THE FENIAN MOVEMENT too 



fields, to find a refuge in foreign lands, bringing with them thither a 

 burning desire for the destruction of British tyranny, and bequeathing 

 this feeling as an heirloom to their posterity." The ninth pointed out 

 that the first step toward the disenthrallment of Ireland from the "fell 

 tyranny of Great Britain" was to form a close alliance between "the 

 Irish citizens of the American Republic," those still living on Irish soil, 

 and "those expatriated Irishmen, who are planted by thousands like 

 so many hostile garrisons " throughout all Great Britain. Several of the 

 resolutions dealt with the "C. E." and "L R. B." but these were not 

 printed. In another of the resolutions, the convention avowed that 

 the Irish should prepare at once for Freedom's battle, and by another 

 they resolved that the Irish people constituted "one of the distinct nation- 

 alities of the earth and as such is justly entitled to all the rights of self- 

 government." 



The convention also adopted an "Address 1 to the People of Ireland." 

 The address, in part, read: 



We are solemnly pledged to labor earnestly and continuously for the regeneration of 

 our beloved Ireland. That pledge, with the blessing of Divine Providence, we shall redeem, 

 and when the wished-for hour will have arrived, we shall be prepared with you to meet the 

 implacable persecutors of our race in battle array, to put an end forever to the accursed 

 system under which our unhappy people have suffered such cruel tortures or die in the 

 attempt We are thoroughly convinced of the utter futility of legal and constitu- 

 tional agitations, parliamentary "policies" and all similar delusions Americans 



already admit that the non-recognition of the revolted States by England is due to the 

 attitude which the Irish people have assumed, both at home and in this Republic. If the 

 Irish people at home and abroad were united in a band of brotherhood for the salvation 

 of their own country, would the United States hesitate for an hour to strike a blow which 

 would be followed by two inevitable results— peace in America and liberty in Ireland ? 

 .... Here we have soldiers armed and trained .... with able and experienced generals 



to lead them We have but to act as becomes brave and reasoning men, and ours 



shall be the pride and the glory of lifting our sorrowing Erin out of the streams to her 

 place among the nations. Brothers rely upon us. We rely upon you. 



Perchance excerpts from one of the addresses delivered at the con- 

 vention will give us still a better insight into the ruling spirit and trend 

 of the movement. After passing in review the long "vista of ages" 

 the orator 2 said: 



« Proceedings of the First Fenian National Convention, pp. 55 S. 



■ James Gibbons of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Resolutions and Addresses. 



