Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-12-21
THE NEW CRUSADE
NOW Being Inaugurated for tba
Liberation Of Ireland.
seventy Thousand Men Enrolled who Meet
'of secret Drill In Their ArmorIes ard
Halls Awaiting the Inauguration
OF General European War.

Boston, Dec. l..--The dispatch
printed yesterday morning as to the
formation of an Irish-American army
lor the liberation of Ireland in the
principal cities of the country was
SHOWN to Col. Roger +. Scannell, one Of
.he oloest members of the Ancient Or
der OF Hibernians in this section Of
'he country, and who is also promi-
nently identified with the Clan-na-
uaei and other Irish organizations,
You can say for me-" said Col. Scan.
hel' that there are already in this citv
several companies formed of the Irish
iamer,sa'a- ARRAY. They. have beer
ariillng regularly in their respective
halls, and most of the members ert
good shooters. The companies arc
located in the city proper, South Bos
ton' East Boston, Charlestown and
Koxbury, and, all told, there are / .3Ot
men enrolled in the new organization
"ln addition to drilling in their re.
spective halls the members of the or,
ganlzation take advantage of the holi,
uays and go out into the woods, where
they practice with their rifles. The
leaders OF the movement are military
men, nearly all Of whom are veterans,
The bulk of the organization is mostly
young men who are imbued with en-.
thusiasm and are ready to do all in their
power for aiding their native land.
The Clan-na-Gael believes in open
warfare and are opposed to so much
secrecy in the agitation of the free
dom of Ireland. They intend to have
IL conducted in a more open manner,
and upon broader principles 1t has
been proven in the past in all Irish
movements that the secrecy which pre-
vailed resulted in detriment to the
cause. This was due, no doubt, to the
selfishness of the leaders of the move
ment In many of the Irish move
ments large amounts of money have
been contributed by the Irish people
and the handling of these large
amounts of money is tempting to all
parties.
AT present there is difference of
opinion among the leaders of the
movement on the question of religion
entering into it. Some of the leaders
argue that from the time of Henry
Grattan Protestant Irishmen have
been as faithful as Catholic Irishmen
in their devotion to the Old Sod In
the ranks of the Clan-na-Gael are
many Protestant Irishmen, including
ministers, and they have been true and
steadfast members of the order.
On the other hand. it has been proven
that informers were Protestant Irish
men. who were the hired officials of
the British. Among Clan-na- Gaels the
question they are now discussing is
whether in this new movement it is
eafe to trust so important a movement
to Protestant Irishmen.
This irish American army must not be
confounded with the Ancient Order of
llibernians. 1t is true that there are
thousands of Hibernans who are also
Clan-na-Gaels. The ancient order,
however, is benevolent organization,
but at the same time they are loyal in
their devotion to the native land"
Col. Scanned added that the time of
oratory had gone by and we must be
ready for other means.
while Parnell lived we thought
that Ireland would receive what it
ought to by moral suasion, but having
failed in that direction we must try
some other method.
Some idea of the strength of the
Clan-na-Gael in this country" said Col.
Scanned, ''can be gained from the
statement that there are fully 10000
men enrolled in the organization.
Councils for the Clan-na-Gael are
established in every state in the Union.
The union is strongest in Chicago and
Philadelphia, while New York and Bos-
ION come next in order.
There is no reason why the tory gov
cannot give Ireland what she
S entitled to, and it is now time that
.he Irish, who are in position to de-
nand their rights, should avail them
selves of different means to try and
,btain them.
Europe was never SO long in peace
md slumber before and she cannot re-
main in that position much longer"
In conclusion the colonel said:
European wars must take place
low and again. md if anything should
happen, the Jrish-American will be
ound ready for the conflict and the
iub of the Universe will furnish it's
of the army