The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-09 00:00:00

RAILWAY BILLS.

Yesterday, in the House of Lords' Committee,
the Northumberland Central Bill was passed.
In the House of Commons' Committee, in Group
3, the Ilfracombe was adjourned until to-day; the
Devon and Somerset and Bristol and Exeter Bills
was proceeded with and adjourned ; and also the
Devon and Somerset and the Devon and Somerset
(Extension) Bills were adjourned. In Group E
the promoters of the Mersey Docks and Harbour
Bill proved the preamble.

Fenianism in America.

result to
Fenianism is producing disagreeable
a thriven.
the United States, where it has grown and
The military organisation of a strong band of
foreigners for the accomplishment of an object in
which the country is no way interested is more
likely to be injurious to the nation which shelters it
than to that against which it is directed. England
can meet Fenians as enemies, and repel them by
force of arms; but the United States cannot sup-
press within her boundaries such a body. It may
be very patriotic for the Irish, while freely received
into that land of promise, to use their liberty for
the benefit of their native country, without any
regard to the injury their proceedings may do to
their adopted country. But, however flattering
such a course may be to Ireland, it is the reverse of
flattering to the United States. The native-born
American can scarcely be gratified at seeing his
country used as a tool by a set of rowdy Irish con-
spirators, whose avowed object it is to involve the
two great branches of the Anglo-Saxon race in war,
to give an ascendancy to a party in his native
island. Americans are beginning to be impressed
with the fact that there is no American object or
interest whatever involved in the proceedings of
these Fenians. Processions are formed, military
displays made in the streets, and much buncombe
talked, but all on questions of no concern whatever
either to North or South, Democrat or Republican.
Why should Irishmen be encouraged to slay and
rob native Americans because they are born on the
left bank of the St. Lawrence? Surely the ties
of their great father-land should be stronger than
the professions of a political creed ! But if
Americans look with indifference or approval at
these proceedings directed against their brethren
across the border, they are beginning to learn
that it is unpleasant to experience the aggression
themselves, and the weapons of these marauders are
as ready at their own throats as at their neighbours,
They had a disagreeable proof of this on St. Pat-
rick's Day in New York. A -grand procession
dragged its long length through the centre of the
city, cutting it in halves, and impeding the traffic.
All communication between the upper and lower
portions was suspended ; none dared to cross the
living barrier except those who held their lives in
their hands. The mail waggons have, by law, the
right of way, and the driver of one, as in duty
bound, attempted to make good his passage. He
was pulled down from his seat and cruelly beaten,
and his horses fared no better. Long lines of
cars blocked up the roads, detained while the
Irish flaunted in the face of " New America" their
Hibernian patriotism. " Fancy our indignation,"
exclaims the American correspondent of the Stand-
ard, "at being ordered about by drunken, brutal
Irishmen, whose only titles to authority were the
green badges they had placed in their button-holes
and the swords and clubs they carried." Fancy
the feelings of the passengers with their baggage on
board the ocean steamers, starting at noon, as they
watched the interminable procession, hour after hour,
slipping by. Imagine their annoyance on reaching
the place of embarkation to see the smoke of the
steamer in the distance, with their forfeited fare
and their wardrobe on board. But all were not
prepared to endure with patience the interruption.
A fight, o'f course, was the consequence, and 22
policemen were the victims. So long as they came
up by ones and twos they fell an easy prey to the
mob, bat experience taught wisdom to the myr-
midons of the law, and at last a solid phalanx
marched down Grand-street with a front that
showel they were bent on mischief. The mob in-
stantly scattered, leaving on the ground the bodies
of the adventurous men who, single-handed, had
thrust themselves on the scene of action, all badly
wounded. Playing with edged tools is proverbially
dangerous ; encouragement to filibusters may be a
policy of expediency, but can never be one of
wisdom. The ascendancy of such a lawless party
as the Fenians can work nothing but evil. It is
suicidal to encourage the large and growing Celtic
party to band together for the accomplishment of a
purpose purely Irish, and to seek interests separate
and apart from those of the nation. By such means
a community is formed in the United States, but
not of the United States. The nationality is main-
tained where true policy would direct that that
nationality should be abolished—that the natural-
ised Irishman should cease to be an Irishman and
become an American. Even where the objects
are sought peaceably such organisations should
not be encouraged, but where sought by force
of arms the impolicy becomes a danger. The
imperium in imperio assumes then a threaten-
ing aspect, and the combination accustomed to
demand what they assert to be their rights with
arms in their hands may, when baulked or success-
ful against a foreign Power, turn on the Govern-
ment of the country which has harboured them.
The United States should not trust too much to
their powers of absorption, for this party Las a
tendency to grow at a quicker ratio than any other
in the Union ; and it might become a very dan-
gerous one, if led, as it surely will be led, by
greedy and unscrupulous men. The Americans
may depend upon the fact, which has been proved
by the pages of history, that the Irish are not an
te ost ext-
easy people to govern. From outh them mass menraor of
the moat brilliant capacity, of
Binary intellect, of genius, arc constantly stepping,
but the mass delight in secret association and in
shiploadsdirected
open violence, whom no benefits can conciliate, no
laws control when the spirit of opposition is fairly
e gtrhaantt s
it thrown
should in
be
roused. It is for the benefit of this party, as well
and controlled—in one word 7 goy •
f
erned. By such
oasnot e A the
h e numerous
u s
soil, emigrants
means the Irish will become a most
valuable class
to the Union, but if left to th • eir own devices they
may yet form its most dangerous
element.—Anglo-
A merican Times.

The Life and Labours of the late John Camp-
bell, 1).1)., we learn, are in cours of preparation,
under the editorship of the Rev. Dr. Ferguson, and
the Rev. Dr. Brown, of Cheltenham, assisted by
his sou. The work is largely from the doctor's own
pen, and the material prepared by his own hand.
It will be shortly published by John Snow and Co.,
of Ivy-lane, Paternoster-row, London.