The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-11

HE IRISH MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES
The meetings which are being held throughout
the United States, tor the purpose of raising money
TO be sent TO Ireland, for the purchase of powder
and ball, are signs of the times worthy of pass
ing notice. The enthusiasm exhibited at these
assemblages is without parallel, and the amount
of money collected Is hardly credible. We verify
believe, that if the next steamer bring us tdings
of the commencement of hostllites between the
people of that country and the government larger
amount of funds will be contributed to aid the
former in their struggle for freedom, than was
collected to purchase food and provisions during
the famine there year ago
From causes that are obvious TO the observer.
there always has existed firm bond of sympathy
between the people of ireland and those of the
United States. The Irish are identified with
everything American. They contributed, in pro-
portion to their numbers their full share in achlev-
ing the independence of the old thirteen colonies
from the mother country; three natives of that
country attached their signatures to the declara-
ton OF independence. Irishmen fought and bled
to maintain that declaration, and ever since have
shared in the duty of preserving our governn ent
and institutions Yet, in. the face of these facts,
the American people never had much confidence
IN the IRISH, as asserters of liberty IN their own
country. They have seen them on more than one
occasion-when England was IN such position as
to be unable to refuse their demand, if it were
properly and sternly clalmed-content them.
selves with a bare and miserable install
ment of their rights, some slight conces-
sion. which they accepted as a boon, and
after getting 1t, turned round and become the
most loyal subjects of the British crown They have
seen them swallow the bait which the emissaries
of the government laid for them, and 90 to work
and cut each others throats for differences in forms
OF religion. They have seen them divided among
themselves, and cheated and humbugged by few
designing men. whose only object was to feather
their nests at the expense of the nation by adopt-
ing politics trade or profession. We do not
believe that the men who at present at the head
OF the lrlsh agitation, are mere politicians, and
place and fortune hunters. We believe them to
be honest and patriotic, and we believe the Amer-
can people are of the same mind Hence the en-
thusiasm exhibited az those meetings, the large
amounts of money collected, and the interest which
many our leading men take in the affairs of that
country.
II is nice question whether the collecting of
money in the United States, and the transmission
of it to Ireland, avowedy for the purpose of pro-
noting revolution there, and making it successful
against the power of the British government, is
not an infringement of the laws of nations and of
the stipulatlons of treaties. 1t is undoubtedly a
moral Infringement of that CODE and of our treaties
with England but we do not think that it can be
brought under the cognizance of our courts of law
A person may do what he pleases with his own
money. We have no doubt that the men at the
head Of the movement here, are fully aware of
what they are dong.
AT all events, IL is clear that large sums are leav-
ing this country for Ireland; and we have no doubt
that If the next steamer, now due at Boston, bring
rs intelligence of the commencement of hostilities,
immense sums, in addition to what has been sent |
lready, will be collected and sent over there, to
i'd the people in obtaining their independence.
The SPIRIT RIOT IN THE UNITED STATES
Any person who reads the newspapers of the day,
and the accounts of the dlsordery proceedings
which frequently take place in this country cannot
but perceive that there is spirit OF riot abroad,
which, If not checked, will end In consequences
awful 10 contemplate. The other day there was a
serious row IN Pittsburgh; there was another in
Philadelphia short time since, and almost every
paper We take up, recounts similar occurrences In
different parts of the country.
There is a fact connected with these riots and
disturbances, which is of remarkable significance,
and that is they proceed in nine cases out of ten,
from some supposed grievance; and are COM
menced for the purpose of asserting some magma
ry rights, rights which never had any exist
ence. except IN the brains of visionarles and en-
lhusiass; and which, even if they did exist, are
and if attempted to be put in prac-
tlce, would end IN converting society, it is at
present constituted, into system of barbarism, by
which might would triumph right, and the
" eaker man would lie at the mercy OF The stronger
But what else than riots and disturbances can we
expect, when we see the public journals of the day
preaching and instillng into the minds of the peo-
Die, the doctrines of Owenism, Fourierism, asso-
,iationsm, communism, and every other ism ?
We convinced that the spirit of not which
IS now at work in different parts of the
country, can be traced from the several places
where 1t manifesis itself, in direct line to the
disciple and apostle of Fourierism in America He
advocates the identical princi-
oles which led TO the late insurrection in Paris.
by which ten thousand or more lives were sacrl-
iced on the altar of fanaticism; and we are con-
'inced that if they take as deep root here as they
nave in France, the same consequences will fol-
ow, and that our streets will run with blood.
We have Infammable material in our midst IN
bundance, which, once ignited, would result IN
that would be destruction to society
nd TO its best interests.
The BRITISH WEST INDIEs.-Fies of the Guiana
ftmos, published at Demerara, to the 18th ult
lave been received. They contain no news OF in
crest.
The custom house returns of the export of sugar
or the half year ending Both June, give 2l,776
lids, 1881 hhds more than for the same period
If lS47. 1t is said to be doubtful whether this