The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-30
The causes of Fenianism.

From The World.
An examination of the history and condition
of Ireland soon sets the mind at rest in regard
to the causes of Fenanism. IT there are any
who think of it as the merely temporary out
break of weak and turbulent race, the recital
of few incontrovertible facts will remove their
prejudices nor can we render any better SER
vice to the friends of Ireland than by fair
statement of the legislation of which her people
complain, and the wrongs they have endured.
To point out the nature of the malady is to
assist all who are desirous OF appl wing an ade
quate remedy; and the fair consideration of
the extraordinary and unprovokcd suiieungs
sustained by the nation cannot iall to plead
powerfully on behalf OF the Fenian prisoners
With those in whose hands they are now
captives. .. ....
None know in their touching details the pri-
vations and economy of the laborious Irish that
they may earn those sums which are so large in
the aggregate, and are given so freely to enable
their relatives to emlgrate from Ireland to this
contln Mt. The instance of a boy who, being
blamed Tor his ragged appearance, and urged by
a Protestant clergyman to attend public wor.
ship replied that he had sOlemnly vowed to
buy neither shoes for his feet nor coat tor his
back until he had saved money enough to bring
his father and mother from the old country
shows how the misery OF Ireland has intensified
the affections OF her people to each other. 1t
is the same affection that has led so many to
divide their hard earnings with the project for
their country IS liberation.
Another anecdote yet more closely illustrates
the ruling motives of the active tenlans. In one
of the numerous evictions of the Irish peasantry
by the" CIowbar Brlgaden from the little farms
they have long occupied, the tenant was con-
fined TO his bed by sickness, and his wife was IN
the pains of child.labor. Regardless OF entrea-
ties the 'brieade" took the unhappy couple
and LAID them upon ''potato ridge in the open
air, an inclement season of the year, and then
levelled the old homestead. The father soon
died, where they had laid him; and the mother
gave birth TO a child, which also died there.
The son emgrated to the United States. Mind
tul of the duties of his Church, he went to the
confessional, and was asked, as is customary,
if he toreave all his enemies. He frankly said
have told it. The urgent suggestions of his
/ spiritual advisers prevailed over his passions
but who cannot see in his story alike the causes
and the motives of Fenianism and the readiness
evinced TO lose even life itself in its cause
religion forced upon the people of Ireland
contrary to their CONVICTIONS, and evctiOns of
the people, frequently fIom F'religiousn or
occupied are the chief causes OF their anlmosity.
Toe great famine and its consequences gave ad-
dltiona terYor TO the struggles. 1t has its monu-
ments on American shore. OF those who
escaped alive to Canada, brino ing in their frames
the seeds of the disease It bad generated, six
thousand were buried in one place, four thou
sand in another, and twelve thousand at Gros
Isle, near Quebec.
few days since we published q we'll
authenticated record OF Irish grievances.
Many OF Its facts are collated in a sermon
preached by Dupanloup. the Bishop of Orleans
at Paris, on behalf, of the poor Catholics of
Ileand y in 1861. His discourse itself is scarcely
less simple and graceful in its style ana elo.
quent in its expressions than iust and Christian
III its spirit! .-a.s..... ....