The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-04 00:00:00

Fenianism in America.

The following has been issued by General
Sweeney :

The old and tried members of the Fenian Brotherhood
regret to find that some political papers are endeavouring
to make it appear that our organisation is about to be used
for party purposes in the approaching political campaign,
and I cannot allow such an impression to go abroad with-
out a protest on my part.

The Fenian Brotherhood was established for the libera-
tion of Ireland from a state of foreign misrule and subju-
gation, which, for the continuation and intensity of its
persecution, has no parallel in history. While solely de-
voted to the object of their mission, the members of the
F. B. sympathise with every struggling nationality, and
aro the ardent lovers of freedom for all men in every land.
Two of the fundamental rules of the organisation are—
that religious and political questions should be entirely ex-
cluded from their councils, and it is owing chiefly to these
wise provisions that the Fenian Brotherhood, without the
aid of a dollar from any political party in this country, and
in face of the most fierce opposition, has spread its branches
into every land, and has become the great power in
America which it is to-day.

While every citizen, in his individual capacity, has
a right to vote as his judgment dictates, I apprehend
that disruption and disaster, ar.d the utter ;blighting
of all our hopes, would be the result of turning the
F. B. into a political organisation at this juncture.
Although the attempt may be made by some ambitious
men, who must exercise influence in so wide spread a
combination, still I am sure the great majority of the
Fenian Brotherhood are too devoted to the grand cause, to
which their lives are pledged, to allow that cause to be
swallowed up in the vortex of American politics, or to per-
mit themselves to bo diverted, for a single moment, from
the direct path which must eventually lead them to suc-
cess.

The Pittsburg Congress held in February, 1866, was
very explicit in roferonce to this matter. In the sixth
day's session the following resolution was unanimously
adopted, the president in the chair :

"Resolved, That this Congress, in the name of the
Fenian Brotherhood, in the most solemn and emphatic
manner, disclaims an intention, desire, or inclination to use
the power of this organisation for the purpose of influencing,
in any form, party politics in America, such policy being
entirely foreign to our aims and repugnant to our patriot-
ism ; and those who would attempt to traffic on the sacred
impulses of Irish hearts deserve and should receive the
scorn and detestation of all true men."

Whoever attempts to violate, abrogate, or evade that
resolution will incur a serious responsibility, which I am
not prepared to sanction or to share in my official con-
nection with the Fenian Brotherhood. Exhorting all the
members of the organisation to persevere in the safe and
successful course which they have hitherto pursued—l am,
fraternally theirs, T. W. SWEENEY, Sec. War, F.B.

THE HARVEST IN CUMBERLAND.—Reports from
various agricultural districts in this county concerning
the state of the harvest are unanimous that the work pro
gresses very slowly, in consequence of the intermittent
showers which sweep over the fields and drive the reapers
to their homes. Beyond retarding the maturing and cut-
ting the crops, however, it cannot be said that any harm
has Yet accrued from the frequentintervals of inauspicious
weather. We have had no storms of wind to shake the
standing corn and overturn the stooks, such as have
been experienced in other counties, particularly Sussex;
neither do we hear the faintest whisper of sprouting,
which, whenever it occurs, however slight, does irrepar-
able injury to the corn. Taking advantage of every
favourable opportunity, and calling into constant requi-
sition the scythe and reaping machine, which now play
such an important part in autumnal husbandry, a consi-
derable breadth has been cut in early localities, and in
other places patches have been reaped hero and there
just as the grain became ripe. As to carting to the stack-
yard, next to nothing has been done in that department.
With regard to the estimated yield, there are many reports
afloat, some differing slightly from others, but after exa-
mining and comparing conflicting statements we still hold
to the opinion that barley and oats will prove a full aver-
age, and that wheat will not reach that standard. Every-
thing, however, depends upon the season. The next four
weeks are the most critical in the farmers' calendar, and if
they should be wet and stormy the best made calculations
will be upset, and the cereal produce of the land seriously
deteriorated. In some parts of Cumberland, where the
pastoral predominates over the arable, the hay harvest is
the great work of the year. In many of these, and also in
other neighbourhoods where the climate is late and cold,
there is mach hay unsecured. Many an acre is still on the
ground just as the scythe or machine left it, sadly injured
by the excessive rains, and no small quantity is still stand-
ing in what are known in agricultural parlance as " cocks "
and " pikes," possessing none of that beautiful green tint
or fragrant smell which distinguishes well-made hay. At
this juncture, when the farmers' prospects are none of the
brightest, and without subjecting ourselves to the imputa-
tion of croaking, we regret to add that the potato disease
has manifested itself in this county. It is not yet so ex-
tensive as to cause serious alarm, but of its existence there
is no manner of doubt.—Carlisle Journal.

WRECK OF A SCHOONER OFF LIVERPOOL.—On
Sunday night, and up to an early hour yesterday
morning, a heavy gale swept over Liverpool. During the
night a schooner, called the Margaret and Elizabeth, while
beating up the Channel en route from Parr to Runcorn,
with a cargo of china clay, struck on the West Hoyle
Bank, near the entrance to the Mersey, and soon became
a total wreck. Fortunately the signals of distress exhi-
bited by the crew of the schooner were observed by the
Point of Ayr lifeboat's crew, who at once launched their
boat, and, after a difficult struggle, succeeded in rescuing
the crew of the schooner.
NORTH NOTTS HOP MARKET, SATURDAT.—Ihe
weather of the past week has been again unfavourable to
the hop plant, which matures very slowly under the in-
fluence of a low temperature and heavy rains. There is
no doubt now that the yield will be indifferent as a whole.
In some places reports are more favourable than in others,
but taking the whole of the hop-growing districts of North
Notts the plant is not favourably reported of, and must
yield loss than an average, both as respects quality and
quantity.