The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-27

Moreover it is quite true that there is here il
America (not counting the people in IRELAND
at all) the material OF force, force OF sold
ierv trained in the Federal and Confederate
armies. strong enough to free Ireland-that is
TO destroy the British empire. which meani
the same thing. And not only the material
there is also the will, the zeal, the patriotic
devotion; yet all that material, oil that yea
and patriotism cannot begin to come near tt
the task of destroying that empire: The force
is great; but it is at one side Of the Atlantic
and itsstobiectlve point" is atanother. And why
not 90. then, where it's work Lies already for it
Simply because the government Of the coun.
try we reside in will not suffer that, and is able
to hinder and bound to hinder that. In any
force which would be at all worth counting, an
expedition to Ireland would morally and
physically impossible; ana t. IL riglnal vice
lous, innocent people that they c, 7get the
length of fighting at all, while En- I'D is at
peace; and IN exhorting chem to poa- n their
money under that false pretence.
To heighten and stimulate the delusit still
more, the assumption was made that the ish
race on this continent is nation, has o right
to declare itself republic, to constitute o
government, with Secretaries Of State, army,
navy. government bonds and so forth; and
these grand pretentions and fine phrases we're
not without their effect upon an imaginative
people like ours. But all this was excessively
repugnant to the American people, or else RI
diculous in their eyes. The Fenian Imperium
in Imperio was an anomaly; and though the
Americans very we'll knew it was powerless to
effect its avowed purpose, and though they
were fully resolved not to suffer it to compli-
cate their relations with England, yet they felt
it as on affront, and laughed at 1T as Q farce.
| The American Government has lts hand firmly
upon the whole movement, and has made use
of it to hold up IN terroren before the eyes OF
England, by way Of inducing her to be moro
compliant in the diplomatic l discussions s which
are going on between London and WASH
ington; Just as q man holds a bulldog
by the collar, sure that he can let him
| slir against his enemy or else drive him
back to his kennel. Neither has the govern
ment by any means done with the Fenians in
that capacity: it expects more OF the same
kind Of service; and 80 deals very gently with
them. 1t turned them back very tenderly, and
with great forbearance, from their little Cana
dian raid; has since restored to them certain
arms and equipments which were captured
upon that occasion; and has never prosecuted
any OF them-(for IN fact these Irish have
votes, and your politician must deal with them
"as though he loved them)." But the govern
mont most intimately knows all their proceed
inps; knows where it can 10y it's hands again
upon the restored arms; has arranged with the
Canadian government for joint defence of
that frontier; and in every seaport keeps so
yigilant guard that not even single ship OF
considerable size, to say nothing of feet of
transports, can possibly go cut, or get ready to
go out. So you see the trouble with these
Door Fenians is not disupion-it is just utter
mpotence-impotence to do anything, arising
from the nature Of the case and the funda-
mental vice of the organization.
But when, in addition to that original error,
there came on them the curse Of tactious dis
unlon-when in 1865 their society pitt up into
parts, and these Immediately began to yillify
one another, then it became moro clearly ap-
parent that the movement In that form was
wholly useless for any good purpose. Our
good people here cry out for union, earnestly
pray for union; and soem to think that II tho
two factions would only unite, the proDlem
would be soved-Ircland would be liberated.
Now it is certainly desirable that these factions
should come to IN end, and that the Irish ele-
mont here should at least be harmonious; pc
cause then they would cease to abuse ono
another through newspapers and resolutions OF
''circlcs;''-thcy would no longer afford TO the
Americans the amusement, to the English the
deep qualification OF seeing them expenJing oil
Their zeal and enthusiasm IN tearing one
another to pieces. But that would be all the
good of 'sunion." II these two "wings" were
united tomorrow las they will not be), they
would then be able to do nothing; able to take
no single step in advance in the direction Of
their object That "union" would be only all
agreement OF The two ''wings" to help ono
another in doing nothing, instead of hindering
one another TO do nothing, as ut present. Ihey
would then be moro conspic uonsly doing no.
thing than even now. In short, the whole con-
Germ has run right up against q wall, and can
not take one step farther.
This fatal impaSSe has been, imagine, pain
fully apparent to tho leaders OF these factions;
mean MIR. Roberts and Mr. Savage. They
found themselves ut the head OF two distinct
organizations. each striving to outvie and out
bid the other in bold promises and professions,
and the respective adherents OF each eagerly,
angrily demanding some speedy action, while
they were sadly conscious that they could do
nothing whatsoever, and the people, worn out
by delay and disappointment, and disheartened
by the long continuance Of mean and senseless
alterations, were rapidly falling away from
them DO H. Those two "Presidents" felt them
selves in the position of two men holding each
of them wolf by the ears.
In this condition Of affairs, You ars aware
that negotiations for union Were held, with O
very sincere desire, believe, on the part OF
those two "Presidents," to effect that cumbi-
nation, and withdraw themselves from under
the heavy responsibility that weighed upon
them. A ''bass OF union" was drawn up;
and the two Presidents" pursuant to that
preliminary arrangement, came and offered 10
m the Pre- idency ofthe joint and united BROTH
crhood. Why to mo? | have had nothing
To do with them or their organization for two
wears: and very little before that time. was
not responsible for any of their doings, or mis-
doinps. I had no. approved OF any one of
Lhcir cntcrpriscs either on the side OF Canada
or on tic side OF ireland. Whenever had
yeuturvu to offer them any advice or glyo
them any warning, it had been uniformly dis
regarded. had, for example, warned them
that the hints and intimations on the part Of
underlngs of this government to the effect
that their invasion of Canada would be wlnked
at and permitted were intended to cheat
them, and that the government would be sure
to turn upon them at tho last moment and
defeat any such invasion, as, indeed, 1t was
bound to do;-but they tried, nevertheless, to
invade Canada. ! had warned them against
any attempt at insurrection in Ireland while
England was at peace; but they persisted In
making their wretched attempt at lnsurrection
in ireland. had begged Of them not to place
the government Of thor American organlza-
ton in tho hands of Stephens; but they did
this very thing almost the moment he appear
ed. And now, when blunders, failures andf fac
tion have brought their atfal to the lowest
ebb, and the. impatient and justly indignant
people are insisting upon action, ocnon, those
leaders who are holding the wolf by the ears,
politely invite me TO take charge or the two
wolves-of two packs OF wolves-roquost me,
in tho most complimentary manner, TO Take
and knit up the two ragged fag-ends OF an or
ganlzatlon originally rotten, ana now al tat
tered and torn, and to wear the patcheo-up
thing US robo OF honor. OF course respect