disco, err whether
there was any reality in the truth of the
statement that the conspiracy had a con-
nec,ion with persons in that country, and
the man returned and reported that it had,
and that In bis alignment there was dan
eerous coniederacy in America in con-
lection with the movement in Ireland.
After a time it was discovered that
Stephens was the person who organized
this second conspiracy in the year 1858,
and after full inquiry l.y the Government
Of that day, and in the case Cor the Crow q
prepared by most efficient officer (Sir
Matthew Barrngton,) the following facts,
which were afterwards proved in evidence,
were stated
1t farther appears that the members of this
reasonable cOnfederacy have bound themselves
by oath to carry out their designs; but no trace
ofpasswords or secret signs has been discovered
The earliest fact which has been ascertaincd
appears to be that person named Stephens.
and who was implicated in the insurrectionary
movement Of i84S, was in this country last
Summer, and that he traversed the localities
mentioned. organizing this society, and giving
to certain persons the form of oath which they
were to administer to others forth purpose of
extending the operations Of the society.
do no: make any charge of motives
against the right hon, gentleman the Sec.
rotary of Safe for the colonies, Ny be-
lief ii that be failed TO comprehend the
character Ct these men. The right hon.
gentleman Is amiable and courteous, &C
customed to live among plausible poll
tlcIans- (iaug land could not com>
prehend The character Of Mr.. Stephens
lie Is daring Ievolutionist and enthuSi-
aStlc republican, and the right honorable
gentieman was no more able to deal with
such a man than a child would have been
(Laughter) We Gid not hear ANYTHING of
Stephens fer some little time afterwards
hn. after the right bon. gentleman had
been the Minister for Ireland for abou.
fifteen months grand demonstration as
got up in honor Ct the memory Of
McNaEus, who was described as having
rlsked his life for his country. That pro-
ces>lon did take place No prayers were
said; but they did not want prayer said /;
What they waited was revolutionary
speeches, aud these were delivered at the
place of lDternent. The next thing we
hear OF Mr. Stephens was the formation of
the present conspiracy, which dates from
1888. Ia America, its later develo pmeDt,
| rather think, began in 1868. Stephens
was there. lie must certainly be a man
of considerable ability, because he in
tluences the masses with more success and
secresy than any man who has been in
Ireland since Wolf Tone. But it does
also appear that by means Of passes he got
access to the troops. Then we have an
account Of what lie did in Ireland. A
remarkable paper was produced at one Of
the TRIALS in Ireland, which gave des
crip'ion Of Stephens, from bis own lite
1t said Il cined at the tables Of the
rich; | slept in the cabins of the poor
traversed the country from end to end y
| wish could say | disbelieved him when
he adds: IL enlisted, that is, brought
into the Fenian conspiracy. about 6O,00O
men" lie accomplished that in about
two years, from 1868 to 1868. lie paid
several visits to America. lie organized
conspiracy there, said to consist OF $50
GEO nen; and then lie founded liz Dublin
what the honorable member for Kilkenny
so well described as the revolutionary