The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-05-04
SPECIAL CoRRESPoN DEN CE.
Procrastinating Patriots,
WAITING TILL THE TIME COMES"

Fenianism IN It's onward course has had to encounter
and overcome many serious obstacle to Its progress;
yet there is stumbling block in its path that 1t has
still to throw aside. There millions of the Irish
people in the United States who by their criminal pas
siveness render the of the Fenian Organization
comparatively powerless. These the men who
adopt waiting for the wagon" kind of patriotism,
and who if the wagon does not come, will not
not make up their minds to walk 1t has been our fate
TO be constantly brought in contact with lrishmen Of
this stamp--men who would fly in rage to
assert that they untrue to their Nationality, but
who content their minds and soohe their patriotic
sciences by "drowning the shamrock Patrcks
morning by indulgng in fierce songs about the Sum-
burst" the Saxon" and so forth. While the faithful
few have been toiing and begging and sacrificing for
the old sacred cause this class of persons have been
phosophically looking on-frst to claim the honors if
anything accomplished and first to condemn should
disaster befall the struggle Look for moment at the
many millions of the Irish people in these United States;
and then look at the astonshingly few of them that
have in reality done anything towards the propagation
of this last Irish National movement which has
universal notorety. If the truth must be told the
Fenian Brotherhood hitherto has been but the orlon
hope of the Irish this continent. The grand
divisions have lain idly in reserve and only rush up
when the devoted pioneers overwhelmed, and com.
PEELED to yield the vantage ground their valor nobly
won. Were onefourth of the Irishmen of America
active Fenians the fate of the British Empire would be
sealed and the unhappy destiny of ireland reversed
messed hundreds of Fenian ward meetngs-have heard
Irish cheers ring out from such gatherings if all
those present meant to lend their aid but when the test
was put when the musterroll was called, how sadly
have we been disappointed. Where thousands APP.
plauded only hundreds backed their cheers by aoork-
the others either skunk away hurled their at
those of nobler mould than themselves. There is no
man who has addressed Irish audience on this
subject but verify our assertion. Evidently the
world at large Jour enemies ncuded has given the Irish
people credit tor more generous patriotism; but
can sorrowfuly bear witness that this much-taked-of
Fenian Brotherhood has had no bterer foes-no more
jealous opposonsts-than of Irish birth and blood
Some of them carrying with them from Ireland the alb.
surd cowardy, and slavish political teachings of the
Irish agtators others of them dosed and drugged by
the anti,Insh teachings of the proEnglish Catholic
prelates others of them possessed of stupid belief
the nvincibity of the British power and the hopeless
weakness of Ireland; and finally, many who i'll the
strife of American pocs-in the scramble for power
and place-or in the dazzling sunshine of prosperity,
have forgotten that they Irish at ALL and if they
have not would wish others to forget it. All these
classes have been greater allies of England than have
been her own strong legions. From their lukewarm.
ness English tyranny derives its strength and poor Ire
land receives her heaviest Affections. Who they
that up to the present have kept the old flag above the
earth? Not the Irish merchant with few noble ex-
ceptons,) not the Irish landowners; not the Irish law
yers and politicians Who then? The humble but
highsoued mechanic and less generally the Irish Ia
borer Thus by the devotion of the minority of the
poorer classes of the Irish exles has the Irish cause
been fostered in these late dark years. Their more
wealthy countrymen were either too respectable" to
associate with them too " religious" to hate England
too misery cowardly to give their money or ex.
pose their lives in the strife for Irish Independence 1t
is hard to write such words but has not sad experience
taught us their truthfuness? And now that this i'm.
pending struggle involves the National honor of all
Irshmen will the future have to record the story of the
past2 Will the men who so eager for the Fenians
to I" do something" do something themselves? Can
Fenians any more than other mortas, perform that