The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-17
Observation-Disclosures

uSn cOtempOrar1eS are taking great
pains to impress their readers with
the idea that all that remains of Irish
disaffection is represented in the Fe-
MAN organization. In recent article
the Times, inventing it's ''facts" wher-
ever needed, argues that as no Irish
men except the Fenians are disaffected
with British rule, and as the Fenians
are few i'll number and are socially
insignificant, the present condition of
Ireland need not be cause of any
alarm to the English Government.
"Fenianism, it says, represents all
that could be produced in the way of
insurrection in 1865. 1t is far below
the movement even of 1S4S as that
was below the rising of 1893. From
Lord Edward Fitzgerald and his
friends we dropped down to Smith
O'Brlen and his accomplices; and now
we have descended to bricklayers and
bagmen, whose names are unknown
even in their native towns. Once,
the only allies to be expected on the
side of order were the members of
one privileged class; now, we can rely
upon every class in Ireland above the
lowest Roman Catholic Priests are as
loyal as Protestant Clergymen. When
Irish disaffection has dwindled to
Fenianism, there is good reason for
supposing that it is dying out alto
gether, and must be very near it's
end.
In this view of the case the Times
is greatly in error. The disaffection
existing IN Ireland is not to be nlea-
sured by the extent of the Fenian
organization; its prevalence among
the various classes of society is not to
be judged from the social standing of
the parties now under arrest for com
pHclty with the Fenian movement.
And the change in the condition of
Irish feeling between 1898 and 1865
IS by no means SO considerable as the
Times seems to imagine The men of
lS4ow were, III talentand in position, the
equals, at least, of their predecessors
OF 179S, and quite as large a number
OF respectable persons held their
principles and shared their aspira-
tlons. Irish disafection in 1865 is
not less widely spread than it was in
,9S and AS; but, owing to the state of
European politics, there are fewer
incentives to its taking the shape of
conspiracy and rebellion. Were revo-
lutions now afoot throughout Europe,
emptying thrones and overturning
dynasties, the condition of Ireland
would soon become q greater danger
to the empire" than it was in 1913;
and did state of war exist between
England and France-were expedi-
tlons now, as in 1877, being fitted out
In the French ports for the invasion
of Ireland, rebellion compared with
which that of '98 would seem partial
and trivial, would presently sweep
through the entire island
What, let us ask, has been done
since 179S that could superinduce
feelings of contentment and LOYALTY
among the people =? The Englishman
will Immediately answer, ''Catholic
emancipation But Irishmen well
know that Catholic emancipation has
been no boon to the masses of the
people. 1t has benefited only class;
and whatever of an ameliorativc
effect might be expected to result
therefrom, has been more than coun-
tervailed by other circumstances. for
which the British Government is re-
sponsible. Surely the events of the
famine years, the continually progress
ing depopulation OF the country, its
continually increasing taxation, the
repeated refusals of the Government
to reform ti1e laws that oppress and
rob the Irish tenantry, the mainte-
nance of the Irish Church Establish
ment, the official patronage given to
the idea that ireland is to be nothing
moro in the world than mother of
focks and herds" the utter absence
OF legislation intended to develop
the resources OF protect the interests
OF Ireland, and the steady sinking of
the country into ruinous condition
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