The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-06-28
hor the RruIsrtE


Mr. Ediior With your permission
would wish to give your correspondent
"Phllos' some Information as to Fenan.
ism, and show how foolish are his fears
as to its being "a movement for building
up papal dynasty, planned and matured
in the Ecumcnical Council" The story
Of the prosecutions and sufferings of our
fathers at the hands of the English is an
soft told tale and has always evoked in
every country, heartfelt sympathy for
people who could endure so much for their
native land, and of execraton in the fore.
ign rulers who could inhict such cruelties
on people who were overpowered but
never conquered. 1t has always been the
interest of the oppressor to weaken his
opponents by division, in my dear native
land the sacred name of Religion was
prostituted to the bascst uses. and made
the means Of separating into bitter and
hostile factions the people of Ireland
The Protestant was taught to regard the
Catholic as one Of an inferior type and
distinct race, the Catholic looked on his
Protestant brother with dislike and dis.
trust; as years rolled by the bitterness
and hatred increased, and their oppres-
sors rejoiced. their object had been OBJ
tained !; the people We're decided.
At various times brave intelligent and
lideral men endeavored to unite the peo-
pie and assert the independence of their
native land, but the demons of bigotry
and distrust had taken too deep a hold,
and their offers were in vain the tales
told by the old to the young of the horrors
inflicted by Protestonts on Catholics and
of the reprisals of the latter on the for
mer fed and famed the hellish flames of
disunion, and the sad sight was seen of a
country yearning for independence yet
kept from obtaining it by their internal
dissensions, such being the state of things
and recognising the truth of the words Of
Moore
Erin, thy silent tear never -hall cease
Erin thy languid smile ne shall increase
Till like the rainhows light
Thy variou. tnt- unite
And form in Heavens light We are oi peace.
a number of lrishmen both Catholic
and Protestant formed an association
having for its object the union of Irishmen
of all denominations for the common cause
regeneration Of their native land, among
other truths it taught that the religion Of
a man was matter which lay entirely
between his conscience and his God that
OH religious subjects each one had right
to act as his conscience dictated-that nc
priestly influence should be permitted 10
prevail in political matters, that ireland
should be as dear to the Protestant Irish.
man as the Catholic, and that it was the
duty Of every lrishman to reach forth the
hand of brotherhood to his neighbor ire
spective of religion, that the part should
be forgotten or if remembered it should
be for the lesson it teaches, that in our
religious disscnsions lie the strength of our
shackles.
"Philos' will | think perceive that the
object Of the the Fenians is quite the
contrary of what he supposed and that
they have nothing to do with the move
ments Of the heads of any church.
With reference to the attempted nvas-
ion of Canada, that movement has been
opposed from the beginning by the great
majority of the Fenians, as reference to
the recognised organ of the Fenians, the
"lrish People" will show, and the fact Of
men having engaged in such an attempt
so badly prepared as they were, but proves
the Irish are ready to fight England at
any odds, anywhere, and when America
demands the settlement of the Alabama
claims in the proper counting house. the
battle field, the government of this coun.
try will have an Irish Army at its call
raised without bounty or substitutes anx.
and ready to shed their hearts blood un.
der united flags of America and ireland
That the day Of settlement may be neal
at hand is the prayr of yours
!