The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-14


The Fenians-The Excitement I'm tho
British Provinces.
The Canadian journals fume q great deal
about the Fenians and amuse themselves and
their readers with the use Of the fercest phrases.
They hold our eoyssrnment responsible for all
the Feu1sh trouble, and directly charge 1t with
oonniving at the plans of the Fenian leaders.
They make this charge rather early; for,
though we are as well informed as others re-
specting the movements of these excited Irish
men, we have not yet heard Of their having
taken a town of the size of ST. Adams, Yer
mont. Many subjects Of her Majesty, Irishmen
mostly, have sought asylum, and homes even,
in our midst, saying that they have been driven
to do this hy the tyranny Of British law. We
know that many subjects Of our own govern
ment, saying the same things against our laws,
sought asylum in her Majesty's dominions
during the years Of the war. We know that
they crossed the line and committed outrages
against us, and it may be that the Canadians
reason from what they did as to what the Irish
may do. But governments cannot act on such
reasons. They must have the more substantial
basis of facts. As yet the Irish have violated
no law. They have neither taken any town,
nor robbed bank, nor killed even single
man, in any of her Majesty's loyal provinces.
Neither have we heard that these men had
captured a British ship-of the size Of the
Chesapeake, say 1t is constantly rumored that
they intend to try this. But bad intentions are
not criminal attempt is not success and
rumor is not evidence. Above all, we have
not learned that men had been held guiltless
in an American court for the capture OF any
such ship. 1t is not even alleged by tae Ca
nadians themselves that the Fenians had taken
passage in our ports on any Canadian lake or
river steamer, murdered the captain and crew,
and confiscated the vessel. There is no evil
dence that they have, while living under the
protection Of our law, concocted plan to
burn great city like Montreal or Quebec, and
sent their agents forward bearing the necessary
material. If they have arranged in New York,
Boston or Chicago any diabolical plan for the
murder of the Governor of Canada and his
Cabinet, 1t is not known, and the men, much as
we may regret it, must be permitted to go for
ward. For what farce it would make of JUS
tice to arrest men on the mere possibility that
they might have such horrible intentions.
We should be sorry to hear that the Fenians
had done any Of these things. Such acts are
simply horrible pieces Of barbarism- Il, This we
thought and said when they were committed
on our soil by men who had the encourage
ment and assistance of the Canadians, Nova
Scotians and New Brunswlckers. But, much
as we might regret such acts, it seems to be
trality laws, any restraint can be exercised by
our government until after the harm is done.
This was shown in the cases alluded to. If we
accept as deinitive the experience Of the Cana
dian government, it is not possible for us to
prevent the Fenians doing what they will; for
provincial governments made their utmost ef-
forts to do their duty in restraining the Con-
federates, and we all know what poor success
they had.
Laws for the punishment of crime restrain
men principally by moral force, in fixing a
PiSoNihOVu Ptuoity W given oVt, put WIFI
passion or sense Of injury carries man, like
a whirlwind, above the influence Of all moral
restraint, il is evident that he can rush out and
plunge knife into another in spite Of all law,
and before the machinery of law can inter-
fere. So If men are excited by a sense of ma
tional wrongs and spirit of patriotism, until
they regard all the penalties prescribed as
utterly trivial compared to the good they hope
to secure, il is evident, from the many examples
that Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
gave MS during the war, that they can rush
across frontier, take a town, murder the citi-
zens, plumber the banks and capture the ships
before. any one can prevent II. Provision
against such raids cannot be coextensive with
whole frontier, and the raiders must only
take the caution to fix on some town-like ST.
Adams, say-that is wholly defenceless.
We say this for the comfort Of New Bruins
that they may know we sympathize with
them now just as they did with us, under SINH
lar circumstances, some time ago. The whole
country would be sorry to hear that the Fenians
had followed the bad examples set across the
line; but the provinces may feel assured, in
this unfortunate state Of affairs, that If the
Fenians do burn, murder and plumber across
the lines, and then seek refuge on our side, the
case will then be taken up with proper vigor,
and all be done that justice would seem 10
require.
ISvrsTrcAryox nv THE PoIUr Covvnssro~.