The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-07-13

when arrested was sufficient evidence that he was bent
on fighting To prove that nothing OF crmlnatng
character could be alleged against Meaney, we have only
to remember that he had to be sent to Ireland to be
found ouiltv. He was arrested in London under the
susnenson of the H6eas Corpus Act where 1t was not
snsnonded And this man against whom, while British
subject no political crime whatever could be Proved has
been sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for the part
he took in Fenianism in America IF this is not most
atrocious of British perfdy and American basenes
we humbly ASK what is Must to the seemingly
unavoidable conclusion that the gift of American citizen
ship is mere farce and that every American of foreign
birth can be dragged into dungeons by the despos of
whatever country his business may lead him to visit
What we say of S. J. Meaney is in no way influenced
by admiration of his past It not, unfortu
nately at all such should endear him to true Irish
PATRIOTS but Mr. Meaneys antecedents have nothing
whatever to do with the barbarsm of his capture and
punishment. This is matter altogether above and
beyond personal feelings motives We only look on
the case in its true light and that is most horrible
instance of British ruansm and sad one of American
apathy.
We ask the Executive of the United States what are
they going do in regard this case and the of
other similar if identical cases. of American citizens
being loaded with indgnity thrust into foul dungeons
and condemned to long years of penal servude without
anything of eliminating nature being oroved against
them? Do they think the millions of Irishmen in this
country will tamey submit to the tricks of this kind
being played month after month, and year after year
If they think SO, they greatly mistaken, and may
find when redress cannot be had where it ought to be
had that the doctrine of Let take the law into
own hands, may be preached by some persons and find
hundreds of thousands of most willing disciples
How easy would it be to show Irishmen and to prove
it most logically that if England has right to take
away the liberties of their counrymen in Ireland with
out any just cause they have just good right to take
away the lives of Englshmen in America, for the same
reasons.
Far be it from us to wish to see reign of butchery
and burnings inaugurated in America but greatly
fear the extraordinary neglect with which the parties
who have charge of these matters treating the arrest
and Imprisonment of American citizens on the mere
within Of the British Government will excite or
LATER such feeling may lead to scenes never desir-
able in a civilized country and which could only be
interpreted the last of people goaded to
madness by the malgnity of their enemies, and the
falseness of their friends.
1t may not yet be too late for Mr.. Seward-f there
is really such person it all in exsence-to do
thing. He has got poor MAX. off his hands If
half the voumnous documents that have been written
about those wretched Mexcans had only been written
about the unfortunate Irish prisoners of them
would be at liberty to-day, who now cursng Mr..
Seward and the farce of American citizenship.