New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-22
IRISH P4TRIOTISM.


Fcpianism has been pronounced, II not a
downright imposturc on the part of certain
designing persons, a hopelesslyt mpracticable,
and therefore, an utterly absurd scheme; but
the conduct of one such man as Col. Burke,
lately convicted in Dublin for reasonable con-
spiracy, and now lying at the point OF death III
Jail, is sufficient to place the movement forever
above the contempt to which some people
would doom it,
If we express sympathy for Fcnianism it is
net that we approve of the plans by which the
Fcnians have sought to gain their. ends; 1t Is
not that we believe in the feasibility OF the
object which Fenianism seeks to accomplish SO
far ut least as immediate results are con-
ccncd We have all along freely eX-
pressed our views on these points, not
hcsitatng to give it as our deliberate con
viction that with the tremendous odds against
them the Fcnians could not succeed III any
revolutionary struggle for the independence OF
Ireland But at the same tmeI our conviction
was Just as strong that FcnianiSm had It's origin,
and found its justification, in the miseries en-
tailed upon the Irish people through the mis-
government of their English rulers. For Fe-
nianism. as the embodied protest of IN entire
pcoplc against dominant class, there Is
cause: and this being so. until the injustice
and oppression against which that protest Is
directed be remcdied, FenianiSm ought To 1--we.
And even though the present organization
should he broken up. the spirit ont OF which
il sprang will live, TO give birth to new efforts
for shaking of the thIaldOm under which Ire
land groans to-day. Words such as those
addressed 10y Col. Burke to the Court,
when asked to say why sentence OF
death should not be passed upon him,
will not easily pass from the memory
of his compatriots: /" | ask not the death OF
martyr But if il is the will of the Almighty
land Omnipotcnt God that my devotion to the
"land of my birth shall be tested on the scat
fold | am willing there to die in defense of
" the rights of men To free government and
"of the rights of an oppressed people To throw
"of the yoke of thradOm. Ii has 50 often been
admitted that the oppressed have right to
throw off the yoke of the oppressor, even by
English statesmen, that deem it unnecessary
ito revert To that fact in a British Court of JUS
"tce. Irclands children are not, never can, and
"nevcr will he willing and submissive slaves"
This is not the language of mere biavado, but
that of man confronted with the stern realities
of the law. completely in the power of his enc
mics and about to he sentenced TO an lgnommi-
Gus death, from which the only nope
of escape lies in the Terrible pros
pcct of lifelong imprisonment within the
drcary walls of PcnicntiaIy. Whatever may
have been the follics and the imprudcnce which
have marked the Fenian movement IN Ireland
and elsewhere, BmkeS bearing and language
before the Dublin Court cannot fail To have
the effect of investing the cause with which he
is identified with something of true dignity III
the estimation of all who sympathZe with hu-
man freedom, and who hold as sacred the prin-
ciple of mans right To Self-sOvernment. Om
most dearly cherished memories onr most
precious traditions, are all associated WIN the
yindication and maintenance OF tins pnnclpie'
and we should be untrue 10 ourselves II we
refused 10 extend our Sympathies TO any people
STRUGGLING for their rights. FenianiSm for
rho fine seems Ia be an utter ami
disastrous failure; but we are persuaded
II has a mission TO fulfill, and that
il will yet accomplish great and lasting good
for Ireland. If it fail in giving her mdepend
ence. it must ultimately succeed in delivering
her from oppression. Armed nsmrectiOn may
be mt down: but the fires of patriotism once
lighted can never be trampled out IL England
IL 10 retain possession OF Ireland, Fenanism
will ut least convince her that the only way
by which she can peaceably hold that country
that the only condition on which it will be a
source of strength and not danger of pelpet-
nal weakness TO the Empires to do justice TO
people who have fought her battles, who have
bed for her glory, and who have contributed
largely TO her prosperity and renOwn.