The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-06-01
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
The Vitality of Fenianism.


From the Chronicle-new London Paper.
False appropriations of the character, origin, and aims of
what known Fenanism have betrayed most OF our
public writers into the utterance of false propheses The
forces which combined to constitute the Fenian movement
have with that calm mparay which would
Judgment and instructive perception
of the meaning power of the conspiracy It's strongest
elements thus been quoted the cearet evidences of
its weakness Our attention has repeatedly been invited the
fact that the social position of Irish insurgents has greatly
fallen Lord Edward Ftzgerads tme and since the
less brilliant period of Smith 0Brien and his companions
This the public has been asked to accept argument that
vulgar and therefore less formidable, than
former nsuectonary movements Were the men OF l793
however, inferior in vgor the leaders of 1889 in France be-
cause they plebeian The argument long
and largely insisted upon, will not stand moments thoughtful
investigation Had the promoters of Feniansm believed that
the addition to their ranks of those who had much property
would have strengthened their power they would have
strven concate hem following the tactics of 1S4S They
did nothing of the Almost the first symptom of their
country the expression of opinions depe
caoy of socaed popular leaders, and sacasca on
the prominent personages OF Young Ireland Such per-
sons it was said might join the Brotherhood if they pleased
but they be to accept subordinate place. and
work their way up if found worthy of promotion The pro-
ectors the association did of position,
puous with respect risk what they wanted was the rank
and file of Irish peasant could pull trigger quite
easily gentleman, could undergo fatigue better, and
would be less likely display want OF trust in his
dent superiors
To provide these raw leves with competent officers
difficulty but the reverse The American accepted
as military training school by Of thousands of the
Irish emgrants in the United States Before that in
Decd the American division of had been organizing
drilling few incomplete regiments and the amount of
pains taken this process of senstuction be judged
from the fact that many of their prvaes at ap
pointed officers in the eves the outbreak of the
This gave them opportunity by which they slow to
profit of spreading Fenan views of increasing the
merc power of the Brotherhood So great became their
influence, that in Irish regiments had chance of
promotion who not member of the Brotherhood, as
correspondent in of the shAmerican papers complained
Here, then nursery of commanders, peculiarly
adapted for the purposed work. because they had en
rally from the position occupied by the in Ireland
their sympahies understood their feelings That
The NOT
selves by deeds of desperate yao the generous testimony of
Confederate writers amply Their gallant onsets turned
the beam of victory than American battlefield
the charge of the Brigade hadaS had done before for
France at Fontenoy Their fame greatly exaggerated
doubt penetrated every peasants cot in Ireland both by
papers, which repubshed the special reports of the vgan
press and by private letters recording the pro-
motion of the writer ranks hitherto regarded in Ireland
the exclusive Prerequisites OF the ascendancy party and there
fore hedged with certain divinity. The natural results fol-
lowed Young poured from the old country share
in their glory and became initiated in the Republican prnc
piles of their comrades revolution accomplished in their
minds giving them econfdence and inducing hem vete
rams who had bought their commissions with their blood to
think of the home-forc without alarm At the me the
of leves at Bull Run taught them what in the
mencement of operations in their native country they might
expect whilst the consequent gave them hope of
ultimate triumph They drew from their experience in the
American campaign the lesson that in Ireland their best
would be to hun the example of the United Irish of 798
avoid pitched battles and compel the British commander dis
perse his troops order keep check their guerilla bands
BY adopting and perseveng in this strategy they hoped both
to nue their and keep their flag flying in the
country until they could claim for Ireland recognition
belrgerent power
The influence of the Irish element in the United States
to be depsed When chooses it give the casting
vote in several States and there doubt that the
chiefs correct ill their anticipation that real rising in
Ireland would band together its most wdelsepaated ranks
The American people, they argued would withhold
sympathy be chay of their god and they counted
IDENTIFY the American merchants who suffered much
privateers fitted English por enforce the law of
aaton to its fullest extent Proofs of sympathy the part
of Americans of high standing they had in abundance
forwarded contributions to the great Fenan Fair at Chicago
Others recently at picnic at Buffalo, where those who
invade Canada had assemb said their hearts
with them and urged them go Passes given to
their chief organizers to facilitate their progress along the
line during the In fact the only raised against