The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-14 00:00:00

The Fenians Expostulated with by a

Catholic Priest,

There is a remarkable discourse in the Freon tn's
Journal, says the Dublin correspondent of the Tinges,
headed " The Panic about Fenianism." It is by a
priest, the Rev. Dr. Rice, of Queenstown. He de-
precates the alarm on the subject, and says it has
been augmented by the Orange address and by the
proceedings of the Cork magistrates. The follow-
ing remarks addressed by this gentleman to a con-
gregation on Sunday are very instructive. " Who
are the Fcnians ?" he asked.

" The boys to whom we taught their catechism a few
years ago. Have they forgotten all the love and affection
they once felt for their priests ? No. There is no Irish
Catholic who would not bo ready to avenge an outrage to
his priest, and plunge a sword into the heart of the sacri-
legious assailant. There is a misunderstanding. W e cannot
approve Fenianism. We believe it to be unwise, impru-
dent, and rash. It is with Fenianism we quarrel, and not
with the men. Let Fenians renounce their folly, and they
know in their hearts they will be received by us. We can-
not recognise that which we believe to be wrong. Let them
renounce it, and they are like the rest—well-beloved and
dutiful people. The Feniaus are towards the priest just in
the same position as the wanton son is with a wise and pru-
dent parent. The son loves the father, but the father does not
go fast enough for him. He wishes to go on his own way, he
is wiser in his own conceit and more prudent than the
father, and is angry and provoked because the father does
not go with him. But let you go and offer an outrage to
the father and you will arouse all the feelings and affections
of the son, and the• son will, vindicate the insult to his
father. T hat is the relation of the Irish priest and the Fenian;
but my assurance to you is that you will have peace. With
my asfuranco to you, it is nut merely the its.uranee of the
priest, but it is also supported by the highest authority of
the land—the representative of tbo Queen in this country,
who possesses all the information that it is possible to
have. This authority assured us, in reply to the foolish
and unwise memorial of our country magistrates which
appeared on Saturday, that the public force was abundantly
sufficient to preserve peace and order, and to prevent any
disturbance. There was never such a force of the army
and navy within the memory of many of you as there is at
the present moment—never so many troops in the country,
or such a naval force along our coast, as there are at
this moment. These are under most able commanders
and they are so posted that a large body of them can at
any minute be brought to any one point of the country on
the shortest notice, so much so that any body of men could
not stand out against the authority of the Crown for a
single day. Thus there is no reason for this unhappiness
which hasseized upon many of us. However, it would be
idle to deny, we must recognise the fact that there
is an immense amount of disloyalty and discon-
tent in the country. It is widely spread, and
extends far and wide outside the range of the
Fenians. But without a foraign invasion this will
not menace the peace or security of the country. If Eng-
land were involved in a war with any of the great Powers,
then, indeed, we might be quite sure of the great calamities
of a civil war; and then, despite of the efforts of the priests,
many of those who are not now avowed allies of Fenianism
would join that body through hatred of England, and for
the purpose of getting rid of English rule in Ireland.
Until such a contingency there need be no cause for fear or
alarm."

Trial of Martin 'Reau for Three Murders.