The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-16 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1866.

The arrival of the Cuba gives us news which
proves that the days of Fenianism are numbered.
The raid into Canada has so far realised STEPIIENS'S
fears that it has induced the American Government
to take active measures for the repression of the
Fenians. It was well known that the PRESIDENT
was waiting his opportunity for arresting their pro-
gress, not being desirous to give them unnecessary
importance by premature interference, but now
that an open breach of the neutrality laws has
placed them indisputably in the wrong, he has
issued a proclamation warning the citizens
of the States against aiding them, and directing
the national officials to arrest and bring to justice
all persons so employed in defiance of the Federal
laws, and empowering General MEADE to employ
the Federal land and naval forces to prevent the
carrying on of the said expedition. "The Federal
land and naval forces" employed against the
Fenians may well remind us of breaking a butterfly
upon a wheel, and General MEADE having com-
manded an army through a campaign need
not be much ovenfiwed even by the terrors
of the Ilibernian 'heroes. Still more effec-
tive as a deathblow to Fenianism is the
arrest of SWEENY and ROBERTS. SWEENY was ar-
rested at St. Albaos, and ROBERTS, the president of
the Senate faction, in New York. Warrants have
also been issL for the arrest of other prominent
Fenians ; and although STEPIIENS is still at large in
Washington, it is not likely that he will be able to
restore the shattered fortunes of Fenianism. It is
true that the usual spirit of Irishmen has been
strongly shown, and that so far from being
deterred by the sound of danger the first attempt
of real fighting has given fresh energy to the
recruiting, in two days 2,000 Fenians being enrolled
at New York, and large contributions being made
to the Fenian treasury. This is not likely to last
long in face of the resolute opposition of the
Americans. The vessels guarding the St. Lawrence
River have orders to sink any boats attempting to
cross with Fenians on board, and arms and supplies
have been seized in all directions. They have been
compelled to evacuate Fort Erie, having been pre-
vented from receiving the expected reinforcements
the few men they left on duty were captured by the
Canadians, and the four hundred who left were
captured by the Federal boats. British troops
and Canadian volunteers are arriving at all expored
points of thQ frontier in large numbers, and the
apprehension of further raids is pretty well ended.
It is, indeed, generally believed that the vigorous
action of the American Government will cause a
permanent and immediate abandonment of the
scheme for a Fenian invasion of Canada. It is
quite time that these mischievous conspirators were
restrained. They have duped the credulous into
parting with their money ; they have encouraged

disaffection and unsettled many weak-minded

and enthusiastic persons for no possible end,
save the temporary aggrandisement of a few ambi-
tious and designing men. If anything were needed
to enlighten their credulous followers as to the
absurdity and arrogance of their pretensions, it
would surely be found in the disputes among them-
selves, the rival factions, the antagonistic leaders.
It is not likely that STEPHENS will be mad enough
to attempt the fulfilment of his boasts about the
invasion of Ireland, and should Ec endeavour
to do so his proceedings could be at once
stopped without much trouble, so that we
may consider that we have nearly heard of
the last of Fenianism. We are glad that the Wash-
ington Government should have acted with vigour
and decision in this Matter, since it would have been
quite unworthy of them to have suffered so mani-,
fest a breach of their national vows in revenge for
anxious,
ui f
fancied slights or injuries. The Fenian leaders were
n
possible, to embroil the two nations, by
gettingxiu p
a quarrel at the fisheries. Happily they
have failed in this benevolent attempt, but we can
only hope that before long the good sense of the
American people will consent to Int the question
of the fisheries on a better and firmer footing, so
that it may not be left to give opportunity to evil-
disposed and mischief-making personsto ea:
try out
their malicious purposes.

The Prussians have settled the point by at last 1
commencing the war in earnest, and yesterday all
hope of preserving the
peace of Europe was over.
The Prussian troops entered Saxony and Hanover,
and have thus precipitated matters. The decision
of the Diet, which gave so much offence to the
representative of Prussia, has been considered by
acted upon that Power as a casus belli, and
accord-
ingly. Many may be surprised at the haste
which has just been displayed, but no doubt M.
BismAncic is of opinion that there is no time to
lose, and that, as all, or nearly all, Germany
has declared against him and his policy,
Therehe
siren strength. make
is no
disputing
the fact that
what he lacks i n
Prussia begins this
contest with great disadvantages,
the disparity of numbers between them and their
1
opponents is very great.
At
all events there is no
denying that the Prussians
must now bear the
onus of having commenced hostilities. They evi-
dently rendered diplomacy unavailing by their
forcible entry into Holstein, and now they have
at once set aside all laope of adjustment by their