The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-01-04
THE FEEIANS.
Address Of the Senate CT the Fenian
Brotherhood to the irish Nhtionalists
Of America.

brotherhood TO the Irish NationallSts
Of America.
SENATE CHAMBER, z. B. NEW-YoRK,
December Is, 1861
BROTHERS: To you who are engaged
| with us in the work of regaining for Ireland
her lost independence, and to those who
sympathize with you in that work, We would
address few earnest words.
| Standing, as we do, upon the threshold
of the struggle which will place cur beloved
land IN its rightful position among the free
| natloHseof the world. we may we'll pause,
and, looking back upon the path that led us
hlther, gather from the past lessons of ex-
perience to guide and new energy to sup
port US in the future.
Through long years of patient toil-un-
discouraged by the peEfdy of some and the
weakness Of othe.s in whom we trusted, IN
dismayed by the clarror and hubbub of
doubt. falsehood aud denunciation that en-
compassed us on every side-anmated and
supported by the divine hope that is born
of patriotism, and knowing the integrity of
our motives and our acts, our organization
has struggled onward until, with the bless
ing of God, We have conquered opposition
that would have utterly destroyed an insin-
cere and unholy cause, aud have built up
an organization of Irishmen that by its
strength, unanimity and purity, is wonder
and dread to the eneieies Of Ireland, and
source of intensest joy and loftiest hope to
her friends; we have united, tor the first
time, the Irish race into one grand move
ment looking toward national life, and de-
veloped in them loft.er ambition than
their enemies would have the world believe
them capable of.
Vat fhor liz,
ization has done. Sick of shams and prom
ises made to be broken, we resolved on ac-
tion as proof of sincerity. Seven months
ago. to waiting and resolute hearts came the
swift command The hour has come! Up
for Ireland and liberty? Help you who love
the dear old land and the honor of your
fag!" The whisper flew like living fire
from State to State; the dark woods Of
Maine re-echoed the startling appeal it
was heard over the roar of Niagara; it
thrilled true hearts in the golden wilderness
of California, across the broad plains of the
West. along the banks ef the great rivers,
by the shores OF the inland seas, amid the
| odorous groves Of the South, the joyful ap-
peal sped on: Arise, Irishnen, and fight
for your native land |"
Then SO, 900 lovers of freedom and haters
of oppression arose in the strength and flush
of their love and hate, and girded up their
| lolns for the deadly struggle. Then the
heartloved standard of green and gold was
flung to every breeze, aud every road lead,
! s1e, soss..tu the foe was crowded with bronzed
and stalwart soldiers who, or many hotly
contested battle-f field in their adopted land,
has proved themselves fit to fight for the
freedom of their own.
But when hope had nearly reached real
ization it was dashed to earth You know
the sad history of that period. Checked
from an unexpected quarter, by those our
gratitude forbade Us to resist, We were
forced TO withdraw, bafhed but not despair
ing. indignant yet orderly, to prepare anoth-
er and mightier effort
But we did not withdraw before we gave
the world assurance O. what We would have
done if permitted to proceed A few han-
/ dreds OF men, under he lead of one whose
historic name has flashed and Numbered or
many battle-6 field for Irish liberty. affected
Judgement on British ieil. Without the
artillery supplies and re endorsements we
were forbidden to send them, they main
tanned their position for four successive days.
,! Their hated enemy bore down upon them
with five times their numbers, vindietiye
and exulting. But the little band OF heroes
thirst lor vengeance ce-engendered bv the
recollection of centuries of British injustice
swept them away like chaff, and won the
first victory for Irish liberty--a victory that
all lrishmcn have cause to Be proud of, for
1t was won over British foe, on British
soil, by Irish soldiers, led by an Irish Gen
eral, under the Irish flag, and for Irish in
dependence. That victory proved a once
the sincerity OF our purpose, and the ability
OF onr organization to accomplish the work
we have undertaken. 1t awakened feelings
before dormant in the breasts OF Irishmen
and the failure OF the movement, instead of
being disastrous contained the germs Of our
ultimate success.
And, once again, brothers-we swear it
to you by the bitter memory of Ireland
woes; by the gibbets heavy with the mar
tyred bodies of her patriots: by the blood of
| the braves who fell at Limestone Ridge; by
the hopes of our kinsmen, waiting in felon
cells, for the roar of the strife that will set
them free-that once again, if you but do
your duty to your native land, We will fol-
low the gleam of our uneon1uered standard
to vengeance, victory, and liberty.
Now. selfreliant, believing from our souls
IN the sanctity and justice of our cause,
united and fearless, we have come to the
: threshold OF renewed effort, more resolute
to Carry out cur plans, more confident Of
success, more experienced and better pre-
pared than ever before. And, brothers, in
the sacred name of God, who knows the
wrongs of our people have endured and the
purity OF our purposes, we exhort and en-
treat you to sleepless activity, to extraordi-
nary efforts and sacrifices to make our COM
Ing struggle overwhelmingly and irresistbly
successful.
You have it in your power to do this
You are in these United States 5000, 600
OF people. You have brains to plan and
hands to execute. You have the soldiers
to light, and the means to maintain them In
the field. You are nearly twice as strong,
IN men and money, as were the people OF
this Nepublic when they determined to
throw off the tyranny of the same power
that has destroyed the liberties of your
country; they succeeded, and why cannot
you? Are you not Of the same race with
those whose deeds. in the strife of freedom
in the past, made the pulses of the world
throb with enthusiasm? Have you not the
same blood in your veins that Emmet shed
- - L. \ n