The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-04-04
Ireland or Canada.

The great dividing line between the two t'wings' of
the Fenian Brotherhood has been Ireland or Canada"
party insisting that Ireland the only ground
which to strike for Irish independence; the other
party contending that Canada was the ulcrum on which
the lever that to upset the British Empire should
be worked That great deal could be said on both
sides has been Proved for do not know that great
deal has been said on both sides Far more said than
done.
Our object is not to say which of the two places
best to strike for Irish liberty Doubtless when real
move is made formidable enough to give color to our
hopes both Canada and Ireland, and other Places will
come into play What desire to draw the attention
Of the Organization to is that there is no further
necessity for division in those shbbolehs Ireland OR
Canada"
A great deal of cloquence, and military tactics"
and civic vitupcraton, and general misunderstanding,
have been wasted during the last three years, in dis
putting as to the best ground on which fight England
when the main feature of the whole question seemed to
be lost sight Of We're prepared to fight her any
where?' We hear much noise, even to-day about the
proper place to strike and very little about the true
question, "Can we strike successfully ?' And yet,
this latter question must be settled before we pick out
our battlefield.
The question of fighting in Canada after the
division in the Brotherhood and not the cause of
the "split," as so many have been led to believe
To General Sweeny and " General Killian" are we
indebted for the introduction of Canada" into the
brotherhood. Killian had Campo Bello the. brain,
and was going to take it with three hundred men,
whether the Organization said "yea nay" How
Campo Bello was taken is part of history" After
the impeachment of Mahony by the Senate, General
Sweeny introduced Canada the only place where
England could be attacked successfully. Ireland was
out of the question.
Whether the Senate liked the Canadian move or not
they had to give General Sweenyhis way. His twenty
years military service had given him prestige among
the people. His the great center around
which the people rallied and it is doubtful whether
the Senate party could have carried the day but for
the hero of the armless sleeve" The General knew
this, and relied more his own Judgment in question
of war; than he did the Judgment of dozen Senator'S
who never snufed the battle-uneSS ot1r off. General
Sweeny felt that he carried the Senate on his remaining
arm; and when he said fight in Canada" it was an
ORDER not question for debate.
How Canadawas taken by the Senate side is 'hstory"
also
That the Organization gotten up in America as
auxiliary to the home Organization is known to all
How the American branch was made g Independent"
of the home Organization and how the former divided
into factions, history also, though as yet not fully
written The history of the Organization is yet to be
written for, though have essayed to write it, their
chief aims were to write right) themselves.
What we particularly DESTROYS of proving at
present is that there is excuse either side
to keep divided about Ireland or Canada" This