The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-02
THE FENlANS.
Address of the MISUNDERSTANDING Of tho
British Government-Repudiati of tho
Recent Violence Abroad.
HEADQUARTERS FENAN BRorHERHooD,(
Yam. Dac

Address of the Observation-Disclosures Of tho
British Government-Repudiati of tho
Recent Violence Abroad.
HEADQUARTERS FExIAN BROTHERHOOD
NEW YORK, Dec 81, 1861
TO THs AMERICAN People LOVERS LIBERTY
EvERYwHERE:-
The leaders OF the American Revolution, the great
precursors Of the armies OF regeneration that in the
Old World have since followed their footsteps in the
road TO universal freedom, whom they determined TO
tho liberties Of their country by the sword laid
down the maxim which has since passed into dogma Of
political faitn that when suffered from grievances
such ~ protested against and undertook 10
the relations bound Thorn the under
which they lived the respect due to tho opinions Of
civilized mankind demanded that they should place on
record the statement OF their wrongs, the efforts they
had made to remedy them without effect and the prin
cpss which they grounded their just right To 70.
sstsnce when submission had ceased any longer to DO
virtue Following this example, the Congress Of the
Fenian Brotherhood assembled at Cleveland in the
month of September last put forth in the national body
they represented, declaration Of the principles upon
which the organization founded, and the objects at
winch it arrived, and the Senate elected by the same
Congress- In the address recently issued to the reform
ers Of tho English nation, have reiterated those ssn
msnts placed record the fact that between the
people OF Ireland and those OF England there is quar-
rel Whatever both oppressed and kept down by
arsocratc power which, TO support its feuda
state robbed them Of the rights OF manhood That II
against that power alone the Irish people proposed
light, and that whatever might be the issue OF that
struggle II should be carried on in manner worthy OF
people aspiring the dignity OF freemen, and in no re-
specJ such either those engaged
advocates OF human freedom to Dush at its
details; that such definition OF the platform on which
the Irish n.on,s' h g. home apa hs abroad pro-
independence when not unheeded, there 10
sufficient evidence TO show Not content with
pln of ali rttQa NIL nd
through innumsrabe agents aud the immense power
her wealth and commerce gives her over tie press Of the
world followed them into every land with calnmny
aud Misrepresentation stigmatzing them everywhere as
q unit Tor freedom and able only OF fer0cous
outbreaks without definite cause or OBJECT save resist
auce TO paternal rule rhe voice Of rich pow.
erfu oppression IL seldom without response Ia the
world wnie the oppressed mud lev friends outside inc
right because 10 the smanalon Of Almighty Justice
aud iull measure OF mans duty 70 his fellow man.
Thus through all their recent history the irieads OF
Irish freedom bad TO fight double battle on tho
ono hand endeavorng wrest from their hereditary OPP
pressor the national rights OF which they had been
robbed on the other Obliged to counteract the mas
influence OF the same deadly Toe and 10 convince
the world that their motives aud purposes were not what
their enemies would them 10 be- and that the
sympathes Of the lovers OF true freedom should be OK
tended them they were given 10 tue people Of
Poland Hungary or Canda or any Others bravery bat
ting for their bercs despite OF difficulties aud dis.
astera
ever demonstrated the truth of this position. Our
enemy has seized the occurrence OF the blowing
up wall OF the Clerkenwe Prison Ia London by
which a number Of innocent persons were Killed and
wounded, to sugmatize the National Organ zaon ~
sansuinary combination OF traitors and assassns with
whom a civilized Power could only deal as with band
OF murderers and recamaoe savagss and every petty
OF Violence every petty deed OF incendiarsm now
aver senseess unaocountabc has been in the same
sptdt carefully magnned and placed to the charge OF
the brotherhood, in order still further 10 blacken
our character In the eyes OF the world.
Had these been confined to he organs OF the
British governm ut those classes whose Int rest Is
to perpetuate the slavery OF our people at home we
In ham hggn
long acquainted with tricks and devices by which The
English government in Ireland manufacture pretended
ou!ragcs Nnen IL becomes q part OF Their policy 10
"strse terror by additional measures OF apprehension
against the scauty remnant OF hbery allowed Ia that
missoverned landi and we Know now readily ,ha' gov
for outrages on Other occasions, 10 the hope
the opportunity would thereby be Afforded them TO
STAMP our' The aspirations OF ne lrsh people AFTER
freedom, they blew from tho monls OF their cannon
toe wre,cned sepoys, whom they\ themselves had
trained TO blood, aud whose appettesthey had wheled
with the slaughter OF their own countfymen.
The object % the English government through all this
affair has been Transparency plain. u is olLs tew
weeks since with elaborate mockery OF Law and JUS
tee, they executed three men ior an hct which the
opinion Of every honest minded person 10 England snd
the deliberate verdict OF the civilized world have pro-
nounced TO be purely political offence.
Tho blood Of these murdered men has chung heavily
to Thorn for the time BY the vary ruhessness OF tho
deed winning for their victims the sympathy Of man
kind, and OF which they we're SO anxious TO deprive
them.
and 10 divert attention from their crimes against
humanity that they now seek 70 TX upon zoe lrsn ma
uorosts large the responsibility OF acts with which
not only have they had no completely, but which are 81
rcpugnant the principles they profess and der
mental 70 the pocy.they have determined TO pursue.
But while the nationass OF Ireland are prepared 10
faco the hostility and misrepresentation Of the British
governments aud their organs they desire That we great
American people aud every lover Of freedom within the
British donations should understand their true sent.
meuts and policy and that no insdlous enemy should
be able asten them the odum responsibility OF
acts with which, as body, they have no sympathy
In the name. therefore, OF the FenIan Brotherhood