The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-12
The News from EuroPe-EnEf1sh
Troubles Mt Home and Abroad.

Earl Russell's reconstructed Cabi-
net appear by the latest European
advices to be having anything but
an easy time of it. The Fenians at
home and complications abroad are
leading them a somewhat uncom-
Portable life. Notwithstanding the
fact that Fcnianism in Ireland hos
been repeatedly reported as com
pletely crushed, this hydra headed
brotherhood persists in cropping up
in all directions, and the latest pre-
cautions taken by the British Go
vernment in the garrisoning Of p. con
House Fort, Dublin, show that serious
trouble is still anticipated.
Pigeon House Fort commands the
city and bay of Dublin, and it has
historical associations which will give
the action of the Government great
significance in the eyes of the Irish
nation In 1S4e, the guns were
double shotted, and the garrison kept
under arms all night, just as in the
present instance. Then, as now, it
was against the Irish people them
selves that these precautions were
directed. Daniel O'Connell and his
repealers were The dreaded foe in
1S4S; President O'Mahony and his
Fenians in 1865. The mere APP
pearance of three large steamers in
the offing of Dublin Bay suificed to
convince the commander of Fort
Pigeon House that the long expected
Fenian privateers had arrived at last.
So, in hot haste, he posted off to the
Lord Lieutenant and declared that
unless reinforcements were sent to
him, he would not be answerable for
the safety of the city. Accordingly,
the garrison was increased, the guns
loaded, and every preparation made
for I'm immediate engagement with
the enemy. How far this ne scare
of the Dublin Government is justified
by facts, the Fenian Congress in secret
session could probably tell us. But
it is at least clear that the ghost of
the Alabama is haunting the British
Government, and their trepidation
will probably not be diminished when
they receive President Johnson's
Message. To add still further to
their anxiety, comes the escape of
Stephens, the mysterious Head
Centre, from the dungeon in which
the authorities fondly hoped they had
securely bound him. It is scarcely
possible that the prisoner could have
effected his release without the con-
nivance of his jailors, and if Fenian-
ism has spread into the ranks of the
very minions of the law, no further
fact is required to show that the rlmi-
fcations of the brotherhood in Ire
land are both extensive and mys-
terious.
The action of the Spanish Govern
ment in Chill is another source of
embarrassment to the Government
In the abstract, John Bull cares little
who is right and who is wrong in this
dispute. It is from no romantic
intention of protecting the weak
against the strong that the merchants
of Liverpool5 are clamoring for
English Intervention against Spain.
But their pockets have been touched
severely by the blockade of the
Chilian ports, and consequently their
indignation is loud against Spanish
aggression. Earl Russell has prompt
ly replied to their entreaties by
despatching one of his characteristic
menacing dispatches to the Spanish
Government, and apparently has
placed himself in such position that
either he must submit to snub from
the Spanish Government, or enter
upon an inconvenient and inglorious
war. Under ordinary circumstances,
perhaps, Lord Russell would take the
snubbing and sneak out Of the dis
cussion, as lie did with Russia over
the Polish insllrrection and from
Prussia in the Danish wnr. But he
has the reputation Of his Government
to make; he aspires to wear Lord
Palmcrston S mantle, and must, there
fore show q hold front He will be