The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-21
0treGatetfq fqenter,
RAFEs OF SUBSCRIPTION.
OF FADVERTISING.
the Fenians ana irish I.iberty.

Ireland has had half dozen incipi
ent rebellions within the memory of its
Oldest inhabitants. All failed to nc
complish their ostensible object, yet
nearly all accomplished something in
directly for the relief of the Irish peo
Pile. The hope that the Fenian rnmpu:
may accomplish something in the same
way is its only redeeming feature
The immediate results must be suffer
ing and disappointment to the Irish Al
home. To our American Irish it is only
pleasant excitement, and they may as
well enrich the leaders with their spare
cash as to spend it in some other ways
The feeling of sympathy with oppressed
Ireland is with most of them a genuine
one, and does credit to them. ireland
is oppressed, in many ways; there is nc
disputing the fact. Her people are
mostly Catholics, and are Obliged 10
support the established church as well
as their own; her poor law and educa-
tional systems are unequal and burden
some; her lands are held by non-resi-
dent proprietors aud leased ut extor-
tionate rates to the peasantry, and in
many ways the Irish people are treated
like conquered subjects, rather than
part and parcel of the British people.
Ireland does not need separation from
the British Government, but equal
rights in the government. Let Eng
land give her equal representation, lift
the CALLING burden of an imposed
church, improve the land tenure, and
.assimilate the institutions of Ireland to
those of England; in fact place Irish
men upon equal terms with Englishmen
as citizens, and there Will be no more
Fenian or other reSolts. ~ :.
The repeal movement of O'Connell
gained for, Ireland the concession oil
Catholic emancipation by which par
lament was thrown open to the long
prescribed sect. Later renewed agita-
lions for repeal extorted from the Brit
ish government n Communication of Irish
titles and the encumbered estates act.
Now, on the strength of the Fenian
agitation "The O'Donoghue" is do
manding in parliament penalties for
absenteeism of the Irish landlords, the
abolition of Episcopal ascendency in
Ireland, the expenditure of the surplus
revenue of Ireland on her own pub
lie works, and, more important than
all, new law of tenant-right, which
shall give the farmers of Ireland firm
er hold upon the soil they cultivate.
Some or all of these things will be con-
ceded, after the present furry is sufi-
ciently nllayed to make it appear that
England yields from her own sense OF
Justice and not from intimidation. For
John Bull is n bulldog forever, and
will do nothing on compulsiOn.
What proportion of the money col
lected in this country for the deliver
ence of Ireland will reach the Fenians
at honey will probably never be known.
How much the Fenian leaders mean by
their talk of invading Canndn must
very soon be evident. The natural
presumption is that they are not in
earnest otherwise they would not
make their schemes so public, and thus
put the Canadians on their guard. If
they GO into Canada, it will be only as
raiders and plunderers, not with any
idea OF stopping there or getting per-
manent possession at any point. Their
object seems to be to alarm the Cana
dians and SO make trouble and expense
to the British government, and Mt 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 us what the Fenians are doing
has tendency to compel concessions
to the people of Ireland, success to
them. So far as the movement is a
swindle for the benefit of few leaders,
tbnd luck to the Spul peenS.D