The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-10-19

cauton IN order TO protect In Its infancy the organized poo
at home Only the trues and ardent among Irshmen
approached and from to man the work then
tended This course in country in extent Amer
ca and with people widely scattered was necessarily
slow.
During these laborous years. the Organization home
developed surely and rapidly in numbers and discipline but
material continued scant and the exchequer was low.
Publicity, which could now be dared given through the
Chicago Convention to the Fenan Brotherhood in America
in order acquire with greater facility the financial
that organization necessary conduct the revolutionary
movement at home to an issue.
In this report give to you the results of abo and
of my experience since the Sd of November 1863 it is
probable another Congress will sit during the coming No
vember trust the officers and members of the Brotherhood
in this district will turn the facts presented by me,
thoughtfuy and digest thoroughly the suggestions which
Offer Deliberaon beforehand will insure wise legislation.
In December 1863 began organize. There then
in the State of Illinois three active Circles branches
Chicago Springfield and Quincy in the State of Iowa.
Des Mones The principles of the Organization were
hen the greater part the Irish peopen the North
west
After making explanatory addresses established branches
and people in every place where stopped with
exceptions took hold of ideas and of the work with
enthusiasm For time serious obstacle impeded the pro-
gress the branches But the opposition of church.
men, fierce in Chicago extended finally throughout the
entire district Those clergymen in the Catholic Church
who had acted with in this work. and who eminent
for patriotism eloquence ability and pety gnazedas
degened priests and bad The leaders in the movement
characterized political renegades and swnders,
living uxuriously upon the money extracted from their
dupe The aim of the Organization pronounced to be
absurdy the weakness of Ireland and the strength of
England each exaggerated with view shake in Irish
their confidence in this work. The tone of the Brother
hood declared to be anti Catholic and the members who
posed to be IN great part bad Catholics and The
society," These various objections placed before the
Irish Catholic people shaped in ways strike them with
peculiar force
1t difficult labor to teach ishmen question,
upon political topics the assertion judgment pronounced
by Catholic bishop priest And again. the of
work prevented the thorough understanding of its prn
ciple The branches attacked under the dsad
vantage of being only partially educated in the Fenian faith
This condition rendered work. the part of the Organ
zer arduous and trying But there exists amongst all Irish
love of Ireland and yearning for its freedom and
they generally seemed willing to listen and to investigate
The branches intrepdly resisted the fierce assaults Of
churchmen. The charge that patriotism vitiated the
character of Irish priests hurled back the
and malicious msatemen against the officers dropped into
the mire whence they sprung; the charge of secrecy
dsproven the charge of egaity, it maintained,
could proceed only from English heart Allusion was
made Poland in revolution represented by oahbound
and nscrutab secret organization yet stimulated and blessed
by the Papacy If and revolutionary associations
tolerated in Poland why not in Ireland? Had the Catholic
abors of Poland been the ustious Werethe Polish
people, all being systematically deprived land holds Had
there perished there of starvation produced by misgove
men and of disease proceeding from famine, nearly two
millions of people? Had millions been driven into weary
exile of labor and of suffering? Had hundreds of thousands
of these millions been lostthe women to virtue the
to integrity? Had they been deprived of educatonscho
astc and industrial? Was Russia less strong than England?
Was Poland surrounded by friends? Was she in condition
to do successful war?
Alluson made to the Catholic priests who in 49, took
so decided stand with the people. If it then right to
countenance and assist attempted Irish revolution why is
it wrong now?