The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-03

ship with France; but they are simply impos-
sible while Macmillan and his imperial estab-
lishment remain in Mexico. The abandon
ment Of this sgrand idea" is essential to peace
and the safety of Napoleon and his dynasty.
Iroland In Rebellion.
The news from Europe by the Asia brings
the remarkable, though perhaps not quite un-
expected fact, that third part of the British
empire is in state of revolution. The writ Of
habeas corpus has been suspended all over
ireland By an act of both Houses of Parlia-
msnt, hastily passed, and as speedily signed
by the Queen at eleven o'clock the same night
This cannot be regarded in any other light
than voluntary declaration by the government
that Ireland is engaged in rebellion which
cannot be suppressed by the agency of civil
law, and that the government is compelled to
resort to military force in order 70 keep that
portion of the United Kingdom in unwilling
subsection. This is an admission which strong
governments are not accustomed to make. In
deed, it is the last thing any government
would be likely to do except in very serious
emergency. Therefore we are bound TO accept
the fact that Ireland is at the present moment
in rebellion. The Lord Lieutenant, it appears,
declared that he would not be responsible
for the consequences which he foresaw as the
result of the widespread Fenian conspiracy
unless the habeas corpus act was suspended.
II appears furthermore, that the first move
ment of the authorities after the suspension of
the writ was to arrest and imprison a number
of officers who lately served in the American
army during the war; now sojourn1ng in Ire
land, along with hundreds of others, supposed
to be connected with Fenianism. The London
Times declares that the special object of this
action is to secure the persons of these Ameri-
can citizens.
Remembering the cutlery raised by the Eng
fish press, and the denunciations of English
statesmen when Mr.. Lincoln suspended the
habeas corpus at time when rebellion raised
its head against just and truly fraternal gov-i
eminent in this country we may well question
the consistency of the act of the English gov
eminent now; and when Mr.. Labouchere gives
notice in the House of Commons that he will
call attention to the inadequacy of the neutral
laws to enable England to fulfil her "interna-
tional obligations" towards foreign countries,
now that it is the British OK which is gored, we
are reminded how faithlessly these obligations
were regarded during our civil war. Scrupu-
Ions as England is in the observance of neu-
trality when she is in q scrape, she counte-
nanced the fitting out Of privateers against
American commerce, fostered the designs Of
notorious rebels in Canada, recognized bellig-
erent rights in the insurgent States, and in
every way assisted rebellion in this country
II may be that in the face of all these fagi-
tious proceedings the British government will
require the United States to interpose its
authority to suppress Fenianism, and endorse
the misgoyernment which has driven Ireland
into rebellion.
But suppose that our government does not
find itself bound to do anything Of the sort,
or even should be disposed to demand the
release Of these American citizens who have
served under our flag on the battle
fields of the South? What then9 Has
England any claim upon us that she
should seek our cooperation in crush
ing a people in their struggle for Free
dom? Has she any argument to show why we
should not interpret neutrality as she has in
terprcted it in the case of the Southern re-
bellion? These questions may arise out Of the
present disturbed condition Of things in the
British empire, and it may seem the best policy
in our government to let the Fenians alone just
for the present. Should the time come to recog-
nixe belligerent rights, we have good prece-
dent to follow in the conduct of Earl Russell
at the commencement Of our troubles, and the
present English administration can hardly
quarrel with us for adopting its own idea of
international obligations towards foreign
countries"
But, apart from any speculations as to future
contingencies, we have to deal now with the
fact that the British government has declared
Ireland ungovernable by civil law, and this
means revolution. II is admitted in Parlia-
ment, 1t is declared from the throne, il Is estab-
lisbed by the suspension Of the habeas corpus,
that dcep-rooted conspiracy is sapping the
foundation Of portion Of the British empire,
which requires all its military power to sup
press. That is enough for the beginning Of the
drama. How II will shape Its future remains
TO be seen. 1t must be brief 70 be decisive,
whichever way IL ends.
THE NEW HoBBy.-The radical journals have
found new explanation for all the ills that
afliict humanity. If anything goes wrong in
the world now, ii Is because Of the Presidents
veto and the Presidents speech. To these
causes, says one Of the number, "may be at
tributed the disgraceful demonstrations on UNI
offending blacks which have been made under
IA ahadaxu ~ lha Ca.ilaI TIL. LII.