National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-11-29
The English and the Fenians'

England, states that there Is io
hope for a reprieve or communications
Of sentence in the c;lSese ol Aiieh, .
Gould and Shaw, ana that
they will all probably he executed on
the 23d inst, Saturday OF the pres
ent week. Two OF these men, Ill the
speeches they made to the court De
fore their sentence were pronouhceu,
declared themselves American clti-
zens, and the truthfullness OF their
Statements has probably before TINS
time been investigated by Minister
Adams. The Otfense with " men
these men were charged was being
engaged in the forclble rescue Oh
Col. Kelly, a Fenian leader, from
the police of Manchester. during
the conflict between the policemen
and Fenians. one of the officers,
Sergeant Brett, was shot, ana LOT
having been connected with the
mob from whence proceeded the Ia
tai bullet, these tOul men nave Deell
sentenced to death, although they
each and AL protested that they
were entirely innocent OF the shoot
ing of the officer, and the Judge
himself was compelled to state that
he believed no one of them enter
taiued any malice toward the officer
who lost his life.
The statements ofour corresponds
ept "CarIt0n' la recent letter, TO-
gether with the general tenor OF all
the information received from Eng
land upon this matter, Indicate that
these men are to be executed more
as an example of terror to other Fe-
mans. and as sort OF proof that
the laws still lava power, than be
cause they are really believed TO
haze been guilty OF murder. They
were engaged in mob and were
successful in reScuing from the con
troll of the law a man believed by the
! English Government to be dan
gerous enemy. The Government
dares not pass these OfienSeS with
out punishment, and it seeks, by
the severity of the punishment III
tiicted, to deter all other SympathlZ-
erS with these men from endeaY0r-
inc to initiate their course. For
this reason there is likely to be no
! communication Of the sentences in
tlicted, and the British Government
, will soon see whether the severity
of the punishment decrecd i'll theS(
o. cases will have the desired effect
and enable policemen hereafter tt
= capture and hold Fenian leader,
e without molesIatlon.
e There has been one singular ant
D significant fact connected with al
| the trials OF Fenians that have yet
:. been held. and that has been TIT
spirit OF entire devotion to the count
~ which has characterized the az
Ii MS and uttcranceS of the prlslOl
" erS. The extracts published In on
/ columns Il few days ago from tn
" last speeches made by the prisDl
It ers at MancLestercontained not on
II word If regret for the position j
' which they were placed, and no
one plea foI mercy. Allen solemn
I ly declared his entire innocence o
# the policcman's death, and thel
t FASTENED to say that he did not Sd,
II that for the sake Of mercy, for h,
e would accept no mercy, but 'woul'
p die proudly and trlumahantly i
Ne defence ofrepubllcan principles an
d the liberty OF an oppressed end ell
o. shaved people The others sub
II stantially reiterated this sentlmen
and "God bless old Ireland" wa
y the expression of all of them a
s. they left the court room with
nj death sentence resting upon then
'g so long as these men glory in villa
&c ever they do for the cause they hay
er espOused and regard themselves
te martyrs for their country, neltb'
Imprisonment for life nor execution
n will ''stamp out Fenianism."
Nc In this respect the English Go
II eminent, press and people see
never to have appreciated the tn
IS force and meaning of Fenianism.-
=. | iHtllStIttl 40 lIl'Nl w tlIN HioNNii'ii
III of the Fenians have been. they ha'
ld all been entered into with spin
rs and enthusiasm, because they ha'
as been understood to he movement
is looking to an Improvement of t
|. condition of affairs in Ireland. /
re- nianism is the result of misgover
ne mept in Ireland, and the only W.
ay in which Eenian;Sm can be effect
re- ally "stamped out is to remove t
ily cause for its existence. Life is de
~, to Irishman, but thousands of the
hold their country far dearer, a
ne the most rigorous sentences of t
or English conrts will not prevent
To ishmen from hoping and struggle
yes for the improvement of Ireland
rdS Let the English Government 81
EN- serious and thoughtful eonside
us, ton to the evils of which Ireland
'ho bitterly complains, and Fen
Vs. troubles will be forever over. II
WIZ until that is done, One fcnian ala
r o. will only be allayo1 to be follow
,lo' by another and trii Is and cXecuti,
ntr Will utterly fail of their intent
,oA; On; purpose, becauso tley do not re-
Nhu the real canse Jf al the trouble
''', Boston Jomndt.