The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-12-20
HELP FOR THE PHYSICAL-FOH
MEN IN IRELAND
After All, Revolution Is The Only Remedy
For lreIaad's Woes"


We notice that there was a meeting
of delegates from the various Irish
societies held Sunday afternoon in
Irish-American Hall the object of
which was to make arrangements for
an entertainment of some kind by
which sum of money could be raised
for the Skirmishing Fund, which is
now being accumulated under the SUI
perintendence of O Donovan Rosa in
New York. The meeting resulted in
the appointment of Il committee OF
five to draw upa report aS to what
they may consider the best means of
promoting the objects in view.
Hence, we may regard it as a certainty
that something will be done which
will swell the Skirmishing Fund by a
respectable figure.
Now, we have not spoken much of
the Skirmishing Fund III these col
umns, except to censure the wild and
violent ideas expressed III the letters
written by some of the contributors to
it: and it is not our desire, at present,
to say anything us to its merits or
dement's. But we will repeat that
we do believe in honorable warfare,
even when dealing with England; and
that we do not approve OF nytrO-gly-
cerine. or dynamite, or Osmitum, us
an agency for the redress OF the griev-
ances of Ireland or any other country.
We, once for all. condemn the en-
ployment of any mode, or any engine
Of destruction which cannot distin-
guish between the guilty and the
innnaant nr vbi oh cnitac alil-a no
combatant and the non-combatant.
Such things are condemned by the
Christian spirit of the age. and their
use would disgrace the hottest of
causes.
lrishmen have been always punctil-
iouSly sensitive about the unsullied
character of their patriot chiefs. and
scrupulous about the means employed
in the battle for national independ
ence. The flag which they hope tC
see wave III triumph over their native
land is stained with blood and with
tears. but there is no soil of crime
upon it. We cannot bring ourselves
to believe that there are any number
of men willing 10 bring dishonor upol
it now. O'Donovan Rosa has himself
emphatically declared that he vii
sanction nothing of which an honora
BILE Irishmen need feel ashamed befor,
the world. We do not tlatter hin
when we say that we are satisfied h,
is an honest man and means what h,
says. 50 we have not one word Q
blame or even criticism for the mel
who are here trying to raise money TO
the SkirmiShing Fund.
Nobody need countenance TIL
movement. and nobody will be aske'
to contribute who does not approve o
the purpose of the revolutionary fund
1t is all a question for the men VIII
give their money. and outsiders hay'
no right to complain or find fault
The sIrishman who Conscientious,
believes in the propriety and expedi
ency of employing physical force TO
: the assertion of Irish nationalit,
should be ready to give not only hi
money. but his life. for that sacre,
cause. The lrlshman who has conf
dence not only III the honesty O
O'Donovon Rosa. but in his ability t,
use we'll and wisely the money en-
trusted to his care. is certainly iusti
fled in contributing to the Sklrmish
ing Fund according to his means
But another Irishman, equally good
equally patriotic. may not have tina
confidence, and may fear that tn
money would be expended upon enter
prises which he could only condemn
and he would not be justified in cor
tributing. Which is right Whic
= is wrong! These are questions "
are not called upon to determine