Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-13
fenianism.

cation In your ISSUE VI yo'se'eeJ' $50
"Irish American" one would be led
believe that the writer and yourselve
: BY his reference to your able ediioria
, were engaged in the special business
organizing a band Of citizens to begi
!, anew the cause advocated by certain di
!, contents from Ireland, who are never i
: their element unless engaged in new
paper warfare against some governmen
+ or other.
! Your correspondent, Irish Amer
, can" very improperly, ! think, call
upon several citizens by nams of Iris
, birth, to come forward and define thei
, position. He says in conclusion:
1.-THE destiny Of the future of Irelan'
r rests with such men, aud We are sur
they will not hesitate in good cause
| do not know whether II was the inten
ton of the writer 10 represent your view
with his own 10 that sentence or not, bu
until see further Endorsement from
YOU, for one / cannot believe that you
entertain or advocate any such views al
are urged by "Irish- american" You
certainly would not advocate war with
Great Britain without cause, and be
lieve every gentleman named BY your
correspondent is citizen of the United
States, and If they, or either of them
have any grievances to complain OF, and
do not think they have, they should
first apply in the proper manner for re-
dress through their government at Wash
iugton before organizing for war.
The wrongs of the people of Ireland
have become stale to many whose recol-
lections Of its past and present condi-
ton permit them to compare it with our
own present condition; certainly it would
require stretch of Imagination to see q
time when Ireland, or any other country,
was in as deplorable condition as that
| in which we find this, our adopted coun-
trd. in at present.
When has any people, after civil war
of four years, permitted their public
debt, IN three years thereafter, to become
ten times as much as it was at the ter
mination of the war. and their taxes in
like proportion2 Certainly never at
any time in the history of ireland.
Never was Ireland, or any other coun-
try, inhabited by people who we're the
owners of the soil, paid all the taxes,
aud had no voice in the selection of their
leaders; and yet that is just the condi-
ton of Tennessee to- day.
Believing that your correspondent is
lover of ireland, on account of itsbeing the
place of his nativity, or on account Of
its natural beauties, which have been the
theme of poets and sages in all ages,
will kindly offer q few opinions to him
and your readers. / believe the people
of Ireland desire no assistance TO wage
war against their government They
know theirs is superior to ours as at
present administered. The people
desire no change of government The
bone and sinew of the land are to be
found in the army and navy of Great
Britain, and have been ever ready on
every field where duty called them to
sustain their government
The people of America of Irish birth
did not come here to organize themselves
into armed bands in opposition to any
government with which their adopted
country is at peace, nor will the Irish of
Memphis eFer be found sympathising
With such movements.
Few among us have not learned ere
this that war is not cure for all the ills
Of life. The Government of Great
Britain has nothing TO fear, nor the PEG.
pie of ireland anything to expect, in a
warlike manner, from the class of citi-
zens referred to by "Irish-American."
A call, signed by every gentleman
named by Irish-American," for sub
scription to forganize, arm and equip
force to leave this city to fight as Fenians,
would not, from ogr tens Of thouaands of
citizens Of Irish birth or parentsge, re-
oeive the names Of twenty who would
hand over one hundred dollars each, nor
could thsFs hs twenty respectable citi-
zeus procured who have home In our
midst, to depart on such q foolish mis-
sion. Yet, they will ever be ready to
aid in the support Of the aged and infrm,
and the education of the youth Of our
native land, but never will such citizens
as are MENTIONED be found joining
FenieuisE o. any othes secEst organise
ton which tends to subvert civil govern
ment here or elsewhere.
Az ADOPTED CITIZEN.
We are far from advocating war with
anybody without a cause" When and
whether there is cause, Irishmen will
determine for themselves, We do not
advocate or encourage any violation
on their part Of the laws Of the United
States, nor are we apprised that any such
intention exists among them. Down
trodden ss We are ourselves, we can but
sympatbize with the dovntrodde1, and
desire their deliverance from oppression.
We counsel endurance and forbearsnce
when these are virtues. as indeed they
are, when the greatest good Of the
greatest number is promoted BY
their continuance. Of tbis u Is
not the province Of Americans, but
Of Irishmen themselves 10 judge in their
own case. We think ihatif we were now
10 ireland We should sympathize with
our fellow-citizens under the yoke OF
Brownlov, and that We should think il
praisevorthy to do there, ss well as here,
What might be in our power 10 relieve
our friends ct home The emily question
We should entertain in such case would
be What means Of success will be most
certain and effective. 1.-THE Irishmen IN
America can do anything for their OF
pressed coantrynsn, We certainly have
no right TO object 81 an American b.
birth. And We may even questor