The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-28
HISTORICAL
Story Of Organization OF Fen
iauism In Ireland.
Society Was Known az The Irish
Republican Brotherhood

On the 18th of March. 1888. Thomas
Clarke Luby Swore James Stephens
into the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
I.uby himself on the same occasion
taking the oath from stephens. Thus
il was the first Revolutionary Brother
hood was established in Ireland. the
name Fcnian being first applied by
John OMahony in America, writes
,fuhn j. Muligsn i'm the Dublin Free
,r;,n. Although it was not till March.
1883, that the movement was started
e in Ireland the idea of overthrnWing
English rule in that country had for
some years been discussed by O'Ma-
hony and some other As fugitives i'll
France and America. including Colonel
Michael Doheny. who along With
O'Mahony, may be said to have been
the founder of the F'enian organization
in the latter country. In 1854 Stephens
twho had been teaching and doing
journalistic work in PariS) returned to
Ireland with the idea of making de-
termined attempt to liberate his coun-
try from English rule. His first step
was to find out exactly how the feel
ings of the people stood. In his tour
OF over 5000 miles he found that at
heart the people We're still sound on
the National question. He decided
th;l, the situation was favorable for a
revolutionary enterprise, and he began
to look out for some likely men to help
him in involving a suitable plan of
action. The first men of Importance
whom he found at all sympathetic We're
John O'Leary and Thomas Clarke
L.uby. Late in 1851 an envoy came
from New York to Dublin. bearing Will,
him an important mission directed to
James stephens from John O'Mahony.
Michael Doheny. and others. In this
communication the writer's expressed
and asked him to start an organization
in Ireland to win back independence
for that country. When this commune
cation reached his hands. Stephens
responded to the effect that he was
prepared to enroll 10000 men in a con-
Spiracy to break the English yoke, pro-
,ided he was given uncontrolled power,
and G1O0 a month for the first three
months of work. These terms he
,t<,I,r fol, l.,,
man named Denecfe. who returned
after a few months with a message
that these terms We're accepted, and
bringing with him the sum of 500 to
make a start with. How the move
nent was started on st. Patrck's Day
1858. has already been told. Stephens
let once began the work of organizing
the country, in which he was ably
seconded by Luby. Towards the end
Of 1858 Stephens went to America fol
the purpose of consulting with OMa-
hony about certain matters in connec-
ton with the movement. chiefly to urge
upon him the Importance of keeping w
the sinews of war" which had been
coming along slowly for some time. !,
party Of action" had sprung up In
the American organizal lion. who We're
anxious for an immediate appeal to
arms. and to this party Stephens gave
his sanction and sympathy during Il
visit he paid to the States i'm GA
u'Mahony, on the other hand. rcfuscC
his assent to Il policy which in his
opinion meant ruin for the movement
stephens. who mad" a rather extended
tour at this time. promised every
where he went that he would either
fight or dissolve the brotherhood ii
1865. In June he sent O'Dnnoval
RoSs;, to America with message t.
O'Mahony that he intended to fight OF
the Goth of September of that year
and asking him to issue 1.-The final cali
for levy of five dollars per head tc
form war chest for the coming
struggle. OMahony and the Contra
Council, in response. sent over two Ell.
toys, named Mechan and Dunno. I,
find out how affairs stood: the result
of the mission was--Mcehan lost hi.
"despatches" in kingstown wher,
they were picked UP and forwarded I,
the authorities. who lost little time il
taking action. $500 was amongst tn,
papers which found its way into til,
Governments hands, instead of tn,
war chest for which it was intended
Several drafts which O'Mahony know
ing nothing of the disastrous mis:,d
venture. continued to send over
amounting to over c3OO0. were als
seized by the authorities. ON the nigh
of the 18th of September. '65. tn
irish People" office was broken int
and the type distributed and carried
away. and every one on the premise
arrested. John OLeary. the editor q
the paper. was arrested at his lodging.
For Stephens. who was not amongs
the captures, the Government offere
f2Oo reward. which they increase
after /. few days to $4,000. But h
was nowhere to be found, althoug
living at Fairfield Hoose. Sandymoun
in the society of his wife Early /
November Mrs. Stephens. who wer
undissuised to and from the town, wa
tracked home one night by detectives