The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-23
THE DYNAMITE PL0T ! ],
Origin and Growth of the "Skirmish-
ing" Idea Among Irishmen.
O'DOnOvan ROssa's Projects-What PrOba-
bility There is that the Outrages
Abroad are Plotted in America.
New York Herald.

New York Herald
There seems to be reason to believe that
America is the basis of supplies for the des-
perate men whose schemes of destruction,
undertaken in the supposed interest of Irish
nationality, have from time to time been
brought to light by the English police. The
members of a certain wing of the Irish revo-
lutionary party in this country, too have
always been outspoken enough, in general
way, in their public advocacy of warfare by
Internal machines and assassination. But in
the public regard and especially in the re-
gard of other prominent Irish nationalist,
these men command little confidence. Their
declarations have been repeatedly described
in public prints as cheap seeking after no.
toriety, and it is even believed by many that
they know as little of the atrocious plots on
the other side of the ocean as the general
body of the public. On the other hand, the
more respectable section of the Irish revo-
lutionists has time and again disavowed all
| connection with outrages committed or
| stores of dynamite discovered in the British
| dominions. Thus the question remains an
open one-Who in this country are the back
ers of the active dynamite workers on the
| other side?
| The design of the skirmshing fund was to
carry on an irregular warfare, a sort of per-
petual skirmsh against England, and in
the beginning Rosa promised to show the
subscribers work" as soon as $1,000 should
| be gathered. A blow was to be struck here
and there as opportunity might Offer and
| the plan was to harass the British govern
ment and make way for the efforts of the
| regular revolutionary organizations. Rosa
said he was willing to burn some shipping in
Iixror al ; - GIE
burn down London and the principal cities
OF Englandr asked one or two whom Rosa
| in the beginning associated with him in the
movement Rosa said he was in favor of
anything. The question of loss of life was
| raised Yes said he who had put forward
the idea; yes, it is war, and in all war Life
must be lost but in my opinion the loss of
| life under such circumstances would not be
one tenth that recorded in the least of the
smallest battles between the South and the
North Two questions now presented
semselves to Mr. Ford
Il. Was the thing feasible2'
80. II feasible, what would be the probable
result?'
lie answers the former thus: 'sThat the
idea could be carried into execution-that
London could be laid in ashes in twenty-four
| hours-was to us self-evideHt" He goes on
to show how Irishmen could mature their
plans without exciting suspicion, and by a
little system and choosing windy night the
atrocous work could be accomplished by ten
| or dozen men. But what would be the re-
suit? ITO answer this question:" said Mr..
| Ford, who, for reasons of his own, has be-
come the historian OF this stage of the move
ment, lit is necessary that we know the posi-
ton which lreland's enemy occupies on the
monetary map of the world. This position
is entirely an artificial one" He goes on to
say that England only maintains her posi-
ton through sort OF confidence game"
Then destroy London, he suggests and En-
glands credit falls; down go her banks her
insurance companies, and her prestige" and
| so on, until the writer becomes satisfied that
Ireland might become ''England's regener-
ator as we'll as her own emancipation, and
over the blackened ruins the English repub-
lie and the Irish republic, forgetting and for
giving the past, would sign treaty of per-
petual peace"
MONEY, BUT NO WORK.
The fund at its outset had but Indifferent
success. John O'Leary, James Stephens,
Thomas Clarke Luby and other old-time Fe-
MAN leaders denounced the principles and
objects of its founders in unmeasured terms,
and the great majority of the Irish people
in America turned from it with disgust But
on April 10, 1876, John J. Breslin effected
his daring rescue of a number of Feuian
convicts from Australia, and within a week
or two the intelligence reached this country.
Now as matter of history it may be stated
on authority that neither Rosa nor his
fund was in the remotest way concerned in
the rescue but still this was an example of
what money and daring might do in conlbi-
nation. 1t was n brilliant example of ''skir-
mishing,' in short. and the popular mind
appreciated it. Dollars began to flow in very
fast, and the $4,000 asked for to begin
work" was soon exceeded Rosa now as
sumed the air of Delphic mystery for which
he has become notorious. No skirmishng
was done, and, in fact, no definite plan had
ever been prepared. 1t is true his
outpourings in the Irish World
were as terrible as ever, but they
| referred mainly to what he would do
He snid numbers of young men were impor-
| tuning him to be set TO work-and that was
probably true-but for some occult reason
nothing was done. In February, 1877, John
| O'Mahony, the American Fenian Head Cen
| ter. died. and, as the readers of the Herald
will remem Der, his body was transported to
| Ireland after public funeral in this city.
The expenses of these obsequies. to the
amount of Sc, 800 or Whereabouts, were paid
out OF the skirmishing fund, and constituted
| the first considerable draft from it,
! But the fund was now. in fact q white ee-
| plant on the hands of its trustees. Rosa,
it is alleged, had desired to appropriate
| large part OF it for a scheme to kidnap the
frlilce OF wares during MS lnulan tour. but
beyond this he apparently had nothing prac-
teal i'll view. At the same time, too, the
! leading Irish national bodies in this city not
| having much confidence in the trustees
| discretion, came to the conclusion that the
latter must no longer keep control of sum
which might enable them to do serious mis-
chief Negotiations took place which result
| ed in the resignation of MessrS. Rosa, Ford
| and Clancy as trustees, and Thomas Clarke
| Luby, Thomas f. Bourke. DR.. William Car
roll, John ]. Breslin, John Dewey and james
Reynolds became trustees in their stead. Ros-
| sa on account of his personal liabilities, was
not made a trustee but he remained secre-
tary to the board and was allowed a voice in
its deliberations. This was in March. 1877,