Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-08-06
JOHN BRENNAN. !.

JOHN BRENNAN. a.
He Would Fling In the Faces Of the line.
mics of his People the Fires of He'll and
the Lightnings of Heaven.
Sioux City Journal
John Brennan, widely known over the
country as Judge Brennan, late presi.
dent of the order of United Irishmen in
TINS country. returned to the city yester-
day from Dakota, and was sought out bv
an inquisitive Journal reporter who
wanted to know what he had 10 saw
about the internal machines, lately
discovered in Liverpool, and the state.
ment Of p. w. Grove, of Peoria. I'M.
with reference to their origin. Judre
Brennan was not at first disposed to say
much about the matter, SO far as tie
connection of the order of lrishmen with
the business might be concerned. The
idea that he could be in any way con-
nected, or in any way dispoS ed to coun-
tenance, any plotting to destroy passen-
ger steamers, or the property or lives of
non-offenslve people, was too absurd for
nm to talk about. But this was not the
feature of the case upon which the re-
porter was seeking information. and SO
by considerable perseverance, and after
more or less random talking, Judge
Brennan finally yielded gracefully to an
interview.
"Was this matter of sending internal
machines to England" said the reporter
considered at the meetings of the order
of United Irishmen 2"
mo such proposition" replied Judge
Brennan, was ever considered at any
public meeting which attended, and no
such proposition was ever adopted at
any private meeting which 1 ever at
tended"
"Was this matter considered at any of
the meetings? You say it was not at
meetings you attended," H.A5
III such a proposition was discussed
at other meetings am presumably un-
acquainted with the doings of such
meetings. You must remember that I
am no longer in the council of the Or
action?" iiGTa7 ~ -,
"My thought on the subject would lie
OF no more value than anybody else's
thought. Agents of Irish revolutionists
may have sent those machines, and il is
quite as likely that they were sent by
agents of the English government"
"Ihen you would approve of such
action in the interest of 1reiand?"
g! would not approve of any action
terding to the destruction of non-com-
battant lives or private property. Des-
tructlon of forces and weapons making
war upon the lives and liberties of the
Irish people is another question"
"What would you say upon that ques.
tionY
Il would say upon that point that if I
could invoke the fires from hell and
draw down the lightnings from heaven
1 would fling them in the faces of those
who are making war upon the country"
Including Internal machines?"
II haven't said that"
"Then you pretty nearly agree with
what Grove is alleged to have said in
the interview with him?"
"Ihat is an inference on the part of
the reporter that may be proved or dis.
approved bv comparison"
what do you think of Crowe's state
ment?" s.5@,
II think he never made the statement
credited to him. for much of that state.
ment I know to be false and the remain.
der is probably untrue. Grove has some
purpose in view other than the enlieht.
enment of the public.
"What do you suppose it is?"
II can't say, but / should suppose he
had some purpose other than the enlight
enment of the public-probably a joke
on the reporters"
"How long since you were connected
with the directory OF the United Irish.
men?"
"Not since about the 18th of June"
"Were you the president up to that
time?"
II was"
care you at liberty to say why you
resigned2'
eyes; resigned realizing that I am
not the stuff out Of which practical re-
volutionists are made"
"Then the purposes of the order are
levolutionary?'
Certainly"
"In what methodist.
"As to what the plans and purposes of
the organization are, 80 far as have
been permitted to know, am not at
liberty to DISCLOSE
"Is Grove representative man in the
oAASAS nau WouW yOu 1CSuEu LID SUhbc-
ments, known to be such, as truthful?"
Il know OF no act of his or very effec.
tive service that entitle him to be
regarded as representative man.
His reputation among business peo.
pie in the community where he lives is
very good. He is the father of a large
family. and certainly very moral man,
unless over-zeal IN the cause of Irish re-
volution would be deemed immortality.
His statements made in sincerity and
truth would be entitled to credit. He
might not hesitate to lie if his purpose
was to deceive his enemies"
"Do you expect good for Ireland from
the work of this order of United Irish
men?"
"Every tree is known by its fruits
The result for Ireland will depend upor
the wisdom of those who have charge O.
its affairs. The spirit of Irish history
teaches me this: That whatever of the
Irish race is left and whatever O
liberty they enjoy are the fruits o
physical resistance to the English powe
in Ireland, and except by the method
of physical force have no hope what
ever for any concessions on the part o
England. Every substantial concession
ever made to Ireland has been made res
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