The New York herald., 1866-06-04
Tho Feninn Invnsion-American Vcrsu
British Canadian Neutrality.


British Canadian Neutrality.
Colonel O'Neil's advanced corps of Fenians,
in the absence of artillery and his cx
pected reinforcements, have returned by way
of Buffalo from their Canadian incursion, and
surrendered to the United States authorities.
Some pickets at Fort Erie, covering the re-em-
barlsation, are reported as having fallen into
the enemy's hands. This was one of the hazards
Of the venture; but this and all other Canadian
drawbacks and difficulties have been mere
trifies in the way Of the Fenians. The one
great obstruction which has baffled them at
every point and defeated their plans SO far has
been the vigilant neutrality of the United States
civil and military authorities.
In this the government has been rendering to
England and Canada good for evil in most
remarkable degree. Canada, for instance,
during our civil war, was the chosen rem
devious of the most diabolical conspirators,
assassins, robbers, traitors and incendiaries,
concerned in our late rebellion. Their head
quarters were at Montreal, and her Majesty
provincials, officials and most influential sub
jects generally sympathized, and aided and
abetted or winked at the infamous plots and
cutthroat and incendiary adventures of those
agents Of the rebellion "on detached servicer
This was British and Canadian neutrality. Now
Fenian organization in the United States,
devoted to the liberation Of Ireland, under
takes . descent from our borders upon
Canada, In view Of base of operations for
their grand design. They have the sympathies
Of the American people, and the Canadians
have no claim upon us for reciprocities of neu-
trality. But the government, regardless Of
English and Canadian perfdy, adhering rigidly
and vigilantly to its neutral obligations, inter-
Fenians, SEXES their arms, stores and munitions
Of war, and watches every crossing against
them as zea,ously as II they were rebel gueril-
las operating against New Jersey. This is
American neutrality; and It presents striking
contrast to English and Canadian neutrality.
Had Mr.. Seward adopted the late neutral
policy of Lord John Russell the Fenians ere
this would have been in occupation Of Mon
treal. AS IL IL, they have shown to England
that her retention OF Ireland, as well as her
North American possessions, depends hence
forth upon her good conduct towards the
United States The active repressive measures
OF the government, meantime, we presume will
convince General Swecny that more time and
a more deliberate and comprehensive organlza-
tion will be necessary 10 enable him TO pass
our frontiers and concentrate at any point over
the border with force sufficient for promis-
ing lodgment on the other side. We know
nothing Of his plans, but we suppose that like
with Pemberton at vicksburg, he will fall
back with his central column in good order.
Head Centre Stephens now should lay aside
the character OF the Great Mogul and take a
calm and common sense view OF the Fcnian
situation. The role of Kossuth In this country
is not the thing. Unity, place and time are
as necessary to any great enterprise AZ t'hnan-
cial and material aid" Englands difficulty
will be Ireland's opportunity, and nothing else
will serve the purpose Of Ireland's liberation.
That difficulty will some day come, and then, II
the Irish are united, in whatever part OF The
globe they may be, they may strike an effective
blow and return to the absolute possession Of
their green lcihuu hs surely "s uic uhi'eu ScWr
VII some day return and rebuild the waste
places Of Zion. The stranger has desolated
Israel and holds il, the once great kingdom ol
Poland has been blotted from the map Of Eu-
rope, the old universal Roman empire exists
only In history; bs; Ireland, engirdled BY the
sea, cannot be e1finguisbed short of the exslr
patton Of The Irish race. Cosleseing upon the
great idea Of AIreland fs< ts iFfsh," u rii
outliye the coal mines " EagisnS; s'ss divided
into clasling fsstsns, s viii coasisns !
"Niobe among the nassass saal snscrssd ses
wasted away among sss%s hasicna ~ As
ancient Greeks and RonssL nss~ssics ka'
been and ID the weakness os Issl&sa. Cssca \
strength. II has carried ths ssibss ~ Js1sA
and benjamin. through ths rsveiasions saA rss
sscusions Of forty centuries, and shey are mssu