The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-10
S TURDAY. MARCH 10, 1865.
why We are Opposed to Fenianism.

and eur sincere sympathy with suffering Ire
land, we allow no man to say that we are sur
passed. As citizens Of free republic, we hate
every form and shape OF tyranny; as subjects
of a nation towards which Great Britain has
ever behaved with duphcty and enmity, we
would cheerfully Join in eny effort tending to
humiliats her pride and weaken her power.
But when we see an effort being made which
is impractcable in its character and chimeri-
cal in its schemes, we deem it a duty we owe
to that people with whose sufferings we sym
pathize, to oppose an attempt which we
honestly believe win sgnally fail to accom-
plish the end desired. While such is our
candid opinion, we would not impugn the
motives nor question the honesty of the lead
ers in the Fenian movement. We believe
that JOHN O'MAHoNY is patriot; we be-
Ii, We that he Is sincere in his utterances and
perfectly true in his devotion to the cause;
we believe that he actually thinks that he
will succeed, and is willing co hazard his for
tune and risk his life in the battle for his na-
tive land. Yet the most sincere confidence
cannot insure success. The fullest faith in
victory will not overcome nsurmountable OBJ
stacles. Persian confidence coald not cap
ture Thermopyl9, and Fenian daring and
Fenian hope cannot subdue the army or sink
the navy Of one of the greatest power of the
globe.
We do not know what may be their schemes.
They may have them deeply laid and wisely
planned, but we see an ocean which must be
crossed in vessels, and we do not see the YES
sells or a prospect of the vessels in which the
Atlantic il to be navigated. We hear that
Canada is to be invaded, but unless the
raiders have the wings OF Icarius, we cannot
see how they will cross the border without the
interference of the United States authorities
because of a violation of the neutrality laws.
We therefore must consider the scheme a
phantasy of patriotism, an effort good in its
aims, but impracticable in its operations.
Such being our views, we must advise our
Irish citizens to refuse to subscribe to the
Fenian bonds. Bonds issued by revolutonists
are the worst possible kind of invest
ment. In the present advanced age of national
life, it is extremely seldom that an attempt to
overthrow government is successful. We
all remember when KOssUTH visited our
land, how he was received with open arms
welcomed, feted, and lonized. The whole
people were warm in their love for Hungary,
and on the strength of this enthusiasm the
country was flooded with Hungarian
bonds. What are they worth to-day
They may be framed as curious relics, but
as representatives of money they are
nothing-though the chances in favor Of
hungary are tenfold greater than those of
Ireland. Again, we have the whole South
covered with the millions of Confederate pro
misses topay, which, to-day, areperfectly worth
less. No one will pretend to say that the
prospects OF Southern independence were not
ten thousand fold better than those of the
Fenians. They had arms, ammunition, foreign
sympathy, long training, brave leaders and gal
liant soldiers, yet they failed. With such in
stances, who can term us deSponding, when we
say that the efforts made by people across a
sea, without means of communication, without
money comparatively, without foreign aid.
and no prospects Of reaching their native
land, are likely to prove abortive? Our duty
as public journalists, therefore, is plain. We
urge upon the Irish-Amsrican people to re-
fuse to subscribe to the Fenian loan, unless
they desire to make a gratuitous contribution
to the cause, and fully intend to give as
present, not to enter into an investment
The greater class of the Irish in our midst
are and poor, have but little money except that
acquired by hard labor. To endeavor to secure
this little hoard upon such representations as
the leaders are making, is wrong. We be-
lieve that they are honest in the picture they
draw, but let them think of the con-
sequence, and calmly review the prospects
of success, and see whether they had better
not hesitate before they call on their poor fol-
lowers for the money, and thus deprive those
who trust them of all that hard labor has
achieved. They will have fearful response
bility when their schemes prove hopeless,
and they see that, under the delusion of their
own wishes, they have unutterably deceived
their trusting followers. The intense ex-
citement induced by the Canadian fright has
tendency to cloud the reason by the pas
sions, and thwart the aims of discretion. Let
those, therefore, If there be any, who are deter
mined TO invest, wait until the present furore
is past, and then, after quietly investigating
the case, calmly do as they win with their
money. Delay can do no harm, and NAV save
them from an act of rashness which thew
would regret hereafter While, therefore.
we again repeat that we sympathize with Ire