The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-04-28
FENIANTSM.
Lecture by Father Mcmahon at
Farweu Hall-His Experience
in Canadian Prisons


| III C1ldClldll PRISONS.
i From the Chicago Times
! Last evening = moderately good audienct
assembled In Farewell hall to hear the Rev
John McMahon, lately released from Kings
ton prison, Canada, lecture on England
Barbarity TO Political Prisoners" Mr.
Mcmahon, as he came forward and Wa.
briefly introduced BY Dr. O'Breunan, wa:
received with hearty round of applause
After announcing his subject he said The
fault he found with England was with it.
government and its management. Her his
tory for the last 700 years shows some pro
gross, bu. has not developed her tyranny
Her whole policy is determ ined opposition
to :h eundeniable rights Of mantle right tc
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
In 1866, while on the way to visit his fam
lily, he net with the Fenians, saw theil
green flags floating proudly on British sol
/ Applause and at their request accom-.
! panied them to render the services of the
church to the wounded. At the battle OF
Ridseway he attended . wounded Capt.
Madden, of Indiana polls, to other Fenians,
and to wounded British soldiers.
! tie saw the splendid run made by the
Queens Own Edaug hterl and he bore wit
ness TO the generous conduc. Of the Fen
! lans in refraining to fire upon the retreat
/ ing foe. The Fcnians then had pleased
HIN in everything they DID, especially 10
chasing the Queens Own. At Fort Erie
they met body Of fresh British soldiers,
who renewed the battle with the tired Fen
ians. He worked hard until 6 O. clock that
night. Next morning, in spite OF his lab
ors to the wounded of both sides, he was
one of the first arrested by the English au-
thorlties. In referring to the treatment Of
himself and feiow-prisoners, he was salts
fed that the authorities and underlings in
charge OF them made it a study to invent all
mean and debasing tricks and plans to an
noy and aggravate the prisoners. The g.
! 600, 900 of Canadian Catholics, seeing his
cruel treatment at the time the Protestant
minister was released, also turned against
the government 1t is with that govern
ment he found the fault England was
rich, but had gained her richie. only by OPP
pressing the different nations over whom
she gained power. He referred to the
Abysslnan expedition as one of her means
adopted to raise the wind England ty
her rapacity aud cruelty had made herself
obnoxious to the civilized world. Russia
would be at her within three months, and
! il the Fenians would but bide their oppor-
,unity they would be able to get in good
clip at her. Applause.
On the 10Th of June, 1866, he and other
prisoners were stripped halfsnaked, march
ed through the streets, and bolted in pris>
on. Then followed the mock trials, his
being sat upon b. jury, six of whom were
| Orangemen (every one of whom would
hang him, and at the conclusion he was
sentenced to death by Judge Wilson, who
added the customary God have mercy on
your soul, which was more than he 1.-THE
lecturer) would have said tor the old sinner.
Laughter They were then marched to
the penitentiary on the I'd Of February.
1867. when the cold bath was repeated,
| after which they were inmured in cold,
stone cells, % inches wide. 1t was at this
period he had incurred the illness from the
effects Of which he never expected to re-
| cover. He then touched on the cruel policy
OF England, and referred to Cobbett's his
tory tor proof Aud she will. SEE the day
when she will be surrounded and crushed
as she has crushed others. Applause. /
hG Gn Sai s{sb ~ rfOms
land, only threw still further tyrannieal
laws on Ireland and her clergy. She was
trying the same game now; but IrisLmeu
]
once moro occupy their own Gladstone,
though wise man, will never find his way
to the Irish heart-the only thing tn at
leads to that is justice. It was curious
fact that for the last TOO years not single
Protestant English king or queen was cas.
ed even among her own saints England
has at length reached such pitch Of tur.
pitude and villiany that she should.be allow
ed to exist no longer. lApplause.l The
English church isyet bound to mouldel
down and will return back to the old moth
er church from which she seeded. The
| history of Ireland is full of instances OF
English barbarity. But the day of reck.
oning is at hand. Let the Fenans keer
up their courage, be wise, and wait few
months, land they will be able to accomplish
Irish independence.
Mr.. Cooney, Canadian refugee, being
called for, also bore witness to the cru.
treatment of Fenian prisoners in Canada.
He went on to detail the old ouarrels be.
tween Orangemen and Catholics so year:
ago; and, subsequently, on St. Patrick
day, 1868, 1900 armed Orangemen com
neilo!. tnhe ceiebrators in Peterborough to
take off and pocket their green ribbons and
rosettes. He considered himself the worst
tOolSO AAlShndu III Tie NOliu III C2udVt
he was accused of Fenian tendencies, while
in the states he was marked as British
spy. On his return to his native soil h,
was seized, tried, and sent to the peniten
tiary for lite. He bore witness to the crue
treatment Of the Rev. Mr.. Mcmahon, hi.
suferings from cold, his being compelled
to clean guards boots. and made to asso
ciate with all other convicts. His break
fast was rnneatndlc sfclon Ha was con
PEELED to labor when more fit for bed Eve,
/ Irish Catholics had turned on him, IL,
holding of \ British Office having the usua
magic effect He also detailed the fiogginI
and Imprisonment in dark cells, which wer
meted out to other prisoners
A Reason for Going to Church.
! My desire for giving you one or two goot
reasons for going to church, which do no
depend upon the authenticity of Christian
IL IL