The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-13
The Fenian Movement and its Probable
Results
From Me Herald.


Results
From Me Herald
The Feniqn movement on Canada which was
designed by the leaders base from which to
carry out their plans Tor the liberation of Ire
land has failed for the present. The United
States Government, by the rigid exercise of the
neutrality VS., accomplished what in all proba-
bility the military power OF the British Govern
ment in Canada would have failed 10 do. There
appeared to have been no want of men, nor of
determination, nor of the necessary supplies on
the part of the Fenians; but while the men
reached the frontier in large numbers their mu-
nlhons, arms, and provisions amounting, il is
SAID, TO fifty thousand small arms and eighty
tons Of ammunition-were seized by the officials
oil our Government, and the men were therefore
lett powerless. We cannot be surprised that
under these circumstances the Fenan move
ment on Canada has collapsed. 1t would be too
much to expect that the Fenians could contend
successfully against two powerful nations.
Such OF the British troops as they met on
Canadian soil they defeated at Limestone Ridge;
but the United States Regulars, Provost Mar
shals, and District Attorneys and Detectives in
the rear were TOO much tor them. From all
the tacts developed in this case 1t seems evil
dent that had 1t not been Tor the interference OF
the Government, there would have been htty
thousand men thrown into Canada; that Mon
treal and Ottawa would have been in posses
sion OF the invaders before this time, and that
in less than six months there would not be a
British flag flying upon British soil in North
America. There would not have been toothold
lett from which to start bank robbers, hotel
burners, assassns, or otner emissares to AID
in the destruction OF this Government, all of
which Canada furnished with so much slacrity
during the Rebellion. ...
However, the Government saw 6t to shoW W It's
magnanimity, and set an example to other ma
l~tlons as to what strict neutrality really means
and hence 1t laid heavy hand upon the Feni-
ans Just at the moment when they were about
| to pay off the old score. The leaders of the
Fenian movement, and perhaps nine-tenths of
| their followers too were men who fought under
the flag o the Republic against the Rebellion
| The leaders, being loyal citizens and good SOL
| diers, who did as much to MAINTAIN the exist
ence of the country in the late war as any
| other class OF the community, did not wish to
| come into collision with the Government, and
hence, when they found that edicts and procla-
nations were issued agalns, the violation of
| the neutrality laws, they submitted to the eXi-
| gencies and disbanded their men for the pre-
| sent. The slurs passed upon the movement by
the partisan press, who have st led il failure and
| and improper The Fenian idea, though bafled
| now, is not failure. 1t will retain a signi6-
| canoe that may be noticeable byand-by in the
| politics OF the country. Viewing it in its most
discouraging aspect it is great and serious
| movement, the results whereof remain to be
| developed. 1t may be that the leading men who
/ entered upon the Canadian invasion were not
| animated solely by desire to free ireland,
| though that was, of course, the main object but
| t. at some thought of vengeance against Canada
entered into their plans. They doubtless gath
| cred hope for the success OF their movement
| from the general hostility entertained by the
| whole American people to wards the British
| Government arising from the course pursued
| towards us during the Rebellion. The Fenian
| leaders, as we have said, were among the best
| lighting element in the war for the Union, and
| in the invasion of Canada they must have seen
| both opportunity for retaliation for the wrongs
done to this country aud hope for their native
| land.
The Fenian organization according to the
statement of the leaders and the general senti-
ment of the masses, is still full Of vitality, and
Will no doubt show itself at some future time
and very probably with some force at the next
| elections; but in the meantime it is clearly the
| duty of President Johnson, now that he has ex-
| tended such bene6cent service to Great Britain
as to save her principal colony from annihlla-
| full payment for all the damage done to our
| commerce by the piratical raids of the Atd-
! bGnld and other Confederate cruisers fitted out
| in British ports. This Is the least return he
can ask from England tor having doue what
| no other Government in the world would have
| dared to do in the face of the popular sentiment
OF hostility to any interference with the punish
ment of Canada for her treacherous conduct
! TOW al6s us in the late Rebellion. The Fenians
| seem to find consolation in the fact that they
have not been defeated by the military power of
England, but by the action of their own Govern
ment We have urgent claims against the
| British Government, which have not yet been
settled by the diplomatic machinery worKed by
| President to demand quid pro quo. He has
preserved Canada for the English Government;
let him insist that the Alabama claims shall be
| settled at once,