MF – 1865.12.21 – Poem – T. D. McGee – Fenians – #130 – F12250
The following verse of a poem addressed by Thomas D’Arcy McGee, to Chas. Gavan Duffy, in ’48, was read by G. F. Train, at his recent lecture in this city before the Fenian Brotherhood, and will give the readers of the FREEMAN some idea of Mr. McGee’s fealty to British Institutions then and now – Train characterized it is an Apostate’s oath:
“But I swear to you, dear Charles, by my honor and my faith,
As I hope for stainless name and salvation after death,
By the green grave of my mother, ‘neath Selhar’s ruined wall,
By the birth-land of my maiden love, of you, my bride and all.
That my days are dedicated to the ruin of the power
That holds you fast and libels you in your defence-less hour,
Like the Indian of the wild woods, I’ll dog their track of slime,
And I’ll shake the Gaza pillars yet of their goddess’ mammoth shrine.”
Comment on the above is unnecessary. – Poor human nature!
The Fenian bubble is at length punctured. – The brotherhood in this city are much chagrined at the sudden rupture between the great Mogul of Fenianism – O’Mahoney – and his cabinet. It has struck consternation through the rank and [fyle] of the deluded followers in this city, which is [unmistakeble]. Following the receipt of the news that New Brunswick feared an invasion from such a body, one could not conceal his mortification that an intelligent people as are to be found in New Brunswick, should be so easily frightened, at such a scare-crow! It is not difficult for one who is conversant with the facts to understand how and by whom the canard is gotten up; and if the people of New Brunswick could but realize, how much ridicule is heaped upon them by such timidity as is contained in the telegrams concerning their fears of an invasion, they would not permit themselves to be so easily gulled by unprincipled political jugglers and Canadian imitators.
How much more evidence it will take to quiet the nerves of New Brunswickers’, in regard to Fenianism than is presented by the imbroglio at the head quarters in New York, it would be idle to conjecture. Toronto, had long enough made itself the butt of ridicule, and it would appear the Canadians and their Confederate agents have, true to their instincts, succeeded in transferring it to St. John. The canard of an invasion of New Brunswick originated in Canada. The poor Fenians never entertained such a proposition. The thieves are fighting among themselves, and have “other fish to fry,” to use a Fisherism. Lo! the slandered Fenians!