The Irish republic. [volume], April 04, 1868, Page 5, Image 5

About The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??

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P. S.—You need not, in the least, thank me for the state
rraent of account I furnish you. If I knew any other method
■to take from you all pretext of slandering me, I would have
continued to treat you with the silent contempt you merit,
until an opportunity would offer to settle, with yob. Send an
order to some of your friends for the large number of your
papers in my hands, many of them being returned to me
ircNd the most distant portions of this State. J. II.
Now, here we have an acknowledgment from Mr. Hamill,
•dated January 29, exactly nine months from the date of our
sending the first papers to him. He received eighty-nine
'dollars, according to his own statement; whether he received
any more is a question “to deponents” at present unknown.
Why did not Mr. Hamill answer any of our letters sent to
him in regard to this whole transaction ? Would he have
answered us yet did we not publish him to the world ? Just
think of the dishonest subterfuge by which he seeks to justify
his silence. Some gentlemen wrote to us, saying we were
mistaken, and he, Mr. Hamill, waited until we should ac
knowledge we were wrong. This, after his telegram to us,
“ keep silent till you hear from me. Look at the manner in
which he piles up the expenses, leaving a few dollars in our
favor, which, of course, according to his ideas, would be all
salisfactory if he would send it to us. But, no. Mr. Hamill
is too honorable a man for that. He will return it to the
subscribers. Divide it up and send a few cents to each. The
iman who can doubt Mr. Hamill after that, should be “ex
jpelled from the Brotherhood.”
Behold what we have lost by our strange conduct to this
man ! Any amount of stock and subscribers galore. We
would advise Mr. Hamill to get his friend above mentioned
to duck him in the Ganges—by the by, the Ganges was used
for the washing of the dead—for it would take some such
ablution to clean his skirts of this little transaction.
The low slang of this man in regard to one of the editors
of this paper, for having the misfortune ! to be a Protestant,
clearly shows that he would be more at home in some Molly
Maguire lodge, where he could kill Protestants, than at the
head of an Organization that proclaims itself above cant and
sect. This is in keeping with the action of others, nearer
home., who are endeavoring, at this hour of the day, to excite
the animosity of the Catholic portion of the Brotherhood
against their Protestant countrymen.
The P. S. of Mr. Hamill is the finest piece of unblushing
(effrontery that we have ever read. It is the criminal caught
in his disreputable work, and falling back on his impudence.
'There is nothing left for him but to assert and bully. Like
the chased thief crying out, “ stop thief,” to puzzle the public.
Just think of this man threatening us, with a half a continent
between us. It is like the Chinese fighting with a mountain
between them, firing away into the mountain, and beating
their gongs as though they would smash the wrorld. We do
not assert that Mr. Hamill might not be a desperate fellow,
for it is easier to find a scoundrel in our race than a coward.
Now, to leave Mr. Hamill, and speak to the Fenians, for this
whole matter is Fenian and but a link of that great chain
that stretches from San Francisco to headquarters in New York.
Those of our brother Fenians who happened to be at Cleve
land, will remember the actions of “ our leaders,” in endeav
oring to condemn certain journals. This was taken up after
Mr. Hamill’s letter was read to the Convention, wherein Mr.
Hamill recommended such action. No names were mentioned;
but the Convention saw the whole move was leveled at The
Irish Republic, and, thanks to the independence and intel
ligence of the men who composed said Convention, the chief
movers had to withdraw their vote of censure. Now, take
this man’s (Hamill’s) action in preventing money from
reaching the prisoners’ families, his action in preventing The
Irish Republic from circulating in California—which, to a
great extent, he has successfully done—his letter to the
Cleveland Congress, and then take the late movements of
General O’Neill and others in connection therewith, and see
if the whole thing is not a well matured and maliciously ex
ecuted plan to kill off Tiie Irish Republic. Mr. Hamill
is State Center of the Senate wing of the Fenian Brotherhood
for California. Unlike the balance of the State Centers, who
serve for nothing, Mr. Hamill receives either fifteen hundred
or two thousand dollars in gold yearly, for tending to the
office. We do not find fault with paying officers. We
merely mention the fact to show that he is not a disinterested
servant. That he is part and parcel of the rest of the men
who are endeavoring to keep the people divided, that they
(the officers) may conquer.
