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Unhappy, Ireland Seething in Sedition
Unhappy Ireland Seething in Sedition--The Fenian
Brotherhood--Hatching the Plot--The Movement of '65--A Split in the
Fenian Camp.
Every student of history is aware that for centuries
the condition of affairs in Ireland has not been altogether happy,
owing largely to the revolutionary schemes which have from time to
time been hatched by so-called "patriots" to "free Ireland from the
yoke of the oppressor," as they termed it in their appeals to the
people to incite rebellion, but more properly speaking to bring
about a repeal of the union between Great Britain and Ireland and
establish an Irish nation on Irish soil. Many brave but misguided
men have been led to their death by joining in such rebellious
conspiracies against constitutional government in years gone by, and
still the spirit of discontent and hatred of British rule is kept
smouldering, with occasional outbursts of revolt as succeeding
leaders appear on the scene to inflame the passions of the people.
Of the Irish troubles of earlier years it is not the purpose of the
writer to speak, but rather to deal with events which occurred
immediately prior to and during the period involving the Fenian
invasions of Canada.
For some time previous to the year 1865 the leader of the
revolutionary movement in Ireland was James Stephens. He was a man
of considerable influence among his compatriots, possessed of good
executive ability, and had great capacity for organization along
revolutionary lines. Being an energetic worker and a forcible
speaker, he quickly enlisted the cooperation of other "patriots" in
promoting the establishment of the Fenian Brotherhood, of which he
was chosen the "Head Centre" for Ireland. This organization spread
with such rapidity throughout Ireland and America that it soon
became one of the most dangerous and formidable revolutionary forces
ever known in the history of any country. Its members were
oath-bound to use every means to bring about the emancipation of
Ireland from the rule of Great Britain, and to encompass the
downfall of "the bloody Sassenachs" on every hand. After thoroughly
planting the seeds of sedition in Ireland, Head Centre Stephens and
his coadjutor General John O'Mahony visited America for the purpose
of invoking the aid of their compatriots on this side of the
Atlantic. Their idea was to make an attempt to emancipate Ireland by
striking a blow for freedom on the soil of the Emerald Isle itself,
and if successful to establish their cherished Republic firmly,
become recognized as a nation by the different nations of the earth,
and thereafter govern their own affairs. On their arrival in the
United States the Irish envoys received a most enthusiastic welcome
from their countrymen, and receptions were arranged in their honor
on their visits to all of the principal cities in the Union. The
speeches delivered at these gatherings were of the most fervid and
enthusiastic nature, and the hopes of the Irish people rose high in
the belief that an Irish Parliament would soon hold a session in
Dublin. Money and men were asked for from America by Head Centre
Stephens, both of which were freely promised "for the sake of the
cause." In due course of time the Irish-Americans contributed over
$200,000 in cash, besides an immense quantity of war material,
towards making the proposed insurrection a success. Volunteers for
active service on Irish soil were numerous, and everything looked
rosy for Head Centre Stephens when he left America for Ireland to
direct "The Movement of '65." But, alas, his high hopes were doomed
to be shattered. The initial steps in the campaign had barely been
taken when "dark clouds in the horizon" began to loom up. A small
vessel, called the "Erin's Hope." had been dispatched from America
with a cargo of rifles, ammunition and other war supplies for the
use of the Fenians in Ireland. A company of adventurous patriots
were on board to assist their brethren in "the rising," and all were
brave and confident of success. They had hoped to run into a
secluded bay on the coast of Ireland during the favored hours of
night, and land their expedition and supplies. But on arrival at the
chosen point the ship was hailed by a British man-of-war and
captured without resistance. The officers and crew were consigned to
a British dungeon, and the ship and cargo confiscated. A British spy
had kept the authorities informed, and the war vessel was at the
designated point of landing to gather in the "forlorn hope" of the
invaders. Other Irish-Americans who were constantly arriving as
passengers by the ocean steamships to take part in the conflict were
promptly arrested as they landed on the quays, and the rebellion of
1865 was nipped in the bud. Much dissension and dissatisfaction then
arose within the Fenian Councils. A great deal of money had been
spent and the attempt had proved a failure. The vigilance of the
British authorities was so keen, and arrests so numerous, that the
available prisons were soon filled, and the hopeful warriors who so
valiantly boasted that they would quickly unfurl the "Sunburst of
Erin" on the walls of Dublin Castle were obliged to retire into
strict seclusion until an opportunity occurred to be smuggled out of
Ireland by their friends and stowed away on ships bound back for
America.
The failure of the rising in 1865 caused a serious division among
the adherents of the cause in both America and Ireland, and the
Fenian Brotherhood was split into two hostile camps thereby. It was
considered that Stephens' policy of carrying on the rebellious
operations in Ireland was an impossible and suicidal one to the
success of the cause. Many Irish-Americans were languishing behind
the bars of British prisons, with an uncertain fate awaiting them
when they were arraigned for trial, and their comrades in the United
States bitterly blamed Stephens and O'Mahony for the fiasco.
Consequently the majority in America revolted, and seceded from the
Stephens faction, claiming that he had woefully misrepresented the
state of affairs that existed in Ireland, both as regarded
preparations for a successful issue, and also the enthusiasm that
was said to sufficiently dominate the people there to induce them to
take up arms when the American contingent arrived.
Col. Wm. R. Roberts, of New York, was the leader of the American
secessionists, who declared their belief that "No direct invasion or
armed insurrection in Ireland would ever be successful in
establishing an Irish Republic upon Irish soil, and placing her once
more in her proper place as a nation among the nations of the
earth." The forces of Col. Roberts gathered strength daily, and soon
usurped control of the Fenian forces in America, much to the chagrin
of Stephens and his followers.
Gen. O'Mahony, who Head Centre Stephens had placed in supreme charge
of the affairs of the Fenian Brotherhood in America, was charged by
Colonel Roberts and his colleagues with having dipped too deep into
the treasury and by extravagance and other questionable methods
dissipated the funds of the Brotherhood. This widened the breach,
and Roberts became the popular idol with the majority of the
American Fenians. Yet O'Mahony held on to office with a ragged
remnant of his old retainers to support him, until finally Roberts
triumphed and became the star around which all of the other Fenian
"planets" revolved.
This site includes some historical materials that
may imply negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of
a particular period or place. These items are presented as part of
the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that the
WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes implied. Troublous Times in Canada, A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870
Fenian Raids of 1866 - 1870
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