The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-10-16


pursuant to call, an imususe and enthusiastic
Fenian meeting was held at Odd Fellows Hall.
Ths meeting was called 10 order by NJ. Jas.
Ryan, District Centre, who nominated Gsnernl
John 0'Nsill for ohsirmsn. aud John II Green,
SECRETARY. '..... CO..
General o'Nsifl, on taking the chair, said tina,
he observed . small paragraph In city pspsr
which stated that there was some misun derstand.
ing about the holding Of the present meeting,
asserting that II would not be held. This pub.
lication, he said, was contemplate, as there wal
no Misunderstanding, IS the very large attend.
anoe sttested, and that those who composed the
meeting were true Irishmen, and united on the
point to serve their native land, and cause the
green flag to wave over every hill top Of old
ireland.
The speaker said he wished another flag waved
alongside Of the Erin banner suspended on the
speakers stand, which was the American Gag;
but IL was not here tonight, by some unaccount.
able oversight. He wanted TO sec the American
banner wave alongside Of the green on every &C..
casion, as the American people were In full SYN.
patty with the down.troddsn people Of ireland,
who have been held 10 bondage for seven hun
dred years.
In defence Of his position, Gen. 0'Nsill said II
Fenianism meant anything, II was q love Of
1relsndi and he hoped to love II until the hour
Of bis death. He had been renian for two
years, and would have been one before that timej
but others, like himself thought no good could
arise from the characterization then made.
He wished to be distinctly Understood that
those who accompanied him to Canals, many Of
whom shed their blood on that occasion, would
have went to any part CT the world to save Ire
land. lie had nothing to say against thoss who
revolted 10 Ireland, for he believed they thought
themselves oonscientiousy right In so doing; but
he Joined the Feuians and went to Canada be-
cause he thought II safe to attack the enemy
three thousand miles away. He had only been
q member three months when he heard Of split
In the ranks, and he she'd tears to think Of dis.
cord entering tho organisation, and before he
took sides with either faction, he made up his
mind to End out who were right.
After fully satisfying his mind, he went with
the Roberts party, as he deemed II the only one
that could successfully lead In the liberation Of
Ireland He had eight years experience as q
soldier, both theoretically and practically, and
he beloved Canada the vulnerable point to at
tack. There were three causes why the expedi-
tion to Canada failed. First, division and dis.
union among Irishmen; second, the interference
Of the United States Government; and third, be-
cause the people throughout the United States
had no faith In tho movement. Al that time
800 men crossed at Buffalo but had there been
|, 200, the speaker said, the Queens Own and all
the other troops the Canadians could have
brought against them would not have driven
them back, and in Ave days the Fenian army
would have swolied to 10, 900. With 10, 900 mon
on Canadian soil, Q position would have been
gained which would have guaranteed q large
Fenian army
He spoke OF the dispo ition Of the United
States soldiers to join the Fenisns had the Uni.
ted States Government sent troops to suppress
them. Then, 100, 900 men, disciplined soldiers
would soon have composed the grand army of Ire.
land, and %, 000or 80, 900 men could have reached
from one end OF Canada to tho other. England,
he said, would fight for Canada. for, by losing
It, she would DO q third.rate, instead of a first.
rate Power, and with her troops In Canada, tho
Irishmen at home could take care Of themselves;
and by holding Canada 1t would DO q rendezvous
TO raise and equip 4 large army. He said the
object Of the present meeting was TO reorganize
the Fenian brotherhood in thi, District, as tho
Roberts organization Is disorgauizsd, and he
hoped no wrangling or dissension would again
arise, as nothing could be gained for Ireland
without unity.
John Savage says wc must strike the enemy
In ireland; but he was prepared to strike them
wherever no could. Therefore, he did not agree
with Mr. Savage. without he proved to him
(the speaker that he was wrong In his views
He wanted an army to be ready, whether next
spring or earlier, to strike for Ireland and lib.
erty, and hoped all would come forward and join
the order.
At the conclusion of Gen. oNeill's remarks,
three rousing cheers were giyou for Col. Kolly's
rescue in Manchester, England.
Col. p. =. Walsh, late Of the 84th Pennsylya-
mia regiment, was then introduced and made an
eloquent address, saying that the Feuians should
never rest satisfied until the green nag Of Erin
hoated as an emblem Of freedom over ireland
Ten years ago he offered himself to ireland, to
fight for her liberty but notwithstanding the
delays since then, no hal never despaired Of the
time whom he would BIO able to strike blow for
his country's rights. When he heard OF Colonel
Neill's being in Canada, he was 10 Sonora, and
before the sun went down on the day Of the re
ception Of the news, he sent 800, 900 10 Colonel
0'Neill, to keep the green Gag floating across
the waters.
Tho dark clouds, he said. that have hung over
the organization have broken, and the bright
sun again shines forth The speaker said that
Ireland had more trained soldiers now than ever
before in her history. He appealed to those
freedom to America to volunteer again and strike
a blow for their country's liberty. He said the
Fenian cause had the advantage Of the sympathy
Of q country that could commsnd respect from
England-America. England feared Fenianism,
and said that she dare not now resent an insult
from the most petty monarchy, as she knows II
she struck blow the Fenians would be at her
back. An organization mat makes EnBiknu
,hudder, and suspend her writ Of habeas corpus,
md throw her citizens in dungeon, Is not to
DO sneezed at, and Irishmen to-day are more re-
,pected than before the birth Of Fenianism
America Is lending her assistance to civilization,
and Is anxious to have republics such as hers on
.he borders, and Irishmon should seize the pres
mt occasion to secure her fayors. In oonclu-
lion, he said, II all would act as General O'Neill
,ad acted victory would perch upon the Fenian
banner.
Mr.. John II. Green and others made addresses,
liter which the meeting adjourned.
PRIzE FIGuTs.-Tho New York Express Of the
L4th says:
Joe COburn, the present puglistic champion
# the United States, had agreed to meet Nc
Joole, who lately defeated Aaron Jones, for
BIO, 900, and this morning Mr., Coburn was off.
tally notified that Mr.. McCools would accept
lis offer, and had already forwarded 81, 900 as .
leposit. This fully COOS to show what the friends
# Mr. McCoole long contendsd-that he meant
business when he said he would fight any man In
no country, and all Mr.. Coburn can now do Is
o put up and meet his old antagonist In the |
ing again That Mr.. Coburn will do this there |
s not a shadow Of a doubt, and this week will |
Ind both men matched for the championship. |
Tho announcement that MeCoole had agreed to |
meet Coburn again has created no little excite.
nsnt among the sports Of the ring in this city, |
md there Is considerable comment over the re.
ult. They all acknowledge Coburn q thorough |
lighter but there are many in doubt as to |