The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-26
Is FCnianism Contributing to the
Freedom of the Irish PeOpleI

NE ldlt EbUldu CHeUC III lTelduu SbtIllS W
have entirely subsidized and nothing now re-
mains but the trials for "high treason, !"
which the telegraph informs us will commence
on the 9Th of April in Dublin.
1t might be well for those who have the
good of the Irish people really at heart, to
ask themselves what beneficial, practical re-
suits have so far been achieved by this en-
tire Fenian movement A great deal of
money has been raised from a class of
people who could lily afford to spare it.; a
great many conventions have been held; a
great number of rousing speeches have been
made; Canada has been invaded; and several
feeble and spasmodic insurrectionary move
ments have been made in Ireland. But what,
let us seriously ask has it all amounted to
Is Ireland free ? Is she any nearer being
free or independent than she was before these
movements were commenced? Several inno-
cent persons have lost their lives, several
more are languishing in prison, and fresh
batch of candidates for the penitentiary are
now awaiting trials for high treason, connected
with the late uprising in Ireland. And
these are about the only practical results which
this Fenian business has yet produced.
Now it is a principle of ethics, that an
attempted revolution besides being for JUS
tifable cause, must have a reasonable chance
of success, or it becomes immoral. The man
who starts out alone and single-handed to
overthrow the existing order of things, and
shoots down the first policeman or other civil
officer that he meets, cannot plead the right of
revolution. The law of ethics will stigmatize
him as a murderer AS revolutions ought not
to be attempted except for just cause-that is,
in the interest of public freedom--so they
ought not to be attempted unless there is a
reasonable prospect Of success. If entered upon
lightly, without due preparation, or when
there is no good ground of expecting popular
support, they are justly chargeable with the
loss of life they may occasion, the woes they
may bring upon innocent parties, and the
general distress they may cause. Civil order
is good in and of itself, and rightfully de-
mands that it shall not be wantonly and reck-
lessly disturbed.
Suppose we apply these principles to the
case in hand. Has there at any time been
any good ground for believing that the exist
ing Government in Ireland could be forcibly
overturned? Have the Fenian leaders them
selves believed it Look at Stephens pre-
diction that he would raise the flag of revolu-
ton there before the 1st of January, 1867,
when as he afterwards confessed, he knew it
would be impossible to do so. Look at the
Canadian invasion of last summer. Did any
man in his senses suppose that it could sue
oeedH Did not the result prove it to have
been foolish and ill-stared expedition from
the start Look, too, at the late insurrec-
tionary movements in Ireland itself, and
where do we find any such popular support,
any such wisdom of preparation, or any such
capacity of leadership, as promised the slight
est hope Of success?
1t would be a matter of exceeding doubt
whether Ireland could obtain her independ-
ence even if her people were united, and were
thoroughly organized in an insurrectionary
movement. We have seen something of re-
bellOn in this country; and we have seen that
the utmost union on the part of great masses
of people, aided by thorough organization,
capable leadership, and vast resources, was
the revolutionists But the Irish people are
far from being united in the support of Fe-
nianism. The Catholic clergy, who exert a
commanding and almost irresistible influence
over very large portion of them, are arrayed
in deadly hostility to this movement. We
have before us an abstract of a sermon de-
livered by the Rev. DR.. Moriarty, Roman
Catholic Bishop of Kerry, on the Sunday i'm
mediately following the outbreak in that
county. In it he unsparingly denounces the
attempted insurTection as the height of folly
and crime. 1t is well known, too, that in the
north of Ireland the people generally do not
sympathize with any attempt to overthrow the
existing Government.
Is it not apparent, then, that this Fenian
movement cannot succeed If so, why should
more money and more lives be wasted in it
We think it is time that sensible people, who
have the highest good of Ireland and hei
people at heart, should discountenance further
insurrectionary attempts in her behalf. TIL,
enfranchisement of the Irish people must com,
simultaneously with that of British subject
generally. John Bright is better and true
eader for them than the Stephenses and Rob
crises and John Mitchels. Irish independents
is dream which may never be realized bu
the freedom of the Irish people must come il
process of time with the general enfranchise
ment of the British nation
-------