Troublous Times in Canada: A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870 — John Shaqi
Troublous Times in Canada: A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870MacDonald, John A. (John Alexander)
History
Troublous Times in Canada: A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870
MacDonald, John A. (John Alexander)
Canada -- History -- Fenian Invasions, 1866-1870; Fenians
"By the tempting offer of a surrender of Canada to the United States,
Mr. Seward, it is hoped, will wink at connivance between American
citizens and the Fenian conquerors, and by another summer it is thought
the dominion of the Brotherhood north of the St. Lawrence will be
formally acknowledged by the United States, Russia, and each of the
American republics. The third year of Irish tenure in Canada will, it
is believed, array two of the great powers against Great Britain. John
Mitchell, at Paris, will organize the bureau of foreign agents; and
Ireland, maintaining a position of perpetual revolt, will engage for her
own suppression a considerable part of the regular British levies."
EUROPEAN OPERATIONS.
"At the present time a bureau of operations is being quietly organized
in Paris, where the opposition press has already proclaimed for
Irish nationality. It is Mr. Mitchell who sees that the funds of the
Brotherhood are distributed in Ireland; he also is in correspondence
with liberal statesmen in Great Britain, and conducts the disintegration
of the British army by touching the loyalty of the Irish troops, who
constitute one-third of the Queen's service."
THE CUNARD STEAMERS TO BE SEIZED.
"Among the earliest aggressive operations will be the overhauling of a
Cunard steamer between New York and Cape Race, with her usual allotment
of specie. In like manner the British lines of steamers proceeding from
England to Quebec, Portland, Boston and Halifax, will be arrested and
their funds secured."
THE WAR IN IRELAND.
"Military operations in Ireland must, of necessity, be confined to the
interior. Three military departments will be organized--the Shannon, the
Liffey, and the Foyle--and the campaign will be entirely predatory or
guerilla in its conduct. The British Coast Guard stations will fall easy
conquests, their number and isolation contributing to their ruin; while
from the Wicklow Mountains, through all the rocky fastnesses of Ireland,
the cottagers will descend upon the British garrisons, maintaining
perpetual and bloody rebellion till the better news comes across the sea
or the patience of England is quite worn out."
This was a mighty and stupendous programme truly, but oh how visionary!
It embraced the extreme aspirations of the boldest and most sanguinary
Fenian's, and its publication no doubt served to bring more money into
their treasury. But, alas for human hopes, its execution never happened.
Yet it fired the hearts of the soldiers of the Irish Republican Army,
and they eagerly awaited the summons to march "On to Canada." All
through that winter drilling and preparation continued, and the
enthusiasm of the men was kept warm by fervid oratory appealing to their
patriotism, while they boldly chanted their song:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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