The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-30

lie did not know that these men, right or
wrong IN their Interpretation of intern ltona
laws, were desperately in earnest; aud that what
to him was tie mere instrument of D jlitical
ambition, was to them the holiest of causes
The Fenian delegations which waited upon him
lett his presence inspired with new ardor. His
words were quoted IN secret meetings and used
as arguments to recruit the FCniau army and
1eplenish its treasury. John Mitchell deliOe-
rately dehed his power, and I'm June, 1865. was
arr nested and imprisoned in Fortress Monroe.
But he did not remain long in the custody OF
the United States. His arrest was the subject
of Discussion In everv Fenan circle, and dele
gates were appointed TO ask his release of the
President. At the earnest request of the Fe-
nian leaders, m ade upon The express ground
that his services we're essential to their cause,
Andrew Johnson set Mitchell free. Great was
the exultation that followed this act, and there
was not an Irishman who had not Che righ. TO
believe that Mr.. Johnson approved their plans.
Thus he deliberately and consistently encou-
ragged the whole movement, and under his sup
posed protection the Irish threat at last became
an Irish blow, and suddenly the country was
startled by the report that an Irish army had
crossed the frontier, and that all Canada was in
arms TO resist them.
The Irish army invaded Canada flushed with
the faith that Andrew johnson would not inter
lere. They believed that he would answer
British demands for the enforcement of the
neutrality laws with the British Interpretation,
and the precedent of British ports open to Rebel
cruisers and Rebel guns supplied by British
arsenals. They expected he would answer the
n
Quebec. They asked no other help-not man
or gun-they simply trusted that this man,
who from first TO last had never said one word
against their dear cause, but had uttered many
that seemed to favor it, would do nothing
against them. Thus their leaders have declared,
and it was this belief that gave the Fenian
movement its strength. Had they known what
Andrew johnson would do when their hour of
trial came, an enterprise so foolhardy as the in
vaslon OF Canada would never have been at
tempted Enthus iastc as the Irish were they
would never have measured their imperfect
strength against the combined power OF Great
Britain and the United States. Andrew johnson
could have prevented the whole movement by
one honest word. Had he even hinted his in
tentions, the army would never have been or
ganlzed to night on American soil, the ill-fated
expedition into Canada would never have been
undertaken, lives of brave men wou d not have
been ,vainly lost, and Lynch and Mcmahon
would not De teIons in British cell. But he
let the Irishmen in America go on with their
plans, TIL the moment when they thought vic.
tory was In their grasp what then did he do ?
lie crushed them with the proclamation of
June o. Five days after they had secured a
toothold in Canada, and we're hurrylng up
troops, while even the colored men in Phlade-
pha had caught the FIRE, and offered to send
men to the front, Andrew johnson ordered
General Meade to call out the land and naval
forces OF the United States to crush this unlaw-
tul enterprise. American soldiers who had
longht side by side with Irish soldiers In the
war Tor the Union, unwiIlingly confronted them
as foes. The zeal with which the invaders 1, WERE
pursued by the United States exceeded that
SHOWN by the Canadians Canada reioiced at
THIS unexpected reinforcement, and left the de.
tense OF her frontier TO her ofliclous ally, By
andrew Johnson's orders arms and ammuni.
ton were seized, Fenian batlalions captured or
driver back, and General Sweeney and Presi-
dent ROBERTS were arrested. This sudden, un-
expected blow fell with crushing force. The !
tenian movement was paraly yzed; its army |
crumbled TO nothing. Dsorderei and defeated
Cne broken bands recrossed the frontier and
many an Irish heart beat with grief and indig- |
hatlon-not so much for the defeat for that
might 6ave been the fate OF war, as for the |
betrayal, which was the act of the man from
whom they had nothing but announcements
NOW. that the matter is ended, d calm con.
sideratlon OF Its history proves beyond doubt
nat Andrew johnson might have prevented all
me waste OF money and time and life the de-
Suuctlon oil warm hopes, the shame and pain of
defeat, by honestly declaring his purpose He
mad only to have said, "If this invasion Is |
attempted, VIII crush it," to have compelled
rs abandonment. But he chose to play with
hese earnest men-to permit it to be attempted
md to crush II afterwards. Some of them paid
With their lives for the mistake of trusting him,
md Lynch and Mcmahon are now by his act
placed in the shadow of the gallows. If they
ire hanged, Andrew Johnson is to blame. The
east he can do to repair the evil is to insist
lpon their PARDON. He has right to demand
heir lives of the British Government for il
yves him no ordinary debt. Had he interfered
'etore the invasion, the Fenian force would
lot have been wasted but might have been en-
loyed in Ireland, and had he not interfered
liter the invasion began, the Irish flag might
lave waved i'll triumph over more than one
]anadlan city. His services to England were
reat, and mercy for Lynch and Mcmahon
would be little Tor her to grant, and less for
Lim 10 ask.