The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-07
His REVOLUTIONARY "REMINISCENCES
He Could Have Mustered q Large
Army Of Irishmen.
The PIGEON HOUSE IN HIS HANDS
He Had the Active Sympathy of
The Constabulary.

The following interview with James
Stephens is taken in All. abbreviated
form from William O'Brien's news
paper:
The SHOWS OF nearly seventy-tive
winters fringe rather than crown the
leonine head OF JameeRStephens. But
the old man is still vigorous, and when
the many exciting events OF his ro-
mantle career are taken into account,
his memory OF the days when his was
name to conjure with from the Liffey
to the Mississippi is really matter to
wonder at. He is still physically vigor-
Gus and mentally alert When Mr.. ].
P. O'Brien and The Irish People repre-
sentative met him he was setting out
on a walk countrywards in the brisk
autumn evening. OF course, every Ma
tionalist knows that Mr.. O'Brien was
one Of the most active spirits of the
Fenian mcvement-tllat he was. while
yet youth in his teens, sentenced to a
terrible term of penal servitude for
sharing with such gallant souls as the
late John Boyle O'Reily the crime of
seducing Irish soldiers from their ale
glance to the English Crown, and that
he was only released when Michael
Davitt Corporal Chambers, and Ser
geant Mccarthy were set at liberty, the
latter to die in Charles Stewart Par
nelrs brcakfast-room at Morrison's
Hotel. The bond of sympathy between
such man and the veteran Fcnian chief
may we'll be imagined, and before we
had reached Warrenville both had be-
come reminiscent although we were
fortunate enough to meet Mr.. Stephens
only few yards away from his home.
A picturesque, striking, and attractive
figure his is-venerable with age, yet
still as erect as many men of fifty
perhaps little above the middle height,
built on the sturdiest of lines and evi-
IDENTIFY man who in his prime need fear
few foes. The strong, rather stern, face
is fringed by flowing gray beard, and
the keen, deep-set eyes yet flash with
all their old fire in moments of enthusi-
asnl, while you feel at once in his pres
ence that in his days OF manly vigor
he was keen Judge of men and fitting
head for a revolutionary organization.
"About the old Irish People, Chief
which of the three in charge contrib
uted most to its columns?'
"Well, I should say Kickham. He
wrote great deal. Luby was very
discursive writer. John O'Leary was
the editor, but he did not write SO much
as either OF the others. Kickham'-
and he spoke slowly and tenderly-
"Kickhanl was strange man in some
respects-a dreamer OF dreams"
"More allied to the 'Forty-Eight men
who were poets and writers-tlan to
the members OF revolutionary party,
You suggest"
Precisely. Why, when he was with
me at Fairfield he would insist on walk
ing i'll the garden by himself, so that
there was no chance of our remaining
undiscovered"
"Was the Fenian Irish People
success?"
"Well, that depends. 1t never paid
us-fnancially mcan-but it's effect
throughout the country was marvellous.
can truly say it brought new soul
unto Erin"
Then Mr.. J. P. O'Brien became rem
iniscent. II remember, Captain" he
said, "that there were half dozen read
ers for every copy"
"More than that" said Mr.. Stephens,
"it passed from hand to hand every
where, and it carried on its mission we'll
We preached our doctrines openly, and
the effect was remarkable"
Much has been said ard written as to
the real strength OF the Fenian organi-
cation in its palmy days. The Head
Center is surely the man who can speak
on the point with the authority OF init
mate knowledge. Our representative
put the question plainly-"Could you at
any time put 10000 men in the field at
given signal?"
Promptly and emphatically came the
answcr-"I could have put 2ooooo!'
And then he went on to tell how, out
side the natural strength of the organi
cation in Ireland and Great Britain,
thousands Of drilled soldiers were sworn