The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-05

mako their cruise on the 10th OF June Is TO consist OF
Ave vessels-three and two sailing vessels It
is also thought tha tho yacht America. which carried
or the prize at English regatta years SINCE will
accompany the expedition.
Latest from the Border-Failure OF tho
Fenians.
The Fenian foray into Canada has c1lmi-
mated and collapsed. The Fenians have failed.
The Fort Erie movement though evidently in
tended as diversion, embraced, as it now APP
pears, the largest body OF the Fenians in the
field. The movement itself and the combina-
tions projected in its support were all depend
ent upon the chapter Of risks and lucky acct
dents. Nothing was certain. John O'Neill, with
few hundred mon, inaugurated the invasion,
without artillery, cavalry or provisions, de-
pending upon the chances Of supplies and rein
forcements from this side; while his supporters
on this side were dependent upon the chances
Of running the gauntlet Of the government from
tier guards. The Fenians gathering along the
st. Lawrence, depended upon O'Neill, who de.
pended upon Sweeny, and SO on; but through
the vigilance Of our federal officials they have
all failed together. Reinforcements failed to
come up because they could not be equipped,
because they could not get over the river, be-
cause they could not concentrate at any point,
because their arms and supplies were seized,
and all through the active and Jealous neutrali-
ty measures of President Johnson's administra-
ton. Sir Frederick Bruce ought to be salts
fed and nobody else at Washington has any
right to complain.
The Montreal Herald, In high state Of
patriotic indignation, pronounces this Fenian
descent upon Canada "as more wicked and
inexcusable, perhaps, than any that was ever
committed since civilization has controlled the
taste for marauding warfare;" and cannot
comprehend "upon what grounds the most
perverted mind can justify an assault "a Fenian
assaulD upon the people Of Canada, involving,
as 1t must do, the murder and pillage of men
who have never seen Ireland nor had any share
in her wrongs, real or supposed" The ground
Of this movement, however, is simple enough.
General Sweeny having seen something Of the
grand strategical combinations Of General
Grant, such as the making Of vicksburg and
Chattanooga bases Of operations against Rich
mond, hit upon Canada ss good Fenian base
for operations against the Saxon in Limerick
and Londonderry; base which will give him
all the materials and supplies required for .
deadly grapple with England on the high seas
and in old Ireland ITSELF Marshal Pelissier
the successful French commander at Sebastopol,
said, "If we can't get In at the front door we
must try the back window; it Is our business to
got in" This is war, and Sweeny means war
for Ireland upon this principle. Moreover, il he
can get . foothold in Canada, he has some
three hundred thousand or more able-bodied
Irishmen within convenient distances from
which to draw his achievements. He wants
ships to get these men over to Ireland and to
get the Briton out, and Canada can furnish
them. The innocence Of the Canadians has
nothing to do with the matter. War does not
stop OF such nice distinctions.
But, starting from country the government
OF which is bound to arrest them in the overt
act Of hostile movement against friendly
Power, and invading a country armed to expel
them and drawing their men and money almost
wholly from our hard working Irish day
laborers and domestics, this Canadian under
taking OF the Fenians was surely moved by
some other idea than that Of taking Canada
right away with handful Of infantry and
solitary mounted Fenian." This other idea
is doubtless that which dictated Beauregard's
bombardment Of Fort Sumter. His purpose
was to fire the Southern heart and to draw
the line in blood between the supporters of his
confederacy and tho defenders of the Union.
Sweeny, adopting the same terrible expedient,
contemplates the firing Of tho Irish heart, here,
there, everywhere, In renewal Of the oath Of
Hannibal. How far this effect will be pro-
duced by this Canadian raid 1t remains 10 be
seen; but TO a considerable extent such an
effect Is already apparent Universally, we
may safely conclude, Irsh hatred Of British
oppression will be intensified. II Ii not i'm
probable in this view that the first reports of
this Canadian foray may light the combustibles
Of Ireland into some insurrectionary outbreaks
or at least wake up such an agitation Is will
raise some new and startling issues Of reform
to the aristocracy in the British Parliament
The upshot in any event will doubtless be
q new exodus from Ireland to the United States,
with an eye upon Canada as General Sweeny's
base OF operations. Meantime the Canadians
are thrown into that state Of excitement which
will be likelyt to serve the purposes Of the con-
federation party. Thus, between England and
the Fenians there may be yet during the pre-.
sent generation war In Canada for the vice.
royalty under prince Of the House OF Han
over or for Canadian independence under the
green banner Of Brian Boroihme.
THIS CorrRf is hthlrai ID regard to the
Fenian war but we have not allowed Fenian