The Shasta courier., 1866-06-16
The Fenian Situation.

The hybrid politician and statesman, An.
drew johnson, has given the world another
specimen of his power, consistency and reli
ability. After having been on every side of
home issues since the rebellion; after having
been the quiet recipient of the snubs of
Great Britain and France; after having pro.
claimed that the honor of the nation sbould
be maintained in its relations with other
nations, and signally failed in his Diplomacy.
it was thought and believed that at least the
precedents established by England as a neu-
trail power between the United States and her
enemies would be meted back to her by our
Government. This much the people of the
United States had right to expect. and it
was legitimate and fair that England's ene-
mics and the friends of our Government
should calculate upon it. Such, too, was the
feeling of those engaged in the Fenian
movement. As evidence that they were JUS
tilted in so calculating, we have but to in
stance the fact that the Fenian organization
has been publicly known from its incipiency,
its objects the subject of laudation by a
large majority of our people, and has been
materially aided and abetted by Andrew
johnson, President Of the United States
That the President pardoned John Mitchell
at the instigation of Fcnian leaders there is
no doubt; nor is there any doubt that he did
Il II l,k kol- L.,
among the acting enemies of England. Dele
cations from the Fenian headquarters in
New York waited upon the President from
time to time in their official capacity, and no
doubt received from him the same aid and
comfort that was awarded by England to
persons representing the rebellious States ;
and it may be safely said that the Union
party of the nation were willingly silent upon
the subject, and that the act had its quiet
approval.
But now we are told by the telegraph that
the military and naval power of the nation
is called into action to stop the invasion of
Canada, by the very man who has heretofore
been aiding and abetting the invading force
Yes, he has ordered out the power of the
nation to do what he could have done months
ago with a word A simple announcement to
the Fenlan leaders that he should .'religiously
enforce the neutrality laws, would have eff
fected what now requires the power of the
Government.
The whole matter shows SO much of du-
plicity, treachery and bad faith on the part
of the Government indicates So much that
is contemplate, dishonest and unreliable,
being true to nothing but untruth and incon-
sistency, as to leave no base for argument
but simply compelling the journalist to an
nounce the fact, and pray that the country
may never more be damned by such a ruler.
Had the Government consistently striven
against the Fenian demonstration in its in
cipiency, the millions contributed to the
cause by poor, patriotic men would have been
saved to themselves and families the Gov
ernment would have been saved some hun
ereds of thousands of dollars now expended
in carrying out the humors of its Executive
and Irishmen would have been spared many
valuable lives, as well AS the modification of
defeat-not of their valor, but their states
manship in trusting to Andy johnson.