The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-04-25
FENIAN NEWS.
What Practical Preparations are We Making for
the Struggle?

That the great majority of people believe that in no
other way the freedom of Ireland be accomplished than
through the nstrumentaty of the sword or in other
words, by force of arms is matter about which there can
be question whatever Entertaining as we all do the same
doctrine and belief the and most important step to be
considered is what practical preparations making
the fierce struggle which sometime must inevitably take
place ere we win back complete national inepend
No be diculousy absurd to assert that
at present In condition commence hostites with
Zoe, whose power in the habit of understanding
too much, till at length convinced of our error. l
know that the power of England is decayng and not
half SO great, at least in military point of vew was
but 1t IS too great for sng combat
situated vz divided amongst ourselves warning with each
other unarmed and without available to extent
at all commensurate with what the enemy fall back upon
and bring to bear against Under these deporabe cir
cumsances contend that do little if anything in
the way of preparation. If great of tall talk about
Fenian fleets and armies crossing the Atlantic Ire
land to sweep and forever the Saxon of that country
be preparation certainly should be well prepared
and have all require; but the spasmodc revolutionary
attempt OF March, 81 completely atesed that all these things
delusions localities We have seen how the
hosts OF men and arms not forthcoming when they
required The people deceived in their expectations and
whoever occasoned the rising then have been
that would be abortve there speak of
in the country and but little ammunition except what was
IN the possession of the enemy and what may have been
oolshy calculated upon by the leaders of the insurgents
But leaving aside the misrepresentation and sehood the
imaginary army and feet and all the mournul catasrophes
which followed that futile outbreak would ask How are we
preparing for the struggle? Surely this cannot be done
by few men assembling here and there and loudly pro-
claiming from platforms their eternal hatred of Saxon
their adherence and confidence in certain men, who
to do wonderful things three thousand miles distant
from the place which ought be the scene of the battle for
lreands freedom taking care aso trumpet forth the
world their Intentions lest they might take the enemy at
disadvantage This is very chvarous, indeed! For my
part would like be vanquished in any quarter;
but cannot the of telling her chere and wen
the blow is going to be struck if it is strike eff
fecua one 1t seems very like going rob house.
but first sending word the proprietor thereof the night he
intends to do if warning him protect himself I'm
fortunately these tactics have been long enough pacced
ORDER as were to defeat every intended We
have heard quite enough of blowing about unrng the
green flag in this that particular year or month And
this mode of freeing Ireland by telling its enemies when
such about to be attempted has been confined to one
party alone 1t may be stated that this advertising of ne
lions is only blind 1t may indeed be blind in one sense
of the word but have discovered that it has hitherto
been SO, regards the time of fulfilling public promises
oaths sworn and grim threats made of all of which,
however, resulted as might anticipate In dealing with
such honorable foe England is ght be wrong to
take her by surprised Imgh not bea geneel sufficiently
refined method of warfare! would recommend Captain
Bobadil way of defeating enemys forces the most
civilized That is by challenging out twenty and kill
ing them, twenty more and killing hem and till the
whole opposing army would be slain No enlightened nation
such England could offer reasonable objection to this
mode of fighting Again when the time for invading Canada
is at hand would not be we'll to send dispatch to the
of that territory in something like the following
shape:
SIR: intend to be the borders with an army of 30
0oo on or about the LIST Of = 1885, be ready receive
the men, as the United States Government will be do
their portion of the business. Yours, etc.. -
On the other hand if Ireland is to be the field of opera
TONS it is enough toprocam the time of the proposed rising
at large mass meetings. in order give sufficient notice to