Troublous Times in Canada | Page 4

Many Irish-Americans were languishing behind the bars
of British prisons, with an uncertain fate awaiting them when they were
arraigned for trial, and their comrades in the United States bitterly
blamed Stephens and O'Mahony for the fiasco. Consequently the
majority in America revolted, and seceded from the Stephens faction,
claiming that he had woefully misrepresented the state of affairs that
existed in Ireland, both as regarded preparations for a successful issue,
and also the enthusiasm that was said to sufficiently dominate the
people there to induce them to take up arms when the American
contingent arrived.
Col. Wm. R. Roberts, of New York, was the leader of the American

secessionists, who declared their belief that "No direct invasion or
armed insurrection in Ireland would ever be successful in establishing
an Irish Republic upon Irish soil, and placing her once more in her
proper place as a nation among the nations of the earth." The forces of
Col. Roberts gathered strength daily, and soon usurped control of the
Fenian forces in America, much to the chagrin of Stephens and his
followers.
Gen. O'Mahony, who Head Centre Stephens had placed in supreme
charge of the affairs of the Fenian Brotherhood in America, was
charged by Colonel Roberts and his colleagues with having dipped too
deep into the treasury and by extravagance and other questionable
methods dissipated the funds of the Brotherhood. This widened the
breach, and Roberts became the popular idol with the majority of the
American Fenians. Yet O'Mahony held on to office with a ragged
remnant of his old retainers to support him, until finally Roberts
triumphed and became the star around which all of the other Fenian
"planets" revolved.
CHAPTER II.
THE FENIAN CONVENTION AT CINCINNATI--THE BIRTH OF
THE IRISH REPUBLIC--"ON TO CANADA!"--GEN. SWEENY'S
PROGRAMME.
The seceders from the Stephens faction met in Convention in
Cincinnati, Ohio, in September, 1865, a very large number of delegates
being present from all of the States in the Union. After the usual
preliminary oratory and the adoption of several resolutions, the
delegates formed themselves into a body which they termed "the Senate
Wing of the Fenian Brotherhood." They ridiculed the idea of invading
Ireland successfully, and changed their base of operations. "On to
Canada" became their slogan, and the idea was so popular that they
quickly secured the allegiance of thousands of disappointed Irishmen
who were anxious and ready to strike a blow at England in any quarter
In order that there should be some recognized source from which all
orders, proclamations and edicts could be officially promulgated, it was

resolved to form an Irish Republic (on paper), as the Fenians were
without territory until they captured it. This was accomplished by the
adoption of a constitution framed on the model of that used by the
United States. Its provisions included the usual regulations (both civil
and military) for a Republican form of government, and its unanimous
acceptance by the delegates was received with glad acclaim. Col. Wm.
R. Roberts was chosen as President of the new Republic, and Gen. T.
W. Sweeny (who was then commanding officer of the 16th United
States Infantry) as Secretary of War. The other Cabinet port-folios were
handed out to "lesser lights" in the Fenian fold.
As even Republican governments cannot be maintained, or military
campaigns conducted without the expenditure of money, the Irish
Republic could prove no exception to the rule, and therefore the work
of collecting funds and gathering munitions of war for the invasion of
Canada was immediately commenced. Fenian "circles," or lodges, were
organized in every possible corner of the United States for the purpose
of stirring up the enthusiasm of the Irish people and securing money to
purchase arms and ammunition. Military companies and regiments
were formed wherever practicable, and drilling and parading was
pursued openly during the fall of 1865 and winter of 1866, getting
ready for the coming fray.
Funds were raised in various ways--by voluntary subscriptions, by
holding picnics, excursions, fairs, bazaars and other methods. But the
largest source of revenue was derived by imposing upon the credulity
of the sons and daughters of Erin by the sale to them of bonds of the
Irish Republic, a chimerical dream which was painted in such glowing
colors and presented with such stirring appeals to their patriotism that
hard-earned dollars were pulled out from every nook and cranny in
many Irish homes to invest in these "securities" and thus help along the
cause. The following is a copy of the bond, which will serve to show its
wording:--
No. ...... No. ......
It is Hereby Certified that

The Irish Republic is indebted to ....... or bearer in the sum of TEN
DOLLARS, redeemable six months after the acknowledgment of THE
IRISH NATION, with interest from the date hereof inclusive, at six per
cent,