The Portland daily press., 1866-03-16

goou, among the t0mDS, with fresh epltaph
in his hands; all good and excellent, each in
his own way, and in company with our lee
turer, with his mineralogc hammers and pick
axe, matter-of-fact style, we drop the SUBJECT
Yours, M va /. w.
The Neutral Policy of the United States.
IF the Fenian leaders really mean war, it is
time to consider what will be the course OF
the United States government. Whether they
mean war or not, it is hardly possible that the
excitement which has been so skilfully famed,
will subside without some mischieyous results.
IF the whole movement is hoax, as some
people say, 1t Is the most stupendous hoax ev-
er enacted. No doubt there are rascals in the
brotherhood. who seek only their individual
gain. No doubt there are politicians on the
other side of the Canada line, who see only a
good opportunity for concentrating their
scheme of Confederation, and are likely to
succeed. But the outer rings Of the Roberts
circles and the rank and file of the Canadian
volunteers are certainly looking for warm
work ahead, and the bonds of the Irish Re-
public have taken on enough of real value to
attract the notice of the counterfeiters. hos
With infammable materials arrayed on both
sides of the line, there is hardly possibility
of avoiding at least some disturbance of the
public peace. The United States government
viii not interfere to prevent General Sweeney
from talking in whatever key he may prefer.
The demand of the Toronto Globe and of 9TH
er papers, that the United States should take
the matter in hand now, is premature. Ex-
pressions of sympathy and contributions of
money for any foreign cause, are not matters
with which governments are accustomed to
NEEDLE. We gratefully remember that the
Globe upheld our national cause through all
the painful years of the rebellion. But the
Globe will remember that Canadian sympathies
were largely on the other side, and that the
Canadian Government did not feel called up
on to restrain their expression. %
If from talk the Fenian organizations
should proceed to hostile acts, it would become
the duty of the American Government to de-
fend Its own laws from violation. Our Cana
dian neighbors have the strongest pledge that
tuC AC0Iaiity laws Will NC clliOTC6Q, III LQG
previous action of the United States during
the so-caled Patriot War;" in 1885, The
origin of that disturbance was in Canada,
where a small but resolute party began to agi-
tate in favor Of certain revolutionary changes,
with an eye, perhaps, to ultimate annexation
to the United States. The name of L;bertu
was always word to conjure with on this
continent. All along the border, for fifty
miles this side of the Canadian line, the coun-
try was afame with enthusiasm for the strug-
Cling patriots" of Canada. More than two
hundred thousand Americans were organized
into lodges, bound by an oath of secresy, and
sworn to assist in arms whenever their Cana
dian confederates should rise. The occasion
was fully as critical as the present. -'Iaf
Blood was actually shed at last; the neu-
trality laws were violated, and the violation
came from the Canadian side. A steamer
which had been used by the g Patriots" but
for no hostile act, was siezed by party oil
Canadians while lying at her wharf at Schloss-
er, on the American side. The attack was
made by night, and was perfect surprise
several persons on board were killed, the
steamer was set on fire and sent adrift over
Niagara Falls--as was enormously believed at
the time, with wounded Americans in her
hold. rgm. ali sFig 90 10 ogml1 sh5 ..lAh
The GOODNESS and promptitude with which
the American Government acted under these
circumstances of provocation are very pleas
ant 10 remember, and contrast admirably with
the spirit manifested by the British Govern
ment In their more recent management of the
Trent affair. Gen. Scott relates in his autobi-
ography, that on the day when the news
reached Washington, he had been invited to
dine with President Van Buren. The party
waited till long after the hour appointed. At
length the President appeared, and whispered
to Scott, "Blood has been shed; you must go
with all speed to the Niagara frontier. The
Secretary of War is now engaged in writing
your Instructions During the winters of
1873 and 1888 o General Scott was en-
trusted with the delicate duty Of depressing
the explosive forces along the border. In
summer the Ice bridges were wanting g, and
the people were occupied with their ordinary
S'ceo1ASAoy but III WHICH Luc OI du
outbreak was imminent The requisite force
of regulars and uninfected militia was fur
nished, to maintain order. The whole from
tier was distributed into military districts un-1
eer Gems. Brady, Worth, Wool and Eustis.--
The troops proved true and steady, and so by
the prompt and energetic action of the Amer
lean Government, an invasion was prevented,
which might have made Canada independent
of the British crown. Ei.nsso7 .-5lgt 10 s'l
When Canada remembers St. Adams, that
conscience which makes towards Of us all,
may inspire the fear that the authorities at
Washington win wink at similar outrages.-
We beg our neighbors to believe that power
fol and magnanimous government viii seek re-
dress openly and formally or not at all. When
the proper time comes, if it should come, the
United States will not fail to assert their es
tablished policy of neutrality. af1d "a 5as .