The undersigned takes advantage of the absence of the
senior editor of The Irish Republic to tell Mr. Hamill
that, when he thinks he makes a point by appealing to the
religious prejudice of our Organization against Dr. Bell, for
being a Protestant, he mistakes the men of the Brotherhood,
and defiles the position he occupies. The Fenian Brother
hood is neither Catholic nor Protestant, it is Irish, and those
who think otherwise will find out their mistake. To all
others who wish to separate the editors of The Irish
Republic, and aim their attacks at one for being a Protest
ant, and the other for being a Catholic, the undersigned begs
leave to say that he is as much responsible for the editorial
columns of The Irish Republic as Dr. Bell, and that both
Dr. Bell and the undersigned, as far as the responsibility of
the editing of this journal is concerned, are one. With
this explanation, we submit Mr. Hamill’s statement, and feel
that out of his own mouth we have convicted him of having
dealt unfairly with The Irish Republic. We do not blame
Mr. Hamill. He is but carrying out theorders of his superior
officers, and we must say that he has been more successful in
killing off The Irish Republic in California than his
masters here at home. Distance has assisted him. Besides,
we did not know any parties in the Golden State to whom
we could communicate. Michael Scanlan,
One of the Editors of The Irish Republic.
-nn>
Marquette, Lake Superior, Michigan.
To tho Editors of The Irish Republic.
Gentlemen: At a regular weekly meeting of the Mont
gomery Circle of the F. Ik of Marquette, Lake Superior,
Michigan, held on the evening of the 19th March, 18(58, the
following resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Whereas, The earnest efforts of the true and patriotic
Irishmen, both at home and abroad, in tlieir endeavors to
rescue their native land from the Saxon yoke, have been,
and are still being, frustrated by a criminal, power-seeking
and faction-ruling set of demagogues, who, in their unholy
desire to keep up strife, whereby they may retain office and
satisfy their ambitious schemes; and
Whereas, It has been demonstrated in the most emphatic
manner, by the Circles of the F. R. throughout the entire
country, that it is their universal desire that such men should
give place to those who would labor with earnest zeal to
perfect a UNION, and unite our country in the one common
object; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, the members of the Montgomery Circle
of Marquette, Michigan, do withhold our sympathy and
support from each and every branch of the Fenian Organiz
ation, until such time as a union is effected, based upon the
true principles upon which the Organization was first organ
ized ; and be it further
Resolved, That this Circle do discontinue its communica
tions and transaction of business with any headquarters of
any branch of the F. B., and that the amount now in the
treasury of this Circle remain there, until a permanent union
is effected.
Resolved, That the secretary he and is hereby instructed to.
send a copy of these resolutions to THE Irish Republic,
Irish-American and Boston Pilot, with the request, that the/
Bame be published.
(Signed) Terence Moore, Center.
William Buckley, Treasurer.
Hugh O’Neil, Treasurer.
Stephen Rice, t
Terence Moore, > Committee on Resolutions.
William O’Brien, J
-—
St. Patrick’s Bay in Blossburg, Pa.
Blossburg, Pa., March 19, 1868.
To the Editors of The Irish Itepublie.
Gentlemen: The Irishmen—and they are nearly all j
Fenians—of the Tioga district, celebrated St. Patrick’s day
by not having a foolish parade in the mud, but by having a
ball at Blossburg and a l’uflle at Morris Run for the benefit,
of the cause of Ireland’s redemption. I am glad to inform
you that we have opened a subscription list in aid of Isaac
Butt, and if the Fenians elsewhere “go and do likewise,”
that patriotic and talented Irishman, who has done so much
for Ireland, will not long remain in a debtor’s prison on
account of a paltry sum of four hundred pounds.
