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FENIAN" BROTHERHOOD. 



the field of poetry, history, criticism, classical 

 learning, popular eloquence, he possessed abili- 

 ties, which if exclusively directed to a single 

 object of ambition, would have given him a 

 brilliant preeminence ; no department of what 

 is somewhat loosely called polite letters, was 

 foreign to his nature; and in several of the 

 higher spheres of intellectual activity he was 

 probably without a rival among the ablest and 

 most distinguished men of the past or present 

 generation. He certainly lacked the force of 

 character which qualifies a man to guide and 

 mould the opinions of his fellows ; with a gen- 

 uine love of progress, it is no paradox to say 

 that he combined a dread of innovation ; he 

 shrunk before the ghosts of public rumor ; his 

 trust in principle was even modified by his mis- 

 trust of consequences ; with a want of the enthu- 

 siasm, the personal magnetism, the free, spon- 

 taneous abandonment to the genial impulses 

 of the moment, which make ardent friends, 

 he was annoyed with the perpetual fear of 

 making enemies. He carried his kindness of 

 manner, his spirit of conciliation, his deference 

 to prevailing prejudices, his love of compli- 

 mentary allusions, to the very verge of sincer- 

 ity ; it was hard for him to make up his mind 

 to call a bad thing, or a false idea, by its right 

 name ; and even in the defence of vital public 

 interests, he trembled before the audacious or 

 the subtle assaults of his antagonists ; he was 

 too fond of granting concessions for the sake 

 of peace. The great error of his life, in this 

 respect, and one from which he never fully 

 recovered in the esteem of many, was his mem- 

 orable apology for slavery in his maiden speech 

 on the floor of Congress, which called forth 

 the expression of such withering scorn from 

 Mr. Randolph, and which clung, like a plague- 

 spot, to his garments. 



In his personal habits, Mr. Everett was a 

 model of industry, promptness, and power of 

 easy and rapid execution. He never forgot an 

 appointment, nor neglected a duty. In the 

 performance of his literary tasks he was as 

 punctual as the rising of the sun. Though 

 essentially scholastic in his habits, no man had 

 a clearer head or a readier hand in the routine 

 of practical affairs. With his love of elegant 

 retirement, he exercised a devotion to detail, 

 which would seem marvellous to persons who 

 are not aware how largely this element enters 

 into the conditions of success, and even of 

 greatness, in every department of life. His 

 handwriting, which he formed when a school- 

 boy, and retained to old age, was as lucid and 

 beautiful as copper-plate. The act of composi- 

 tion cost him little effort at the time, although 

 the fruit of years of thought and study, and the 

 manual process of writing, stamped his most 

 ornate and exquisite productions indelibly upon 

 his memory. His manners were polished and 

 courtly, though wanting the subtle grace of 

 natural sympathy. He was not a man of quick 

 or strong emotions, unless he apprehended some 

 rude invasion of his fastidious personality. He 

 was alert in resenting a fancied injury or insult, 

 or even an unfavorable criticism, and the com- 

 ments of hostile tongues would sometimes affect 

 him even to tears. He loved the approval of 

 indifferent persons too much for his own hap- 

 piness, perhaps for his own dignity, although 

 his sensitiveness to public opinion strengthened 

 his habits of self-command, and made him, in 

 all the relations of life, a paragon of external 

 propriety. He will be regarded as one of the 

 most highly gifted and admirably cultivated 

 men of the present age, but he has left no mon- 

 ument which will furnish an adequate memo- 

 rial of his genius to future generations. 



FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. This is the 

 name of an organization of persons born in Ire- 

 land, which exists in the United States, the Brit- 

 ish Provinces of North America, Ireland, and 

 elsewhere. It commenced about 1857, in an 

 organization known as the Emmet Monument 

 Association. The pith of the name consists in 

 the fact that. Robert Emmet, an Irish revolu- 

 tionist, when about to be executed in 1803, 

 asked of his countrymen, that no iv.onnment 

 might be erected to his memory until his coun- 

 try should have become free of British thraldom. 

 An association, therefore, which proposed to 

 build a monument to Emmet on Irish soil, 

 implied an effort for the overthrow of the 

 British power in Ireland. The name of Fenian 

 was subsequently adopted, being recognized by 

 Irishmen as relating to the period in which 

 their ancestors were most prosperous, happy, 

 and independent. The most active agent, in cre- 

 ating the organization, was John O'Mahony, 



the head, at present, of the order in the United 

 States. Little, however, was accomplished 

 previous to 1859, when it became developed in 

 its present form, and began to extend both in 

 Ireland and North America. 



The organization, especially in the United 

 States, is formed on scientific principles. Noth- 

 ing better could be devised for bringing into 

 action the highest efficiency of its members. 

 The lowest detail consists of a Local Circle of 

 not less than sixty members, when a commis- 

 sion is granted by the State Centre, which also 

 authorizes the Circle to send a delegate to the 

 next Fenian Congress. The Circle numbering 

 sixty, its members elect a permanent Centre, 

 who, if approved by the State Centre and Head 

 Centre, will then be approved and confirmed 

 by the latter. These Centres, on a certain day 

 of each month, make out in duplicate full re- 

 ports of all their proceedings, receipts, and dis- 

 bursements, increase or decrease of members, 



