The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-09-17
Patrick Egan Recalls One of the
Most Interesting and Amusing
Episodes
lnthe History of the National Strug.
gleof Forty Years Ago in
Ireland.
How the Fenian Treasury Was Re-
plenished, Earl Spencer
Contributing.

The death of Earl Spencer, generally
known as 'the Red Earl" and among
his friends as "the Fenian Earl" twice
Viceroy Of Ireland, recalls, says Pat
rick Egan, the well-known Treasurer
of the Land League, in the New York
American" one of the most interest
ing and. amusing episodes Of the Ma
tional struggle Of forty years ago in
Ireland in which he was led into play
ing, unwittingly, the leading role in one
of the most important Fenian gather
ings held in those days, and made to
contribute very materially to swell the
then depleted Fenian exchequer and to
put new life and courage into the
movement.
The Arrest Of. the Fenian Leaders.
After the seizure of the revolution
ary organ, the Irish People," in 1865,
and the prosecution and Imprisonment
of large number Of the active work.
ers, including Thomas Clark Luby,
John O'Leary, O'Donovan Rosa and
others; followed by the suppression
Of the attempted rising of '67, with its
-endless crop of prosecutions and i'm
prisonments for high treason, treason
felony and the feet of the litany of
crimes against British tyranny, the
Fenian organization and it's exchequer
were very badly demoralized.
To add to the difficulties of those of
us who had been fortunate enough to
keep out Of prison and who, under COW
er of the Amnesty Association, which
we started In 1868, had been keeping
the flag flying, we were obliged to take
such care as we could of number of
the habeas corpus prisoners, then be-
ing liberated, and Of many of the rela-
tives Of the long term prisoners who
had been left almost destitute. Indeed
in January, 10, we were driven almost
to our wits end, when, fortunately, the
happy thought occurred to the writer
that by a little diplomacy we ought to
be able to press the enemy into serv-
ice, as well as our friends, to help along
the cause.
Tho st. PatricIss Day Fete.
My plan was to organize grand
popular fete for the coming st. Pat
rick's day with great peoples ball in
the evening, the whole to be given "un-
der the patronage Of the Lord Lieu
tenant" which, in accordance with
custom, would insure the presence at
the fete Of the viceroy and Countess
Spencer, accompanied by their entour-
age. with all the fashionables trailing
after, while the Fenian organization
and influences could be counted on to
supply the rank and file; the whole to
be. OF course, for the benefit of the
Fenian exchequer. The idea was warm
ly taken up by my associates OF the
Amnesty Association; and it's secre-
tary. John Nolan, one of the managers
Of a city department store, afterward
universally known among the Irish
race as amnesty" Nolan, threw all
his marvellous executive power into the
work and contributed largely to ita
success.
Knowing the keen desire of the Dub.
lin Castle crowd to get by hook OF
crook close to the people, with the
view. Of course, to eventually win them
away from their Nationalist leaders
we determined to utilize this desire
We first secured from Court Shamrock
of Foresters, of which 1 was q men,
ber, authorization to hold, under its
auspices, for benevolent purposes, a
popular outdoor fete and popular ball
Armed with this We sent carefully
selected delegation, under the leader.
ship Of young city attorney, to S'l
Arthur Guinness, afterward Lord Ar.
delaum. true blue Tory, who owned
the Dublin Exposition Palace with its
magnificent grounds, to ask for the use
of the palace and grounds for st. Pat.
rick's day to hold a grand popular
fete and ball for benevolent purposes
to be held under the auspices of Couri
Shamrock Of Foresters-a strictly non.
political and non-sectarian organization
extending over England. Ireland and
% 4. 20 & p i