66 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 



FENIANISM AND IRISH DISAFFECTION. 

 1873. 



Fenianism was the greatest imposture of modern 

 times. It was an exhibition of the worst side of 

 Irish character. Its origin was in the United States, 

 and it depended, for such life as it had, on the sub- 

 scriptions of the Irish of the States, raised systema- 

 tically by persons who were paid a percentage on the 

 sums they collected, and who probably stole as much 

 more as they liked, any real audit being plainly 

 impossible. A desire somehow to help the old home, 

 and that anxious fear of each other, which is so 

 marked a feature in Irish character, and is such a 

 contrast to English independence, were the motives 

 for giving. Without doubt the credulity of the 

 givers was frightfully imposed upon. 



In Ireland the movement had a certain hold in 

 the large cities of Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, and in 

 one or two of the most turbulent country districts, 

 notably in parts of Tipperary and Limerick. In the 

 smaller towns there were a few members of the 



