Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-28
IRELAND AND THE FENIANS.

Never since the Rebellion of 1913 has the
Irish element in our population been so ex-
cited as now in this Fenian movement. In
every State of the Union, in Canada, in
Ireland, III England, even, men of apparent
ly sound mind, capable of forecast and So
rious thought, are praying for, and expect
ing the dawning Of liberty upon the land
of their birth and of their fathers. 1t would
seem as if those ardent patriots had light
which others do not see,-some assurance
of success which does not appear to others
The Irish are an eXcitable nation the Gel
tic blood is easily warmed, easily thrown
into a tumultuous movement, but if history
asserts truly, it has no persistent force
There is a wide difference between nation
alities, or to speak more correctly between
races. The Celts to their latest descend.
ents, are brave and ardent, but in every
period of their history they have given
way before the cool persistence Of Anglo
Saxon energy. Add to this inherent con-
stitutiOnal weakness, their constant dissen-
sions with each other, their love of feud
and cOmbativenoss, all sprnging from an
inordinate love of self and desire to rule,
and we have one reason among many 9TH
ers why the quiet disinterested spectators
of this turmoil, prophecy their utter and
disgraceful overthrow
Since the days of Emmet and Curran,
Ireland has had no true disinterested pa
triot to lead her,--no man, or men, of suffi-
cient grasp and talent, to harmonise con-
fiicting views and direct her ergies to
the point of independence and success
They were honest men, but they failed be-
cause lrishmen themselves did not second
their efforts, and who has led them since
For years OConnell was their hope, but
} we know that he, their hero and idol, was
selfish and dishonest, and that while he,
with one hand, pocketed the price of Ire
lands continued subsection to the British
ministry, with the other, clenched the hard
earnings Of servant girls, freely bestowed,
to help in the great movement of Ireland's
redemption. How nearly does O'Connell
resemble Stephens and OMahoney, except
that the latter are deeper died in vllainy
and deceit, and where O'Connell flched
r cents from honest toll, they have dollars
How men of common sense such as we
every day take by the hand, can be delud-
ed by so monstrous humbug as this Fen
ian movement, passes all comprehension
} 1t is the widest of all wild projects devised
) in the brains of madmen to be executed by
fools. 1t proposes nothing less than the
dismemberment of the British Empire by a
mob of silly lrishmen, gathered together
at the call of men STEPPED in iniquity hun
gering for notoriety and greedy for lucre
The rebellion of the Southern States offer
ed thousand chances of success where
this does not ghost of one That against
British rule in India, might have been sue
cesstnl as $50 far as the commerce. i pros
perity of England was at stake, her trade
with that far off region would have been
just as prosperous, free, as subject to the
home government y but that it attacked
the integrity of the British Empire, and
was blow at the proudest and most pow
erful sovereignty the sun shines on.
Is it to be supposed that this same SOW
ereignty which has been now more than
fifteen hundred years in building up, will
lorego all the advantages of her situation,
and strike that flag which has waved over
80 many victorious battl fields, to the re-
doubtable General Sweeney, with his band,
the command of which, even Falstafr would
resign?
No, it is not in human nature. and John
Bull has as stubborn a human nature as
Pat or Mike. England will never resign
her rule in Ireland Canada she might
surrender to herself or to the United States
even from motives Of policy, but from force,
never, But from neither motive will she
part with dominion in Ireland Ireland is |
too near her coast, and would ever be her
enemy if she were free The first war Eng
land should engage in with Continental !
Power, Ireland would oper her ports to re-
ceive her enemy, and, perhaps furnish
troops to help in her subjugation. Besides,
Ireland is necessary to complete her
sway. She is the necessary and natural
appendage of England. England does not
hold her grasp of Ireland so tenaciously
from mere love of power but that together,
they are stronger and more prosperous, and
also, because in the event of a separation
ireland will most surely gravitate toward
France. Frenchman's veins circulate
Celtic blood as does an Irishman,s and
Louis Napoleon, true to the instinct which
carried him to Mexico, would soon estab-
lish relationship. The truth is. Ireland
from her own constitutional fault, can new.
er be an Independent nation. She must be
satellite, revolving around a Gentle which
is lCithOW herself
English law is founded in Justice and
civil right, and tyranny in its most revolt ,
ing form, can never exist as permanent |