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Archbishop Cullen, of
Dublin, has written a pastoral letter, in which we find the following reference to the "Fenian Brotherhood," a secret society gotten up by the
Yankees to entrap more Irishmen into such slaughter pens as
Fredericksburg:
Very probably, also, the great projects proposed by the
Fenian Brotherhood and their doings beyond the seas have no other object but to induce brave young men to go to
America, there to fight the battles of the States and to sacrifice their lives in the swamps of
Virginia, or on the battlefields of
Louisiana or
Mississippi.
At all events, it is evident that, as those whose aid we are promised to free us from oppression cannot terminate their own dissension, or re- establish the union of the country in which they live, we, who are separated from them by the waters of the vast ocean, across which it would be almost impossible to transport a large army, especially in the face of hostile and powerful fleets, we, I say, should hope for no good result from their promises or interference.
To those who have evil designs in view, or who hope to promote their worldly prospects by encouraging resolution and violence, it is useless to address any advice.
But there are good men, young and inexperienced — there are lovers of their country, led astray by the enthusiasm of their nature — there are patriots, acting in good faith and swayed by noble inspirations, but carried away by an overzealous desire of serving their country, and to those when, through want of consideration, they embark in dangerous and utopian projects, we may address a word of counsel with the hope of being heard.
As, therefore, persons such as I have described are under the influence of reason and religion, I would exhort them to be on their guard against interested and unprincipled men, to take care not to be led astray by delusive hopes and baseless promises, not to undertake anything unlawful, not to enter into dangerous or condemned brotherhoods and societies, and not to let themselves be made the dupes and victims of men who neither love friends nor country, and who think of nothing but the gratification of vanlry or self-interest.
I would exhort them in a special manner to avoid dangerous reading, and to be on their guard against publications which, under the pretence of being the organs of the irish people, insult our religion, promote revolutionary doctrines, and endeavor to drive the country into a foolish warfare, in which everything would be lost that has been gained within the present century, and deprive us of the blessing of Heaven.
