The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-09
THE sKIRuTsuIy0 FUND.
Difference OF Opinion as TO How the Money
should he Expended.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir. On
Sunday. Aug. 2j there were published In THE
Sun some extracts from the letter OF n corrc-
spondent in reference to O'Donovan Rossa's
resignation MS secretary Of tho skirmishing
fund and Gen. Thomas j. Bourkc's replies
thereto. Tho subject has been talked about very
much among Irish Nationnlists since then. and
its reproduction in the Hish H'Ord gives it
additional importance. as that paper is extern
sivcly read by the subscribers to the fund
Gen. Bourko says: There has never been
my difference between Mr.. Rossn md other
members Of the Board If Trustees ms to tho en-
ploymcnt of the fund or the policy to be pur-
sued and the man who says otherwise Ia n -
fool" As n subscriber to tho fund take OK
cepton tn this statement. and propose to show
very plainly that there hive been differences
md worry serious differences too. between Mr..
Rosa aud tho other members OF the Board OF
Trustees.
:. on March 81 tthe day Rosse escaped with his
life from Torontol Gen. Bourkc gave the follow
ing opinion ot him In the Np,c York Hetdh:
lie ,R.s'a, has nuiishcd In connection with the
10 himsrif and vnrioms d,~,uc,ts l., hip,.niT Viii,
express princircs with which other prominent Itisncn
nosimpatSy lie has "kcd Of " Sm co9nr"ncSd o.hSr
po;,VSs means a" i"iWrins Enrlomd an. a" i i. TAX
- ho,h i"li,h AMI immoral nni no one smrathizcs
any better
In Rossn's circular when starting tho skir-
mishing fund Urist WorH March T. 1870 he
gives some extracts from u previous number of
TINT newspaper, from which | take the follow
ing passage:
We Gsnc,c ireland anbe made an independent ~
uun W. believe that. strong ami hhuvtv NJ ENGLAND Is
today, tlc men OF me lnsh race can hrng her lown
price Ere i've wears more are past Rr,a'nis ma, he
sreh sitting m tlo AMI IN ashes smid the smouirr
way Hut 10 make Ireland iree nust have recourse
10 The same style ct WARFARE that England herself
should resolve upon this or else they should stop talking
"II.rriiiar, bond.mcn know yc not
Who would be tree thcm-clvs must strike the blov'"
And then he goes on to say:
NJ other constitution is necessary for the "skirmish.
Trs wan M cryrn embodied N TIC eboyc cS,rnci from
have nothing to DO with the conncil's the coicrio, or
NE direction OF Their work They may contribute. but
Of teo.e who ce warranted in striking Ensiaii ncrci
es-N H> she as ever stricken our cupc aud our lnnd
This circular Ii printed In full on the bnck Of
every list sent to the SUBSCRIBERS and covers I'm
~ aslacc about equal to three columns OF THE
SUN The mnNms for skirmishcrs, printed
In tho HiSh Horh ut the head of the sulscrp-
ton si every week. ia somewhat similar Ia the
circular. sum. 81 s7o.onQ has been COLLECTED
on the strength OF tho creed embodied In this
circular. and ns the present hoard " trustees
hhvr no sympathy with such principles |
inil to SEQ by,what right they assume control Of
tons accompanied the subscriptions il was in q
tone similar u the circular.
A lew specimens from among many will
hc sufficient to- show what they wanted
done with their money. Frank Powers
t2i subscription sends IS on January 10
70 buy dynamite. g.. John Grosan sends
$50 Tor himself and nine others ON
March ~ Tor the same purposes. l.. O'Brirn
ion and Grtck fr ,p n.y. ON " Npri A. s5 S for
himself and many others To buy dynamite. KUN
cotton and the like. Nowhere does n subscriber
bic warfare"
Now these men sent their money for spcci-
He'd purpose and hero we have Gen Hourke
anu moro OF the trustrcs who never subscribed
q cent Themselves. telling these men that not "A
England except by honorable means. And Won
Frank Power John Grogan. T. O'Brien and tho
rest Of you. subscribers who talk II Grcck fire
dynamite and the like. are ignorant persons
who do n y know any better"
inc General says, moreover. that nobody
had the faintcst Idea OF dcprivihg Rossa of the
Sccrctaryshiu. His resignation WAS purely
and entirely voluntary act on his own account
alone" This Is extraordinary language from n
man who. with other members oil tho honrd 81
trustees. had been for n long time trying Ia In.
duce Hossa 20 resign. and who finally told him
that II he DID not yield quietly. they wnnld
about other means la mike him resign. Even
then he would not surrender. and did not til he
was lying SICK in bed. when "A rendy.madr
r.sgnaii"n was taken t. him for hi- signature.
What WIS tho cnusr 81 such indecent haste :
W"re they nfrnid he'd stand No Tor his rights
and IN" rights OF the subscribers again when
he got better
After all this Gen. Bourke says: There has
never been the slightest difficulty In any way
mtween Mr.. Rosa and tho other trustces."
might say great deal moro on this subject
but feel TINT have already taken NJ too much
'o your valuable space. SNtsiisuER