The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-17 00:00:00

QUESTIONS TO IRISHMEN.

Cardinal Cullen has denied a statement made by
Marshal M'Mahon, who, in repelling an attempt
of Archbishop Lavigerie to fasten on the Mahom-
medan religion the reproach of the cannibalism re-
sorted to in Algeria during the recent famine,
asicrte3 that even Christians, driven by extremity,
had eaten each other, and th ,t in Ireland while the
famine of 18IG lasted ca ei were re 3orded. These
were his worth :--" You will doubtless agree with
me that Irelan I is one of the most religious coun-

tries in the world. Nevertheless, during the last
fe-nine instances of cannibalism occurred there as
well as now in Algeria." The Cardigan after insti-
tuting a careful inquiry,deciares no such case occurred
in Ireland. That the poor people, on the contrary,
shared their last morsel with their companions in
misery, and that parents were known to lie down
and die rather than reduce their children's pittance
of bread. The nines finds fault with the Cardinal,
who, in discussing this subject, carefully refrained
from one word of acknowledgment of the efforts
made by England to meet the emergency. " Hav-
ing gone so far the Cardinal was surely bound to
go a little further, and to acknowledge the equally
memorable efforts, both public and private, made
in England to alleviate the sufferings of the
sister island. If the Irish famine was the worst that
modern Europe has known, it was certainly en-
countered by the English Government and nation
with a spirit and generosity for which it would be
difficult to find a parallel. Thousands upon thou-
sands of Irishmen owed their lives to English help,
and the ministers of all deno:ninations vied with
each other in activity as almoners of Protestan4
charity." But if the Cardinal forgets to make any
mention of English aid, he does not lose the op-
portunity of having a fling at the Saxon enemy.
" The name (says the Cardinal), of Marshal Mac-
Mahon, which recalls one of the noblest families of
the Celtic Princes of Ireland, is also pre-eminent
among those of our Catholic chiefs who, during the
sanguinary struggle with the fanatical bands of
Cromwell, inscribed upon their banner this noble
motto, Pro fide, patria, et Rege?' ‘Vhat good
purpose (asks the 7iines), can be served Ly con-
trasting the happiness of France, as not only the
mother, the magna parens of the Celtic race, but
also the eldest daughter of the Church,' with the
deplorable condition of Ireland two centuries ago?'
This is a question we would like very much to see
answered, but there is a question to which we would
even more desire to receive a reply. What good
can Gen. O'Neill anticipate to the cause of Ire-
land from an invasion of Canada? Of all the
strange Irish proceedings that have astonished
the world, and led some to believe they are a raca
of lunatics, this invasion of Canada threatens to be
the most outrageous. The one single object to be
achieved is a war between the United States and
the United Kingdom, for it resolves itself into that
or total defeat. Supposing that •the Fenians suc-
ceeded in establishing themselves on Canadian soil
in such force as to defy the power of the Canadian
Government to dislodge them—what would be the
position ? The Washington Government would
be compelled to move to the assistance of their
neighbours, just as a British ship of war is bound
to render assistance against illegal violence when
called upon by an American consul, as was lately
the case at Port-au-Prince. Nor is the obligation
confined to this. The invasion being organized in
the United States against a friendly colony and
against the laws, the Fenians acting as mere
brigands, it is the bounden duty of the United
States to crush the organization that thus openly
outrages the laws, and to punish the leaders. Other-
wis!, if Canada is to be open to invasion, but to be
barred reprisals, it is the United States and Eng-
land who fight, while the Canadians bear the blows.
The scheme proposed is to make a rush on Fort
Porter, at present garrisoned by two companies of
United States soldiers, and under cover of its guns,

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which command the entrance. to Niagara River, to

cross in steamers and barges to Fort Erie. Thus
the first step is to wake a hostile attack ou Unch
Sam's fort and troops. The frontier cities arc
said to be swarming with Fenians, an 1 arms
and amnattnitiou to be stored iu large quanti-
ties. British gunboats an; patrolling the St.
Lawrence from Kingstown to Prescott ; tLe
4th battalion 6)th Rifles, and the 17th Regiment
have been countermanded after being embarked en
their return to England, more troops have been sent