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senate Chamber, £) Z,, oO oN
vicars hae Purrato, N, Ys JULY 25, 1868:.-
To the Officers and Members of the Fenian Brotherhcod.: a CO t
Fetrow Counrrrvex, AnD _Brotiters—Since the last Oceisioa on which, in our official capacity, we |
addressed you, th2 organization in which you are laboring for the regeneration of our Fatherland has
passed through an ordeal stich as no political combination ever before encountered without’ being de
shattered and destroyed. To meet with success the assaults of open’ and recognized opponents, - |
whose power is solidified by long establishment and aided by prejudices carefully instilled through a‘ -
venal press, requires a strength and firmness which few political organizations, even when ‘backed '
by wealth and official patronage, are capable of exhibiting.. But the -Fenian Brotherhood rests” |
on a deep:r and ‘more secure foundati_n. Having its origin in the inherent virtue and patriotism of ‘
the Irish race, and drawing the inspiration of. the principles it enunciates fron the invincible: deter:
mination of our people to make their. country what God and Nature designed it to be—a Free aud
Sovereign Nation—our organization has not only repulsed the desperate and continued attacks ‘of the’:
hereditary foes who desire to destroy in its infancy the movement for the liberty of Ireland ; it’has:
even more decisively mét and overthrown the machinations of those more dangerous enemies ‘who, - t
under the false pretence of friendship, sought to bring discord and ruin into the national ranks, and be
to degrade your organization into a mere tool of partizan polities. ote
It is'the fate of all oppressed peoples, that their weakness and defenceless condition expose: them
to be preyed upon by the co:rupt and unprincipled—to have ever- in’ the-way by which ‘they seek to oie
regain the priceless jewel of freedom, wolves in sheep’s clothing, ready to devour their substance, still
prompted to attempt fresh ravages by the knowledge that their victims do not possess ‘the power’ of
adequately punishing their villainous perfidy. From. such evils, we could no more expect to be ex-_
empt than any other ‘nation situated as we have been; but more fortunate in some'respects, anil”
taught'by puinful experience, the keen perception of our people has enabled them to detect’ the false-
hood and insincerity of those who would have lured them from the true path, and by teaching them
to trample on ard despise the laws made by themselves, give our enemies another pretext for:de- .
claring us-incapable of self-government. With ‘the courage and constancy which belong only.to a
virtuous-race;-you haye resisted the temptation’ to anarchy and revolt; and by your prompt. and effect- .
ive sustainment: of ‘those whom ‘you had placed at the head of your organization, you have given
another evidence of the capa-ity'for self-rule of the Iris’) people, which needs only-a fair chance for
its exercise to place them amongst the’ foremost of ‘the civilized nations of the earth.” :
Brothiers,’a short review of the workings of the organization during the past half! year is proper
here, and will give you a fair idea of its present ‘position, as it will also justify the confidence with’
which we can now declare to you that the Fenian Brotherhood never.oc:upied a firmer or more ad-' be
vantageous position than that which it now ho’ds, with an absolute certainty of being speedily able to
realize the fervent wish of every patriotic Irish heart, by putting an. armed force into the field‘ to -
wre t the liberty of Ireland from the grasp of her.felon foe.. You are aware-that your Senate, ‘at‘its=
session’ in ‘December and January last—while neglecting no necessary steps ‘to carry out! the war.
policy, which experience has proved .to be the only trae’ programme for any organization aiming to ’
achizve the liberation ‘of Ireland—lett no effort untried .to unite. all!men calling. themselves Irish
Nationalists in this sacred crusade for the redemption of our common, country. ..To effect this object,
no overture was omitted ; every concession, short of the abandonment of pzinciple and violation of
the Constitution: and Jaws of.the Brotherhood, was offered ; but offered in vain, as far as some were...
coacerned, who: arrogate to themselves ‘the position of leaders. These men, while clamoring for _
“union,” showed by their action that their only objezt was to grasp the money and resources which, .
under the: prudent management of ‘your officers, had been’ accumilated for the cause of Irelarid, ~
While professing to be patriotic Irishmen; t: ey have shown that they were in reality only speculators _
in American polities, trading on what capital they could make out of the wrongs of our unhappy