Notwithstanding that a large quantity of thunder, in the
shape of an “address,” (?) has been let loose on your heads '
from a certain high quarter, I attribute the above two im
portant results to your teaching; and a newspaper that
accomplishes such good things—makes Irishmen substitute
work for spoutiny—should, in my humble opinion, be the very
last thing that deserves to be denounced. On the same prin
ciple, the New York Tribune should be excommunicated,
because, while it advocates a certain doctrine in American
politics, it is in sympathy with, and writes in favor of, Ire
land’s freedom. Both papers are managed by associated
private gentlemen; and it appears to me that the same rule
should apply to both; and if it would be the height of folly
(and nobody will deny that it would) to denounce the Tribune,
it is none the less in the .case of The Irish Republic;. We
shall thank and encourage (and we did both at the Cleve- i
land Congress) all papers that assist us.
If “ that address” of O’Neill be wisdom, I’ll have none of it.
A temperance society has been organized in Blossburg,
composed of some of the best Fenians of the Blossburg
Circle, with William Hyde as president. They have already
established a library. May the example be followed else
where. More anon. Yours very truly, Mick.
SPIRIT OP THE PRESS.
“The Irish Republic,”
Which has won an honorable rank among American journals,
is about to be removed from Chicago to this city, where it
should have been started—this being by far the most advan
tageous point from which to address the whole American
people, or any class or portion of them diffused over our
entire country. We doubt not that the Republic will here
find a larger audience and a fuller appreciation than it has
obtained in the busy and generous Western emporium whence
it has hitherto been issued.
The Republic in the current issue discusses the rights
and duties which inhere in citizenship from its own stand
point, which we presume to be that of most Irish-Americans
—perhaps of most adopted citizens. Its fundamental propo
sition—that adopted citizens in truth have precisely the same
rights as the native-born, and that our Government is bound
to assert and defend those rights under all circumstances—
will find no contestants on this side of the Atlantic, and we
trust few anywhere. The right ot voluntary expatriation,
which at one time seemed to have no powerful asserters out
side of this country, appears about to be incorporated into
the public law of Christendom, where it should always have
found a place. The true interest of all nations—still more
emphatically, the interest of all peoples—require this, and
no one seems disposed openly to contest it. When this point
shall Rave been well settled, we may advance to the consider
ation of the obligations and responsibilities of those who
visit and sojourn in foreign lands, whether those of their
nativity or others. We prefer to move step by step to the
desired solution. Meantime, we invite attention to the
Kkpublic’s leader, copied elsewhere in these columns.—New
York 'Tribune.
--■—
How the Fenians Can Make Successful War on
England.
Special Correspondence of the Iron Age,
Washington, March 9, 1868.
The movement for a revision of the tariff in the interest of
our laborers has begun. Mr. Broomall, of Pennsylvania, has
introduced a bill to add 20 per cent, to the duties on iron and
steel and copper, and their manufactures, and on fabrics of
cotton, linen, wool and silk. Driggs, of Michigan, has
moved relief for the depressed copper industry of the Lake
Superior districts of his great State,‘.by higher duties on im
ported copper. Miller, of Pennsylvania, by joint resolution,
struck for the “protection ” and encouragement of “ all the
industrial interests of the United States. Morrell, Chairman
of the House Committee on Manufactures, has introduced a
bill “to modify the warehousing system ”—the first swing of
the ax, by a vigorous arm, at the monstrous abuse which lets
foreign manufactures pile up untaxed imports on the edge ol
our markets, ready to be rushed in the moment they can be
profitably sold, and the moment that our domestic produc
tions can be rushed out by the avalanche.
There is a good time coming for the workingmen of Amer
ica. Our country is not wholly a colony of Great Britain.
