The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-26

had been In their hands; all the great offices
of the nation were theirs, they shaped its policy,
their cherished institution of slavery was In
fact upheld by the concession Of the constitu-
ton; but the Irish have long been in q state
of absolute subsection, of degrading political
servitude, and by the oppressive policy Of the
British government have been forced to emf
CRATE by millions to escape the manacles i'm
posed upon them since they were dragged
into the union with England by fraud and
bribery. No allowance has been made, how
ever, for their natural indispostion to remain
under such . system. No sympathy is be-
slowed on the men who feel this injustice and
desire to get rid of 1t. When the Irish ask for
independence they are hunted down, tried,
convicted and sent to the gallows. All their
new born admiration for men fighting against
odds disappears at once, and blood is the cur
rent which flows quickest at their command,
and not tear for those who fall in the struggle
to be free. For rebel heroism In the South
the food gates Of pity, sympathy and
sorrow were opened, but when the Irish
fall they are welcomed to their graves.
There is not nation in the world which
resents instruction or rebellion so promptly
and cruelty as Great Britain. The most illus
trious Scotch and English men have been be-
headed for exercising the right Of resistance.
! The scaffold has been crimsOned with their
blood, and even where resistance has been
made by the most ignorant or the most
wronged the punishment has been heightened
| by the most barbarous mortal infections. We
can now commend the chalice they offered us
| to their own lips. Let them taste, and tell US
how they like it.
| Our Information from Ireland is that the
Fenian Brotherhood are moi unprepared for the
first reverses of discovery and are by no means
daunted by the preliminary arrests. A ship
load Of shells from neutral France on its way
to Ireland has been intercepted at Liverpool,
! and some thousands OF pounds sterling from
the United States; yet we are told the move
ment is by no means queiled. II general
rising takes place England may yet be shaken
| TO its centre, and as soon as a nationality is
! set up with any appearance of strength we may
| see consequences which few as yet discern.
Certainly, il the proclaiming Of this nationality
be attended by the sallying forth from neutral
| ports to seize the Cunard and other English
| steamers, as we are told is likely to be
attempted, we shall then be enlightened by
| whole columns Of arguments, whole volumes
Of international law, showing what now are
| the real obligations of honest neutrals. But
the truth is if the press of the Union, the
shipyards of the Union, the merchants of the
| Union should do hundredth part for Ireland
| that was done in England for the, Southern
rebels nothing could prevent an uprising, with
| q basis TO rest upon, which would shake that
| country to It's centre. We would have only to
tread in the footsteps Of British sympathizers,
to fill Ireland with arms and munitions of war,
and to meet the first declaration Of independ-
| ence with . proclamation of neutrality, to
| practically give nationality, hope and success
to the Irish cause.
Is tho Present Congross . Truly Repre-
sentative One1
Most OF the members of the present Con-
gress were elected before the war was closed,
and under very different state Of circum-
stances from those which now exists They
were for the most part candidates of the
contractors and others interested in the war.
| They wero chosen to represent the great In
| forests created by the war and the aggressive
spirit Of the war. Since the time of their cleo
! ton wonderful change has taken place. The
| war has been closed up 80 completely that
| were it not for the debris Of that stupendous
conflict we should hardly reslize there has
been one SO recently. There is not the breath,
semblance or possibility of hostility any more
over this broad land. The sword Is turned
into the ploughshsre. The conquerors and
the conquered alike have rapidly fallen back
to the peaceful pursuits Of life. The desire
everywhere, and on both sides, is to Obliterate
all bitter remembrance OF the struggle rs soon
and rs far as possble-to restore harmony,
equality, and the benefcent action Of our re-
publican institutions throughout the whole
coantry at the earliest period. This, too, the
people are happily realizing under the wise
administration of President johnson. Even
the most ultra radicals, those who pursue the
fallen Southerncrs with retributive vengeance,
admit that we have no fear Of future sectional
hostilities; that we have, in fact, established
solid peace. The very magnitude Of the war,
and the herculean efforts put forth to sustain
| it, are guarantees, now that It Is closed, that
no attempt osn be made hereafter to renew it.
The progress toward restoration and harmony
has been as astonishing as the conflict was
desperate. The revolution both in affairs and
in public sentiment has been very surprising
since most Of the members Of the present Con-
gress were elected.
It can hardly be expected that these men,
bers should represent the sentiment of the
country under the changed circumstances. IT
they were statesmen, men Of comprehensive
views, who could understand the present and
penetrate the future, whose minds and patriot
i - y - -