The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-12

zens and incipient citizens OF Irish birth nave
been looking for some time past-that is, the
arrival of James Stephens, Head Centre OF Ire
land, Head Centre of America, Chief Of the
Irish republic, and universal representative
of all the Irish that ever did live, do live, or
ever will live-has burst upon US at last The
II. G. is actually in the city of New York He
arrived in the new steamship Napoleon Ill, from
Havre, on Thursday evening. This I" Kossuth
Of Ireland" as may be readily supposed, was
received by great demonstrations Of fealty from
his fellow citizens Cor subjects) Of the Irish re-
public located in America. 1t was with great
difficulty his devoted admirers, the sturdy
lovers of independence, could be prevented
from turning themselves into horses to draw
his carriage through the streets from the ship
to the hotel. Mr.. Stephens in good taste, and
out of compassion to the bipeds who would have
made themselves horses, refused to let them be
harnessed. The team which properly belonged
to the carriage were nearly frightened to death
by the effort to take their vocation from them,
but finally escaped with their precious freight
to the Metropolitan Hotel Having arrived
safely, Mr.. Stephens was Immediately called
upon by friends and by the committee" of
course, and of course made little speech full
of encouragement and promises. Everybody
is happy, Mr.. Stephens not less so than any one,
at the suspicious event. The bonds Of the
Irish republic will 90 up, the subscriptions
from the Woodworking chambermaids will pour
in we shall have receptions and monster meet
ings without number, there will be the greatest
overflow of eloquence about British tyranny,
Irish independence, armed hosts, bloody war
and suffering patriots. We shall have all this
without stint for some time to come, to keep
up the excitement and flow Of funds; and then
we shall have-what? Perhaps collapse,
with good round sum in the hands of the
leaders, a la Kossuth, to make them comfort
able for life. That will probably be the end
of all this fuss, parade and fury.
We say this in kindness 10 our Irish fellow
citizens, and in no spirit of unkindness to the
leaders of the Fenians. If there were any
chance Of success of making Ireland free and
establishing a republic, we would not utter a
discouraging word, for we know what Ire
land has suffered through ages of misrule,
and our sympathies are with the Irish people
We do not doubt either that many, if not all
the Fenian leaders, are in earnest and ina CINE
they have a chance of accomplishing some
thing Men of intelligence often become Wis
ionary and believe the most improbable things
when their feelings and hopes are fixed on an
object and when their minds dwell constantly
upon it. They become incapable Of taking the
comprehensive and impartial views others
take, and are carried away into the most ex-
travagant schemes by their enthusiasm. We
are willing to believe this is the case with the
Fenian leaders. Kossuth probably was sincere
at one time in his desire and expectation to
liberate Hungary, and he had a better chance
than the Fcnians to liberate Ireland; but when
he had no hope Of that he found . handsome
fund of money in his hands, and to return this
to the individual subscribers was neither con-
venient or possible. These men ought 10 know
what is practicable before they take the hard
earned money Of the people.
If il be only grand display and noise to
amuse the Irish people, to crafty their sentiment
of love for the old country, and to work up their
enthusiasm by way Of amusement, and they are
willing to pay for that as they pay for being
amused at the theatre, all very well. There is
no particular objection to that, so that nobody
be hurt and the United States government be
not put to expense to maintain the neutrality
laws. But if the movement be serious one
on the part of the leaders few pertinent
questions might be asked. How many ships
would it take to carry an invading army across
the Atlantic-such an army as would not be
gobbled up piecemeal by the British men-of-
war and redcoats? How manyf A hundred?
Fifty? Twenty? How much money would it
cost? A hundred millions? Or fifty millions:
And where is this money to come FRONT Then
how are these ships to be obtained, and how
get away from our shores? Can one, can q
schooner, be permitted to break the neutrality
laws and escape the vigilance Of our govern
ment? But some say the colonies are to be
taken first and made the point dappi of opera
tons for the liberation Of Ireland. How alb
surd! Would not this be fillibustering- piracy?
There are some Irishmen in the colonies, but
conquered and governed by few Irish 6llibus-
ters The colonies are not Ireland. And
would the United States permit the invasion Of
a friendly territory General Meade's presence
on the border and the United States Navy on
the coast are sufficient answer to the question
as to what our government would be bound TO
do. 1t lis not a question Of sympathy with Irish
men-here or in Ireland-in their generous de-
sires and aspirations. That they have, probably,
from beth our government and people; but IL is
one Of law, Of international obligations And
prudence that must govern us in this case. In
whatever way we look at the visionary scheme
% establish an Irish republic we see II is utter
" impracticable. Worse thsn that; the Irish
people are not only deluded, but the leaders
ere putting this generous country, which some
Of them have adopted, TO great expense and
.-.at. rhov ho.a NJ Al A.. 4. ~