ADDRESS FROM THE IRISH NATIONAL DIRECTORY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VIII, Issue 415, 25 March 1881, Page 19

ADDRESS FROM THE IRISH NATIONAL DIRECTORY.

Dublin, Jan. 31.— The Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, commonly called the Fenian organisation, fearing that the present agitation may lead to a premature outbreak in isolated districts, and apprehensive that some wild spirits of the Land League may, when thwarted by the government coercion bill, attempt to precipitate a revolution, has thought it necessary to issue a strong proclamation to the adherents of the national cause in the following terms : — Men oi Ireland, — The country is passing through a crisis full of danger to the national cause. The action of tlie British Government and its aiders and abettors is obviously intended to provoke premature resistance. Upon you, therefore, rests the responsibility of averting defeat and humiliation. You have a cause for revolt, but you are not yet prepared, and a crushing disaster now would leave to to the next generation the task of beginning anew the gr«at work already so far advanced. The salvation of our people lies in the achievement of national independence alone, but the time to strike has not yet come. Beware, then, of being misled by false and foolish outb eaks. The man who now incites you to attempts at insurrection is doing England's work, and must be held guilty of treason to Ireland. The mo3t rigid discipline must be enforced and partial outbreaks prevented. Move only at the command of your officers. Our present duty is to prepare to watch and to wait until the hour for action comes. Let your attitude be one of calm and resolute selfsacrifice, and of unshaken confidence in the final triumph of our cause. By order of the IBISH NATIONAL DIRKCTOBY. This proclamation was drawn only after grave deliberation and consultation with the Irish leaders in America, Scotland, and England. It was posted all over Ireland Saturday night, at midnight, on all the chapels and police-barracks of Ireland, and in the Irish centres throughout Scotland and England. In Dublin the copies were torn down and taken possession of by the police. The appearance of the document caused the grea*eat excitement. In Marlboro' Street Cathedral and Dolphin's Barn Catholic ChuTch the priests, at early Mas, denounced those who had posted the seditious placards on the chapels as being guilty of sacrilege. Telegrams from all parts show that the appearance of the placards caused great uneasiness among the authorities, who immediately ordered them to be torn down. It is ten years since seditious placards have been posted simultaneously in Ireland.