The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-01-11 00:00:00

A SAILOR TRIED FOR FENIANISM.

A court-martial, under the presidency of Capt. Sey-
mour, ADO., war held at Portsmouth on Monday,
on board the Victory, flagship of the Commander-in-
Chief, Admiral Sir T. S. Parley, for the trial of Charles
Read, ordinary seaman, serving on board her Majesty's
ship Irregistitile. stationed in Cowes Roads. The pri-
soner was one of the crew of the captain's galley, and
on being ordered to join the boat and arm himself with
one of the revolvers which had previously been loaded
and issued for the use of the crew, and proceed in the
boat to row along the shore off Osborne at ten o'clock
at night, he refused to obey the order, declining to
give a reason; but on the following day, on the
quarter deck, he stated that "he would not take up
arms against the Feniana." The charge was fully
proved, and the prisoner was sentenced to five years'
penal servitude, and at the expiration of that period
he will be dismissed her Majesty's service with disgrace.

The Times publishes a communication intended
to show that the seaman Charles Reade, who has
been sentenced to five years' penal servitude for de-
claring that he would not take arms against the
Fenians, is insane. The written defence handed in by
Reade to the court is cited as affording strong evidence
of its being the production of a man who might,
under certain conditions, become dangerous to society,
but who at present is but a miserable monomaniac,
and morally irresponsible for his actions. The follow-
ing his a copy of this strange document :

_
The reason why I refused to take arms when ordered
is because I would not be an oppressive means to an out-
law principle that usurps public power and underlies its
political face. It has attained its position under the cover
and though the impractical influence of Protestantism,
and its policy is to render itself impregnable by the
unnecessary display of brute force for the purpose of inti-
midation, and, by the most dark and fiendish craft, to turn
the current of public opinion to its own purposes, and keep
it loyal by deception. I refused to take arms because I
looked upon the Fenians as being simply demonstrators
of discontent, and the natural turning of the worm when it
is excruciatingly crushed. But apart from Feniaus, and
under the assumption of Feuians, the outlaw principle has
been at work, inciting to horrible and useless deeds of
violence, for the express purpose of settirg every good,
honest, generous, and right-minded man against It, and
thereby terminate its existence and its object together.
From the beginning intelligent men could see that Fen ianism
was incapable of forcing its rights, and rightly kept clear of
it; but although its force was despicable, its existence was
significant. It was significant of discontent, and the cause
of discontent is a matter that causes most agitation amongst
those responsible for it.

Prisoner further condemned putting down Fenianism
by stratagem, and said the Fenians did not evince any
inclination to give their enemies an opportunity to
crush them by force, lie concluded by saying:—

I believe myself to be a truly loyal man, loyal to honest
truth and virtue; and by all that is sacred we are forbidden
to be in allegiance or to be loyal to evil combinations or
designs, awl any num that is loyal to such he either bows
down in fear and slavery to the force of brutality, or he Is
otherwise deceived by craft. The outlaw principle that
usurps public power treads snore or less upon the consciences
and interests of all that is subject to its rule. Having stated
thus much, under consideration of consequences, 1 believe
myself to be subject to your discretion.