The New York herald., 1867-02-18
FENIaNIsM IN AMERICA.

Engiand's Position Towards the Convicts In
Cnnnda-The United States Neutrality Laws
nnd MIR. Stewards Diplomacy.
[From the London Times Jan. col
Never, perhaps, there more room for
hesitation than in the treatment of the Fcnian
condemned to death three months since In Canada To
commute their punishment might be thought trifing
with their offence and yet to nct II might prove
needless severity small, band Of marauders had made
hostile descent upon peaceful province and had been
caught red handed They for the most part Irish.
men who had renowned their nationality, and had
adopted the citizenship Of the United States Whether
they were Irishmen or Americans made Mte difference
In the enormity OF their conduct their offence being,
jurcd allegiance 10 the Queen supposng they were ssl
mitigation Of their punishment. that their attempt
had been purely political; and though they were
right 70 expect 18th the " consideration due g poIl
cal offenders, who had been driven TO force .
the only means Of addressing tho grievances Of which
them by their claim to be American citizens Az such
their conduct violation OF the law OF their adopt
and property Of their neighbors The Fenan raid was
mere niibustering expedition upon people At amity
with their own government More than this, it Was
cowardly and objectless II cowardly inasmuch
II attack upon province unprepared to receive
them, and which had gwen them cause Of offence.
The Fenans complained OF British misrule in Ireland,
and they visited the punishment Of this presumed wrong
upon people who had as much TO do with II AZ the in
habtants OF Massachusetts, Instead OF Attacking the
alleged offenders, they thought 1t convenient TO
wreak their vengeance upon innocent coonists Tho
attack too was for all practical purposes obectess
as It was cowardly The Fenians themselves never be-
heved it would amount to anything more than demon
stration Of opinion II was awless raid; In the pic
turesque II not classical language OF the American press
it simply intended to sexcite q scare"
II political criminals deserved the punishment OF
death the Fenian rader who convicted after trials
to the fairness and imparialty Of which they them
selves bore Witness merited this fate and never was
the exercise Of mercy rendered moro difficult than IL
was BY the III advised proceedngs Of those who inter-
fered their behalf With the best dispositions towards
lsniency the Canadian and the
a home found dcult 10 mt gate tho penalty Of their
offence The convics themselves reckless maraud
ers careless Of their lives, INSCRIPTIONS Of the
lives OF Others Indifferent as to what might be the end
OF their Iawessness They had destroyed property and
life without provocation and without purpose. The
people OF Canada justly demanded protection from
similar inroads, and II was impossible TO be sure
that eniency to these offenders might not encourage
their comrades who had managed TO escape. IL not
Others to make second atak. The action OF General
Banks in the House Of Representatives Mt washington,
adopted AZ Il was by the House ITSELF calculated to
lead them TO believe that the Congress OF the United
States improperly in their designs and was dis
posed TO every obstacle TO repetition pr them
fhe letter addressed by Mr. Seward Sir Frederick
Bruce letter rery difcun 10 deeibe IN modeycs Ian
g,saoe-seemed 70 show that the Executive government
OF the Union, this point al Ieds IN agreement
sch the Lgslature and another obstacle IN NE ,cdv
Of mercy Mr. Seward was probably Indifferent what bc
- ssss. T. or RI he woSid no. have done his bss. make
lenency impossible. AZ the same time II seemed PROB
able that the force which had prompted the Fcnian at
nominious repusc Il had received and the manifestation
OF tho loyalty Of Canada TO the British rule had
caused change Of tone on the part .s Of sns
were dscontented, and mutual rccriminations
II II reasonably probable that no second
raid would follow, the necessity OF executing the
wreches who had been caught and convicted OF partic
patton In the 1rst attempt removed, although u
would still have been perfectly just to nct tho sem
tences pronounced upon them Happily, the Canadian
government found itself strong enough to advise Her
Majesty In favor OF clemency. They believed the So
curity Of tho province could bc maintained nvioafs
without having the extreme penalty OF DEATH
and the home government rightly concurrcd In the re-
commentator Of Lord Monck and his advisers The
sentence OF death commuied into imprisonment Tor
twenty years in the of Lynch and M'Mahon, and
mtie alton OF punishment OF the other offenders con-
dcmned to death has followed that OF the ringleaders
We may reasonably believe that the which have
happened since Lord Carnarvon addressed the despatch
to Lord Moncs ntmatng her Maesty's pleasure 20 ex.
ercse her prarogatve Of mercy favor or the Fenan
convlcs have Justified the wisdom the advice rendered
by the home and colonial governments 10 the Queen
The mere TACT that no second raid has been attempted
might ndeod DO attributed TO tho severity Of Canadian
winter but the change In the tone OF Fenans aud
under no circumstances would have been made. Tie
humber members Of the Fenan Brotherhood have
awaked TO belief that they have been
practised upon by leaders who had never any
ends. The two Head Centres have been both die
credited and the better OF the American people
has been shown In a complete abandonment OF the
coquetry with Feniansm, which probably never
anything moro than dscredtable election manGuvre.
General Banks and Ais schemes Of oboiairS TIE Neutral
1y Inws fdrr Of Ft1idn ruders are f0v0off>u Mr..
Sumner first interposed In the Senate against such
prostitution of the national power We shall have the
show mercy TO those who deserved none without affect
Ing the security OF the Canadian provinces and that the
dignity OF the nation has been maintained in the face
communications a. once unusual and uncslcd for