The Irish standard., 1900-01-13
Brief Description of the Little
Battle of Ridgeway.
CANADIAN TROOPS PUT To FLIGHT
Sketch of the Irish Commander
General John O'Neill.
The Washington correspondent

The Washington correspondent OF
the New York Freeman's Journal is OF
the opinion that the recent talk of
Fcnian invasion OF Canada has had the
effect OF arousing the martial spirit OF
the Queens loyal subjects across the
American border. The story OF Fen
ian invasion was evidently started by
English agents to put the Canadians to
drilling. When the Canadian parlia-
ment meets the Fenian scare will be
held up like a bug-a-boo, whenever any
OF the Liberals attempt to speak against
the transport OF more troops to the
Transvaal. Even if the French Cana
dians succeed in preventing the dis
patch OF more soldiers the scare will
have operated to bring out all the mar
tial spirit of the real John Bull Canadi-
ans. and make them more bitter than
they might otherwise have been.
In this connection, the following ac~
count OF the Fenian invasion OF Canada
is given by the New York Tribune, a
pro-Boer organ of the ranlsest Lind:
In 1865 the close OF the Civil War
left without occupation large Number
of American citizens OF Irish birth or
parentage who had seen much active
military service. Most OF these were
imbued with strong hatred OF England
and many OF them had distinguished
themselves not only by the usual Irish
gifts OF physical courage, but also by
the display OF higher qualities as lead
ers Among the latter was Colonel
O'Ncil, graduate OF West Point. Cir
cumstances seemed to indicate to the
bitterly anti-British Irish in this coun-
try the expediency OF great military
organization in furtl1erance OF their po-
litical designs. Seven years before, in
1858, the "Fenian" movement, with a
name taken from one OF the, legendary
heroes OF the primitive Irish races, had
begun in Ireland The "Fenian Bro
therlood' now sprang into what was
said to be thoroughly organized and
equipped existence in this country. 1t
was reported at that time to have fol-
lowing OF more than fifty thousand, as
well as regular government, with all
office Gin the neighborhood of Union
Square" Its organization was certain
ly complete enough to encourage it to
attempt rising in ireland. James
Stephens, the famous "head CENTER"
landed in that country, but was arrested
and put in Jail. The Fenian rising OF
1865 failed, and while Stephens re-
manned incarceratcd the leaders On this
side fell out among themselves.
OF the two factions in the Brother
hood, the credit Of the first attempt to
raid British North America, with the
United States as a base OF operations,
belongs to the O'Mahoneyitcs" In
April, 1866, they assembled force OF
500 men at Eastport, Me-, and there re-
ceived $50 stands OF arms, paid for with
the money OF their secret sympatljzcrs
Upon complaint OF the British consul at
Eastport, the United States government
confiscated these arms The British, on
their sidc having been forcwarncd, sent
troops from St. John to Campobello
N. B., the threatened point, and, on this
side. General Mendi; with body OF
regular troops, kept watch at Calais,
Me. So ended the first attempt, re-
membcred among the supporters OF Fe-
nianism as "Killian's Raid"
Next month, however, Stephens him
self, having escaped from prison, ar
rived in New York, and his arrival was
the occasion OF something like recon-
citation between the two factions,
whose animositics had been accentuatcd
by the failure OF the Campobello at
tempt. Stephens himself is said to have
been opposed to another border raid
but Roberts, the leader OF the anti
O'Mahoney faction, now triumphant in
the councils of the Brotherhood, was
determined on such a plan. Neither
their own dissensions nor the seizure OF
more than two thousand rifles by the
United States government could turn
them from their purpose. The Fenians
from many states assembled and held
a secret convention At Buffalo, and from
Buffalo disquieting rumors OF Fenian
invasion crossed the Canadian border.
Between the middle of May and the
end of that month there was great mill