The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-15
r e N I A N I s N.
RALLY OF THE "soNs OF OLD ERIN
Address OF General John O'Niel.

In response to call through the papers
for a mass meeting Of the Irish citizens, te
hear an address from General John O'Niel
about five hundred persons, among whom were
at least three hundred ''Sons of Erin" assem-
bled in the Hibernian Hall last night.
On the stage we're President John F. O'Neill
OF the Hlbernian Society; President Powers, o
the Fenian Brotherhood OF this city; Rev. Mr.
Croshan, NJ. P. O'Connor, James Armstrong,
James NJ. Mulvany, Thomas Furlong, D. T.
Corbin, B. O'Neill, W. A. Kelly, Captain Stew
art, John O'Msra, P. Brady, Thomas O'Brien,
C. Q. Trumbo, James slattery, David O'Keefe.
James Cosarove, Philip Fogarty, John King,
Aldermen Green and Voigt, and others.
At half-past eight o'clock Captain James
Mulvany, in few complimentary remarks, in
troduced the orator Of the evening. General
John O'NeiI, Of the Fe 1ian army, formerly Of
| the Federal army.
GENERAL o'NEM's ADDRESS.
The General, on being introduced, stated
that he was much surprised TO learn when he
arrived here thai Fenianism was so little un-
derstood, in fact, was very much misunderstood;
that there was an impression prevalent to the
effec! that the Church was opposed to Fenian-
ism. To combat this impression ae had witt
ten out statement which he would presently
read, but before doing 80, would state that
while he was Fe1lan and warmly enlisted in
its cause, he was not at all big0tted, but de-
sired, iu securing the liberty Of Ireland, TO
secure at the same time the light Of her people
20 worship God according to the dictates of
their consciences that he wa3 as ready to
draw his sword and fight for, nay die for. the
Protestant Irish as the Catholic Irish.
The speaker then proceeded to read the
written statement which commenced by stat
ing that the object OF rhe meeting was to talk
Of the wrongs and sufferinss of Ireland, and
Of the Lest means for her liberation, but as
England's inhumanity to Ireland has never
done more than to fill the soul with anguish or
arouse to temporary passion the hearts OF our
countrJmen; as it has not put muskets into
the hands Of Irish soldiers or won one single
battle over the hosts Of the tyrant; as it has
not removed one single grievance or broken
one link of the fetters OF degrading slavery,
it would be idle to dwell upon Heland's wrongs
and sufferinge.
Ihave come, said the speaker, as represen-
tative OF men who are determined to avenge
those wrongs. The Fenian organization is Of
the opinion that the red hand OF the oppressor
shall be stayed in its work Of blood, not by
tears and entreaties, but By the vigorous ap-
plication of cold steel. As its president,
freely concur in the opinion, and am convinced
that q proper aud complete redress OF Irish
grievances is to be sought for on the battle
field, and no where else. The past history of
irish struggles has taught us not to rely upon
impulsive, sudden action, but to fully prepare
for the struggle beforehand. Discipline, skill,
and munitions Of war are necessary for rs to
carry on our work. All that we demand OF you
are the necessary resources to arm and equip
us. Fenianism will supply trained soldiers
aud skilled leaders. Justice. reason and abso'
lutte duty require that You should give, and
give literally, to the enterprise.
Is Fenianism crime against nations or
against religion. that you should hesitate to
support it? It is not crime against nations,
for everywhere among men the right Of revo-
luton is oonoedsd-the right to remodel gov
ernments when they run counter to the happi'
ness and prosperity Of the people.
It is not crime against religion, In religion
admits the right OF revolution; the endeavors
OF the oppressed to oust the oppressor, the
Church has never condemned. Her censure is
confined to the excesses which sometimes mark
the endeavors. What monstrous doctrine it
would be to hold that the Church was op-
posed to human liberty; that the prirc.-
pies OF Christianity favored the servile
subsection Of the multitude to the arbitrary
rule Of the few. II such teachings had
tallen from the lips OF the Founder OF Chris-
,ianity, would He have been likely to have
found His most devoted followers and most
jealous Apostles in The poor fishermen OF CALI
lee; would the proud Pharisee have conspired
His death, or the humble Publican been num-
bered with His friends; would it, in short, be
divine religion, religion Of charity, If it did
not unequivocalIy defend the right of revoiu-
tion2 Take away the right OF revolution. and
man once stripped Of his freedom must forever
remain a slave; take away the right OF revolu-
tion, and it becomes crime to attack the
usurper who has robted you of your liberties;
to repel the ruthless invader Who has desolat-
ed your hom ,s and seized yoar lands; take
away the right OF revolution, and religion it.
self loses the cardinal point On which 1t hinges
the free will of man. Deprive q man Of free
will, and you deprive religion OF it's handspring;
the more the free will Of man is shackled the
more limited becomes the sphere Of religion,
and in denying the right of revolution you
strip man o. Tree will altogether: ani, conse-
quently, destroy the uses OF religion. Chris
tianity, then, would commit suicide, il it for
babe apy attempt against established tyranny.
The speaker quoted freely from Cardinal Bel
larman in support OF his argument, that relig-
ion was not opposed to resistance oftyranny.
In regard to those who assert that the Fenian
Brotherhood is not able to successfully cope
with the English, and therefore the Church
would object to any attempt to do so, the
speaker spoke very warmly and ut length, say
ing: The Church, say they, is opposed to rebel
lion when there ls good reason to suppose it
will not be successful, and, therefore, must be
opposed to Fenianism. Has the Church ever
lifted up its voice against the uprising of suf.
feriag people because they were fewer in num-
~. kk.. tbo boats oSt Tho NJ Hoo ho