The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-14 00:00:00

THE FENIAN OUTRAGE.

Tho atrocious act in Clerkenwell is, as will be
supposed, the chief topic dealt with in the morning jour-
nals. It is terrible to think, observes the Times, that
there are, no doubt, still among us others planning out-
rages equally dastardly and deadly, and that any day may
bring some disastrous news. As to the Fenian conspiracy I
itself, it must be evident that the time is past for clemency
and forbearance, and that in dealing with the Fenian. pub-
lie opinion wiU need rather to be restrained than instigated.
While doing strict and stern justice on the guilty, we must
separate them in our minds from the excitable and de-
luded. Our first thoughts, however, must be given to
those who have been the victims of this plot, who may be
said to have suffered in a public cause.
The Daily News, pointing out the almost stiperbumam
wickedness of the act, observes that with all the re-
searches of our detective police we know little of
the inspiring principle and organisation of Fenianism.
For an hereditary chief an Irish peasant will en-
counter any peril, but a similar allegiance to half-
foreign adventurers is a new thing. It may be, however,
that a greater peril is behind them, and that men such as
Allen and the presumed authors of the Clerkenwell out-
rage are the blind instruments of a secret power, and the
sure victims, in case of disobedience, of a secret vengeance.
Should it prove otherwise, and that these men are volun-
teers in a forlorn hope the mystery and embanassment of
Fenianism are greater than it is easy to realise, and he is
sanguine who will predict its end.
The Post presumes that another special commission will
at once be issued to try the persons now in custody for the
deed, for it is essential that, if it can be brought home to
them, their punishment should follow swiftly and surely.
The Standard says there were ominous cries in the crowd
last night for Judge Lynch. It is plain that the extreme
limit of conciliation and forbearance has been reached.
We know now what sort of men we have to deal with, and
how to deal with them.

This latest act will put to flight, remarks the Tdegroph,
all that sentimental sympathy which has been lavished on
the Fenians in some quarters. The detestable act of
yesterday has • fearful value of its own, since it plainly
discloses the true nature of the league, and the enormities
which spring from it.
The Star describes the act as a crime, not merely
against the law of an individual State, but against society
and humanity itself. These Fenian leaders, demoralised
by • war in which blood was spilt like water, have become
callous to the promptings of human sympathy, and strew
death around with a revolting indifference. If they
think they thus serve the cause of their wonky they fall
into • terrible error. This crime of theirs will send
• thrill of horror to the remotest region of the
earth.

The prohibition of the funeral processions has come,
the Times thinks, not a day too soon. In the case of a
hostile movement intended and planned to develop itself
continually into something more dangerous, the precise
time for intervention will always have to be carefully con-
sidered. In this constitutional country we cannot " nip
evils in the bud," as they do elsewhere.