The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-20
The Government and the Fenians.

From tie Times.
E0ur Government has pursued very sensible
and discreet policy with regard to the manifes-
tations and alleged purposes of Feniarism in
this country. There have been some calls from
the other side OF the water for it to put down"
Fenanism; but it was very evident that those
who made these demands were entirely ignorant
Of the nature and powers of our Government.
On the other hand there has been with some Of
our citizens an idea that the Government was
winking at what was virtually violation of
international comfy, and that 1t intended IN
this way to pay England back tor her violations
Of neutrality during the war.
Societies were formed and funds were raised In
England to aid our Rebellion; let there now be
funds and societies here to aid the Irish rebel
lion. Priyateers were lifted out at English ports
to ravage our commerce. let privateers in turn
now sail from our ports to destroy English COM
merce. AS Confederate Plenipotentiary had
conference with Earl Russell, so, in return,
Fenian 'Centre" had an interview with Pres-
dent Johnson As raids for arson and murder
upon our soil were got up in Canada, so, In like
manner, were raids for similar purposes in
Canada permitted to be organized upon our soil
Such petty and pitiful augmentation as this
has been employed by American journals and
our Government has thus been accused Of the
most contemplate and hypoerltical conduct.
Now it is quite true that there has been a
great deal OF sensational writing in certain
newspapers Tor some weeks past about gIgantic
raid into Canada that had bsen projected by the
Fenians, and The Canadians have been wrought
mp into high state OF excitement by the tele-
graphic reports of these stories. But the day ON
which, according TO all accounts, the grand
deRCaenlent was TO take place has just passed
away, and all was as quiet on the st. Lawrence
as ii is on the Potomac The Irishmen in Canada
avoucbed their loyalty to the Provincial Gov
ernment; the population in general were under
arms; but neither an enemy nor his shadow
appeared on tho frontier
Now, knowing very well beforehand that such
would be the case what would any one have
had our Government do? 1t could unquestion-
ably have got up real sensation, and probably
have precipitated heavy quarrel, by making q
tremendous show Of counteracting FeRian
projects. Had it issued proclamatIons prohibit
ing Fenian ralds-had 1t called out the militia to
enforce our public obligations-had 1t stationed
heavy military force along the border, We have
no doubt that, amid the prevailing excitement
that would have been aroused, and IN the
divided sentiments of the people, the Fenians
would have been sharp enough to get few hun
dred men through the lines somewhere who
would have pitched into the first place they could
find in genuine Irish style, and then when once the
rumpus had opened, who can tell what would
have been its developments and termination +?
There is no question that under these croum-
stances the public excitement would have be-
come general and deep, and Fenianism would
quickly have gone forth IN practical action, had
our Government gone furiously TO work to crush
its shadow, as some desired. II was far the most
sensible thing Ter the Government TO act pre-
cisey as it did. Ii saw no signs OF any violation
OF our neutrality, and 1t certainly could not be
expected to believe or act upon the windy non
sense published by newspaper reporters.
As for any interference with the organization
known as Fenians, so long rs it violated NO law
of the land, and made no practical attempt TO
disturb our foreign relations, no one who COM
prehends the rudlments OF our political system
could SUPPOSE it possible. And the same may
be said of any attempt TO prevent the publica
ton of the exciting tAlsehoods about Fenan
projects and schemes, which have OF late been
the staple in some Of our public journals. The
Emperor of the French took the trouble in his
late speech, to draw comparison between his
Government and ours; but We may take this
opportunitY OF setting forth one of the differ
ences between them, in the fact that while his
Government eXtinguishes public societies. orga
nizations, and journals as il sees fit, ours il
happily not endowed with such powers.
So Of the socalled FeDian privateers We
have heard OF some halt-a-dozen as having beer
purchased on the lakes and in the sea-coas
cities. We have heard many times, through
kbe sensational sources already alluded to, tina
they we're absut to sail for somewhere TO exc
cute some portentous Fenlan purpose. But W.
imagine tina, the Fenian head-centres, as vel
90 onr own Governmental head-oentres are bet
Ter Informed about the matter; and that tn
annarent urconcern Of our authorities 10 sim
NV owing to the fact that there Is no caus
whatever for concern.
IL is not at all likely that there VIII De an,
coIi nnon our Government for interference wit
Feniap movements in the tnture. The America
Covefnment has lately shown 'ts determlnSuo
- rrevent riPidly all infringements oil lntera'
tioLal Law under all CIRCUMSTANCES OrA"loi