192 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



and independent" organization composed of "citizens of the United 

 States of Irish birth and lineage and the friends of Ireland living else- 

 where on the American continent and in the Provinces of the British 

 Empire wherever situated." It also stipulated that each member should 

 take the following pledge: 



l t , solemnly pledge my sacred word of honor as a truthful and honest man, 



that I will labor with honest zeal for the liberation of Ireland, from the yoke of England, 

 and for the establishment of a Free and Independent Government on the Irish soil; that 

 I will implicitly obey the commands of my superior officers in the Fenian Brotherhood; 

 that I will faithfully discharge my duties of membership as laid down in the constitution 

 and by-laws thereof; that I will do my utmost to promote the feeling of love, harmony, 

 and kindly forbearance among all Irishmen; and that I will foster, defend, and propagate 

 the aforesaid Fenian Brotherhood to the utmost of my power. 



The constitution fixed the minimum weekly dues at five cents and 

 the minimum initiation fee at one dollar, leaving to each Circle power 

 to impose larger fees. Each Circle and Subcircle was to meet once a 

 week. From all meetings, discussion upon religion or American politics 

 was to be "peremptorily excluded." 



The convention adopted a long series of resolutions 1 which, by special 

 vote, they entitled "The Declaration of the Independence of Ireland." 

 The first of these resolutions declared that the Brotherhood would use 

 every honorable means to gain the independence of Ireland save such 

 as were in violation of the constitution and the laws of the United States. 

 The second declared that war was fast approaching between the United 

 States, their "adopted country" and England, their "hereditary enemy" 

 and so decreed that the young men of the Brotherhood should "apply 

 themselves 'sedulously' to the study of military tactics and the use of 

 arms" .... and should organize themselves into companies, "so as 

 to be prepared in case of war to offer their services to the United States 

 Government by land or sea, against England's myrmidons." The eighth 

 proclaimed the "undying love" of all Irishmen for Ireland and their 

 "intense and undying hatred toward the monarchy and oligarchy of 

 Great Britain which have," the resolution continued, "ground their 

 country to the dust, hanging her patriots, starving out her people and 

 sweeping myriads of Irish men, women and children off their parental 



1 Proceedings of the First Fenian National Convention, pp. 20 S . 