“Great Britain”—the words by an association of ideas
recall the biggest waste of passion and misdirection (if asso
ciated effort that this generation has seen—the passion and
work of the Fenians. These men, inspired with a just
hatred of an oppressive government, which made those in
the United States exiles from the country of their birth, and
left those in the motherland political slaves and paupers,
have organized war on the British Provinces—have raised
military expeditions to Canada—have invaded British ter
ritory and fought battles—have sent arms, ammunition and
soldiers to Ireland, have organized armed outbreaks in the
cities of that island and England—have planned and accom
plished night attacks upon arsenals, police stations and
military posts, and have created all under the rich and lux
urious society of England alarm, anxiety and unrest. They
have taxed the labor of the Irishmen and women of the
world, and have raised and spent millions of dollars in the
dream of tearing Ireland from the British power, and of re
compensing England with force, damage, bloodshed and loss
of territory and property for the wrongs suffered by the Irish
under her laws and government. What has been the result ?
What is the net profit of this huge investment of passion,
effort and money? In this country it surely will be repre
sented by a naught. In England it has stimulated Parlia
ment to discuss the Irish question.
The laws governing Ireland, that are mischievous in their
operation and partial and unjust, will be altered. Evils in
the administration of the laws will receive correction. But
this legislation will be for the general good of the owners
and occupants of the Green Island. Irishmen alone will not be
benefited by it. English and Scotch will participate in the
good. Then Ireland is no longer an Irish island. The
exodus of its Celtic population has already transferred to
the United States a majority of the Irish people. Fenianism
is an American institution. The Fenians are mostly in the
United States and mostly Americans. For the body of this
Order, for the mass of this people, living here in the
Northern, Middle and Western States, what value will con
cessions made in Parliament ITall have? what atonement
will be made by, what satisfaction for wrongs suffered will
be got out of, British legislation, which does not reach them,
and in which they have no interest? It is a very -wonderful
thing that the Fenian leaders overlooked a practical means
of striking the English a blow, where alone they were vul
nerable, and which, struck square and hard, would have
staggered their country and their government. That was a
blow at the manufactures and commerce of England, which
are her power and her wealth. How could this blow have
been given ? Easily. Had every affiliate of the Order when
initiated been sworn among the other oaths—“And I solemnly
covenant and promise that I will never buy, use, wear or
consume an article of British manufacture, nor permit my
wife, children or sisters to do so, and that I will in every
way possible discourage the consumption of goods made by
the hated Sassenach, and call on my representative in Con
gress to exclude them by sufficiently prohibitory laws from
importation into theUnited States, and to deprive the English
from the benefits they now enjoy in the American market”
—had the Fenians been sworn into a social and political
warfare on British manufactures, they would long ere this
have accomplished a-success of which they would have been
proud, and which would not have cost them a drop of blood
or a dollar of money. The Irish democracy, banded to
gether, could have forced through Congress the legislation
that would have made voyages to America in British ships
unpfofitable, and sales of British goods in America impossible.
One quarter of the machinery in Great Britain would have
stopped—bankruptcy would have toppled down her cotton
and woolen lords—her spinners, weavers, cutlers, machinists,
miners and laborers would have flocked to the United States
for bread, a vast accession of wealth to us, and irreparable
loss to the British, whom the Fenians so bitterly hate, yet
don’t know how to hurt.
Has not the Order some sensible man in it who can lead
his passionate countrymen into this practical way of making
war on England ?
A Singular. Case—A Man Struck Dumb on the Cars.
—A gentleman who resides in Wilkes county, and was re
turning home from Augusta on Thursday last, entirely lost
the power of speech soon after the train left Augusta. We
heard him attempting to talk soon after he got on the train,
and in a few moments he could not articulate a word. He
was in the possession of all his other faculties, but his lips
were literally sealed. His distress was very touching, and
he wrote replies to questions addressed him by the passen
gers and tried to bear up under the terrible visitation. He
said that he had been on a spree. He hoped it was only a
species of delirium and would wear off with rest and sleep.
He. said he had once been partially deprived of his speech
before, for a short time, in Virginia—Athens (Ga.)