XXVI.
To return, however, to Rossa and his Skirmishing Fund. As a prominent Fenian of “the old guard,” and a member of the Clan-na-Gael, Rossa’s influence, backed up by Ford’s advocacy, succeeded in getting together no less than 23,350 dollars by the 14th March following the issue of the appeal—in something less than twelve months in fact. Although, however, this large sum had been accumulating during this period, and portions of it had been ready at different times for use if required, no skirmishing or pretence at skirmishing had taken place, and some little dissatisfaction commenced to manifest itself at the non-fruition of the many promises which had been held out of “hurting England.” There then occurred the transfer of the fund to the Clan-na-Gael under very mysterious circumstances, which have never been thoroughly explained or understood. The nearest approach to an explanation was afforded by a communication from Rossa, which appeared in the Irish World of the 21st April 1877, which, I think, I cannot do better than quote here.
“When I started this Skirmishing Fund, the council-men of the two Irish revolutionary societies in America—the Fenian Brotherhood and the Clan-na-Gael—took it into their heads that I was going to interfere with the regular revolutionary work, that I was going to play the deuce with everything, and they gave me no friendly help. I have been doing all I could to convince them that I am not the very desperate character I was in prison or out of prison; and some six months ago, being telegraphed to visit a convention of one of those societies, I went there. I there proposed to receive into the trusteeship and Executive Council of the Skirmishing Fund one or two of their body, provided that the one or two meant skirmishing work such as was laid down in our programme. This proposition of mine was accepted, and all passed off harmoniously.
“Here is how things stand now:—Mr. James J. Clancy, who acted as treasurer of the fund, got married a few weeks ago and ceased his connection with the Irish World. Then Austin Ford wrote me (on 14th March) the following note:—
“‘I told you that, at a certain Irish convention, I had consented to admit to the trusteeship of the fund some members of their body. They gave me several names to select from; and looking about for men who meant work, I took the names of John J. Breslin, who rescued the Australian prisoners, and who was the principal actor in the rescue of James Stephens in 1865; of Doctor William Carroll, of Philadelphia, who left his professional business (and being a particular friend of John Mitchell), came to New York when Mitchell was going to Ireland two years ago, went on board the steamer to see him off, went on the steamer with him to Ireland, having no other idea in his head but to take care of him. The other name I took was that of James Reynolds of Newhaven, Connecticut. He is the man in whose name the Catalpa was registered, and he mortgaged his property to raise $4000, when it was needed at a crisis in connection with the expedition. Now Mr. Clancy and Mr. Ford have resigned, I have in connection with these three men I have mentioned taken into the trusteeship John Devoy, Thomas Clarke Luby, and Thomas Francis Bourke.’
“Last night Thomas Clarke Luby went to Washington, carrying with him $17,500 in American bonds endorsed by me, to have them transferred for safe keeping to the names of Dr. Carroll, Thomas C. Luby, John Devoy, Tom Bourke, John Breslin, and James Reynolds.... John O’Mahony died. It was deemed well to send his remains to Ireland. There was no money to bear the expenses. I thought I might trespass on the skirmishing money. I consulted Mr. Ford and Mr. Clancy about a loan. They said it could be legitimately looked upon as within the pale of our work, and they paid me $2030 to defray the expenses. The Clan-na-Gael and the Fenian Brotherhood have promised to refund the money.”
No secret was made of the connection which now existed between the “trustees” and the “fund,” for a public address was issued “to the Irish people in the United States,” and published in the Irish World of the 21st April, containing the following passages:—
“But since the ‘skirmishing’ project was first announced, circumstances have greatly altered.... Old Europe is threatened with a general convulsion. War on the most tremendous scale cannot much longer be staved off by all the artifices and subtleties of all the diplomatists in the world. Russia and Turkey are equally resolute to fight the inevitable fight.... The rest of the Great Powers of Europe will be drawn by an irresistible force into the arena. England, above all, whether she likes it or not, must draw her sword once more or meanly confess herself a third-class power. She is too proud of the part to yield her high place without a blow. She must first be beaten to her knees.
“England’s difficulty then has all but come; in other words, ‘Ireland’s opportunity.’ Is Ireland prepared to seize that opportunity?...
“In view of the altered circumstances of the time, ‘big with fate to us and ours,’ we propose to enlarge the basis of the ‘Skirmishing Fund,’ established by Rossa, and of the plans it was intended to further. We propose forthwith to create a ‘Special National Fund’ to aid the work of Ireland’s deliverance.
“Action, some may think, has been postponed too long. Be this as it may, we are determined to lose as little further time as possible ere we furnish our countrymen with practical results of our work. But a blow must be followed up by blows. Unhesitatingly then” (they ask for) “the means to do what may give heart and inspiration to our brothers at home, and prepare the way for the last grand struggle.
... “We shall only add that it is plain that ‘the Home Rule Agitation’ has signally failed to satisfy the yearnings of the Irish people. The O’Mahony funeral demonstration, with its deep heroic significance, has exercised the vain misleading phantom. Every true Irishman in Ireland (and shall we not say in America too?) once more believes in the old creed of our gallant fathers—that the sole way to free or regenerate Ireland is by total separation from England; and that total separation can only be achieved by desperate sacrifices, daring enterprises, and the strong hand.
| “John J. Breslin, | } | |
| “Thomas Clarke Luby, | } | |
| “John Devoy, | } | New York. |
| “Thomas Francis Bourke, | } | |
| “Jer. O’Donovan Rossa, | } | |
| “Wm. Carroll, M.D., Philadelphia, Pa. | ||
| “James Reynolds, New Haven, Conn.” | ||
The names of the trustees will, of course, be familiar, as being amongst those regarding whom I gave some details some few pages back, and who were all remarkable for their past Fenian records and present prominence in the Clan-na-Gael ranks.