The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-10-27
Great Britain and Irela nd.

other side of the Channel horde of
hot-headed young men assembling,
for no other object than to revolution
ize the country, and dismember the
empire by fire and sword. They are
said to possess large stores of arms,
paid instructors, systematic organiza-
ton, and distinct revolutionary OBJ
ject, which was implied in Ahearn's
ridicule of the policeman's loyalty
''paid for at the rate of ffteenpence
day" We consider this conspiracy
rather as weak and wicked than dan
gerous. at least to any great degree,
to the Government of Ireland. There
are many broad and deep lines of de-
marcation which contrast it with the
Irish plots and plotters Of other days,
and in all these points it appears but
a lower and more degenerate develop
Irishmen of the last century combined
against the English dominion mem
bers of the Roman Catholic, Episco-
palian, and Presbyterian Churches,
with men Of wealth, station, influence
and talent, as their leaders. Their
combination filed the land, and yet
it fell to pieces, and was crushed
when it rose in rebellion to carry out
its grand object. With O'Connell
sprang up the ''moral force faction
of Catholic Ireland, backed and bless
ed by the priesthood; it's mighty mis-
sion, to wrest from England the
Repeal of the Union, was failure,
and that national and widespread
organization of the Repeal party
sleeps forever in the grave of the
great agitator. Then young Ire
land rose to work on Erin's redemp-
tion from the cruel bondage of the
Saxon, which ended in farce of
single act in a cabbage-garden, with
Smith C'Brien as the principal per-
former. And now We have this
Fenian ground-swen that mutters and
threatens so much 1t stands alone
and distinct in its mischievous object.
It seems to be neither sanctioned nor
abetted by the natural leaders of the
Irish peasantry-the priesthood; nay,
from many an altar it has been
solemnly denounced, and by the Ro-
man Catholic bishop it has been
severely interdicted. Unlike "Young
Ireland" and the rebels of '99, the
Fenian party are exclusively sons of
the Roman Catholic Church, though
reprobated by their spiritual fathers.
Other conspiracies against the rights
and rule of England in Ireland en-
braced the whole extent of the coun-
try, and were not limited to few
counties, as the Fenians are. They
were headed by men Of mark, and
supported by men of wealth or sta
tion or political influence, with a
powerful press to uphold their claims
and to defend their principles-attri-
butes entirely wanting in this last
phase of Milesian faction.
Under conditions SO widely differ
ent from those Of preceding organi-
cations, it may we'll be doubted whe-
ther it is indigenous or I'm tmporta-
may be asked whether the democratic
Ireland-loving, England-loathing re-
public has supplied with money and
arms, and military instruction, the
land which sent her so many re-
cruits to replenish the armies that fell
like sheep before the sword of the
South. We know it has been more
than once avowed by Northern dema-
gogues that they reckon" on the
day that is soon to come when a war
with England will enable Ireland to
free herself from ''the tyrant." By
too many the greatness OF England is
believed to overshadow Ireland, which
can never bask in the beams, or be
cheered by the sunshine Of prospe-
rlty, until the overshadowing monster
is thrown down from its high place.
This sentiment, SO long prevalent in
America, is the fundamental doctrine
Of the Fenian political creed. We do
not pray, with Castlereagh, that Ire
land may be drowned for twenty four
hours beneath the deep to wash away
her grievances. We prescribe a milder