New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-01
THE "SKJRuLSUJNG FUND.-

THE SRTRMISHING FUND"
There is serious side to the otherwise lar
cica Developments in the embodiment OF the
Irish patriots over the disposition of the money
contributed to what is known as the " sklrmsh-
ing fund" The falling ont of these people IS
nothing strange. That was to be expected
from the first Had it been otherwise it would
have been il phenomenal event in the history
of such movements. great deal of money
has been raised in this country during the past
thirty or forty years for the ostensble purpose
Of freeing Ireland from the dominion OF Great
Britain. 1t will hardly be pretended that any
thing in that direction has been accomplished
by it, OF all the organizations that have been
set on foot with that end daring this period,
we do not recall one that has not frlttercd
away much more time and money in small
squabbes among the leaders than in promoting
the cause they undertook to serve. The
money, like that constituting the " skirmshing
fund" now in dispute, has been raised in
driblets contributed by scrvant-girls and day
laborers at considerable personal sacrifice.
Whatever may be said of the object in view CT
the methods pursued, it cannot be denied that
the sef-denying devotion OF the contributors
is something to be admired Their ZEAL even
though it has been ignorant and misdirected,
has in very high degree the quality of Unborn
patriotism. But their contributions have been
almost entirely wasted to support in ideness
and worse than ideness set of mischioyous
demagogues and shftless yagabonds.
In the present instance there has been raised
from the sources indicated a sum amounting to
upwarni c. 100000; very large sum when
the circumstances or the contributors are con-
sidered sum representing great individual
sacrifices as well as almost incredible faith. The
pdrpOse for which the fund was intended was so
wildly chmeucal as to give the whole enter
plise the character of farce, but the methods
proposed were full enough of tragedy, and
tragedy of the most cruel and c0ld-boOded
sort. Mr. jeremiah ODonovan's plans, fer the
furtherance Of which the diminishing fund "
was started, cooly contemplated the violation
not only of the fundamental principles of inter-
national law but of all the obligations of
humanity as well. His avowed purpose was, and
we presume still is, to institute a system of saw
age warfare, not against the British Govern
ment but against anybody and everybody who
should sail as Il passenger or ship freight III
vessel carrying the British flag. 1t was not to
be open war or manly iightir g, either 1t was
to be carried on by the most cOwardly as well
as most brutal and savage methods. The
sinking of ocean steamers by means of Internal
machines concealed rs freight was one Of the
measures which he openly advocated. His
theory was that by such instrumentallteS, and
the prosecution of a guerilla warfare whose
weapons should be dynamite bombs, torpedo
rams and the like, the British Government
could be so inundated and alarmed that in
self defence it would cut Ireland loose aud
cOncede her Independence. Ii seems incredible
that scheme at once Sd wicked and SO absurd
should have been proposed by anyone out Of
madhOusc. But there has been no secret about
II, and the cold truth stares Us m the lace that
for the purpose named over 500 600 has been
openly and in the light Of day subscribed and
paid in this country. And this is the slir-
mishIng fund about which we have the pres
ent quarrel.
These things not being done in a corner, but,
on the contrary. with great parade and pub
Lefty, is it very strange that the English Gov
eminent and its officials should regard with
suspicion naturalized lrshmen returning to
Ireland from this country? The 500, 600
Diminishing fund represents great many
probably n great many Observation-Disclosures
1t represents a distinctly ayOwed and well
defined purpose to make war upon the English
Government and people, not only through po
litical agitation but by assassinatons and
murders, individual crimes and wholesale con-
spiracies Farcical as the whole business may
seem to us looking on at the noisy gatherings
and listening to the wild absurdities INDUCED
in IN Tie name OF patriotism, it is far other
wise to the Government and people against
whom this war without quarter IL proclaimed.
But our Irish-American skirmishers who are
exerting themselves so strenuOusly To excite
the fears Of the English Government are very
indignant if they find upon returning to Ireland
that they have succeeded to such degree that
the Government is suspicious of them and puts
them under watch. They propose to brighten
Great Britain into freeing Ireland by threats
of all sorts of conspiracies. But after they
have done that they must expect to be watched
if thew return to Ireland. Nor does IT come
with good grace from contributors to Skin
mishing funds " and sympathizers with such
enterprises to howl about the "rights" of
American citizens when their plans are inter-
fered with.
HERR AUERBACHS RIDE.