The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-14

to the carriage we're nearly friehtened TO death
by the effort to take their vocation from them,
but finally escaped with their precious freight
to the Metropolitan Hotel Having arrived
saey, Mr.. stephens was immediately called
upon by friends and by the "commttee" oil
course, and Of course made little speech fun
OF encourae ement and promises. Everybody is
happy, Mr.. Stephens not less so than any one
at the auspicious event. The bonds OF the Irish
| republic will 60 up, the subscriptions from the
hard-working chambermads will pour in, we
shall have receptions and monster meetings
| without number, there will be the greatest over
flow OF eloquence about British tyranny, Irish
| independence, armed hosts bloody war. and
suffering patriots. We shall have all this with.
out STINT for some time to come, to keep up the
| excitement and flow of funds; and then we shall
| have-what? Perhaps collapse, with good
| round sum In the hands of the leaders a Ia
kossuth, TO make them comfortable Tor life.
| parade, and fury. ..I IGT 371Tl ,
We say this in kindness to our Irish fellow
citizens, and in no spirit of unkindness to the
Leaders OF the Fenlans. II there were any
chance OF success of making Ireland free and
estabhGhtng q republic, we would not utter a
encouraging word, for we know what Ire.
land has suffered through ages of misrule,
and our sympathies are with the Irish people,
we DO not doubt either that many, if not all
the Fenan leaders, are in earnest and imagine
they have chance of accomplishing some-
thing Men OF intelligence ten become vision
airy and believe the most improbable things
when their feelings and hopes are fixed on an
object and when their minds dwell constantly
upon 1t. They become incapable of taking the
comprehensive and impartial views others
take, and are carried away into the most ex-
travagaDt schemes by their enthusiasm, We are
willing to believe this is the case with the Fenian
leaders. Kossuth probably was sincere at one
time in the desire and expectation to liberate
Hungary, and he had better chance than the
tenians to liberate Ireland but when he had no
hope of that he found a handsome sum of money
In his hands, and to return this to the individual
subscribers was neither convenient or possible
These men ought to know what is practicable
before they take the hard.earned money OF the
people.
II it be only a grand display and noise to
amuse the IRISH people, to crafty their sent-
meDt of love Tor the old country, and 10 work
up their enthusiasm by way OF amusement, and
tney are willing to pay tor that as they pay for
being amused at the theatre, all very well.
There is no particular objection to that, so that
nobody be hurt and the United States Govern
ment be not put to expense to MAINTAIN the
neutrality laws. But ii the movement be a
serious one on the part of its leaders, le per-
tnent questions might be asked. How many
ships would it take to carry an invading army
across the Atlantlc-sucn an army as would not
be gobbedu up plecemeal by the British men.of- .
war and redcoats? How many? A hundred
FIFTY? Twenty? How much money would it
cost? hundred millions? Or fifty millions?
AND where is this money to come from? Then
how ale these ships to re obtained, and how
get away from our shores? Can one, can a
laws and escape the vigilance OF our Govern.
ment? But some say the colonies are to be
taken first and made the point ddppui OF opera
TONS for the liberation OF Ireland How ab-
surd! Would not this be hlibustering-piracy
There are some lrishmen in the colonies but
there are more OF others who do not want to
be conquered and governed by few Irish fill
busters. The colonies are not Ireland. And
would the United States permit the invasion of
friendly territory General Meade's presence
on the border and the United States Navy on
the coast are sufficient answer to the question
as to what our Government would be bound to
90. 1t is not question OF sympathy with Irish
or in Ireland-in their generous de-
s'res and aspirations. That they have, probably,
from both our Government and people; but it is
one OF law of international obligations and pru-
dence that must govern us in this case Ia
whatever way we look at the visionary scheme
to establish an Irish republic see it is utterly
lmpracilcable. Worse than that; the Irish peo-
pie are not only deluded, but the leaders arc
putting this generous country, which some of
NJ N have adopted, to great expense and trou-
bic. They have no right to do this under any |
circumstances, but under the present imprac- |
ticable and absurd movement they are entirely |
lneXCusable. Perhaps the voice OF reason NAV |
not be listened to just now, and our Irish fellow
citizens may feel it necessary to excite them
selves and have grand sensation, as Head |
Centre Stephens has arrived, but the time must |
soon come when the whole affair will collapse |
and reason regain its sway.