Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-05-17
The Fenians.


ireland has had several incipient
rebellions within the memory of its
Oldest inhabitants All failed to ac-
complish the full object at which they
aimed, yet nearly all indirectly ac-
complished something for the relief
of the Irish people. The hope that
the Fenian movement may effect
something in the same way is its
only redeeming feature. The i'm
mediate results INST be suffering and
disappointment to the Irish ut home
To our American Irish it is only a
pleasant excitement, and they may
as well enrich the leaders of this po-
itical movement with their spare
cash as to cast it into the Golfers OF
their priests. Their sympathy for
oppressed Ireland, the land of their
birth and the home of their friends,
is with most OF them a true and genu.
inc sentiment, and does them credit.
There is no disputing the fact, Ireland
is oppressed in many ways. Her
people are mostly catholics, and yet
are compelled to support the estab-
lished church of England as well as
their own; her lands are held by non
resident proprietors and leased to
the peasantry at extortionate rates,
and in many other ways the Irish
people are treated like conquered
subjects, rather than as forming part
and parcel of the British people.
But although this be true, yet
Ireland does not SO much need sepe-
ration from the English government,
as equal rights aud protection in the
government. Let England give her
equal representation, take of the
taxes imposed upon her to support
the church, improve the land tenure,
and assimilate the institutions OF
Ireland to those of England, in fact
place Irishmen upon equal terms
with Englishmen as citizens of one
common country, and there will be
no moro Fenians reyolts, no more
rebellions. And it is to be hoped,
that this Fenian movement and the
agitation of the question o: Irish
liberty and independence, if they
have no other effect, will at least
wake up thought and discussion
among the English people touching
Irish wrongs; and force from the
British government some conces-
sions to the rights of the people of
Ireland. Thus far VIC can all wish
them success.
What proportion of the money
collected in this country for the de-
liverance of Ireland will reach the
Fenians at home will probably never
be known, How much the Fenian
leaders mean by their loud boasts oi
invading Canada is also MISTER Of
doubt, though their late demonstra-
tions in that direction seem to have
been sadly lacking in energy and
earnestness. If they 60 into Canada
asall, it can only be as raiders and
plunderers, not with any idea OF stop
ping there or of getting permanent
possession at any point. Their OBJ.
ject seems to be to alarm the Canadi.
ans and thus- cause trouble and ex
pense to the British government, and
at the same time to keep alive the
excitement here until the last dollar
that can be had is drawn into the
Fenian treasury. So far as ths
movement is swindle of the masses
for the benefit of few leaders, Il
should be exposed and universally
condemned. But so far as this agi
tation hasa tendency to compel con
cessions from the British government
to the people of oppressed ireland
we wish it God-speed.