Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-01-11
sFENIANIsM.
BY 9. LowENsrEIN.

In vain, will the student search the
annals of history for similar example
Of fortitude and devotion as exhibited by
the Fenians, who are engaged and de-
termined to liberate their native country
from the yoke of foreign domination and
oppression, and for many centuries no
greater, more instructive spectacle has
presented itself to the observing states
man, than the tragic events which lately
transpired on the other side of the At
lantic,i Whilst the very fact that the
opponents of Fenianism are principally
those who, either unacquainted with the
character, condition and grievances of
the Irish people, are influenced by re-
ligious prejudices and bigotry, or who,
actuated from selfish motives and patri-
clan pride ally themselvesto the waning
fortunes of tottering aristocracy, the bet
ter to oppose the progress of republican
free institutions, is alone significant and
important enough to attract the attention
and engage the the far-reaching specuIa-
tion of the statesman and student
The history, since the days of Charles
V, is crowded with the rise and fall of
empires; the establishment and over
throw ofdynasties and governments; with
revolutions, wars and conspiracies; but
no such difficult and doubtful enterprise
like the Fenian movement is there to be
found. Or has since been undertaken by
any dependent people. The uprising Of
the Netherlands against the despotism
of Philip II and their long and persist
ent struggle against the tyranny of Alya
and Powers of Spain, and the rebellion
OF the American Colonies against Par
liamentary arrogance and British op-
preston, nay even the struggles Of
Greece, Poland and Hungary are no
comparison to the difficult and desperate
enterprise of the Fenians. Z
Each of the two frst-named people
had great statesmen and generals to con-
troll their resources and direct their ef-
forts. besides the assistance of interested
and powerful allies. The Netherlanders
had William, of Orange, the aid and
sympathy of whole Protestant Europe,
a marsby and easily defended country
far away from the dominion of their op-
pressors, and were besides an entire
distinct people in race, religion and lam
guage. The American Colonies, which
were separated from Great Britain by at
least six weeks voyage, had George
Washington for their champion and the
early recognition and alliance of one of
the great European powers; and hence
(though not disparaging in the least the
brilliant achievements, heroism and suf-
fering of Americas revolutionary pat
riots) neither of those. their successful
efforts, can well be compared to the haz-
ardous undertaking of the destitute and
struggling Fenians, and the only paral-
lei which modern history, perhaps, can
show is the struggle of the countrymen
of Wilhelm Tell and Winkelreid against
the powers and tyranny of the house of
Hapsburgh, and yet, when we compare
the geographical situation of the Swiss
cantons, their mountain fastnesses and
free municipal institutions to the isolat-
ed and impoverished condition of Ire
land, we must admit that even the obsta-
cles overcome by the heroic Swiss are
none like those which oppose Fenian
success. Here are people of peasants
and artisans impoverished by long
tyranny and oppression, without re
cognized or distinguished leader or ally,
under the very eye of a proud and domi-
neering aristocracy; cut off from all
foreign communication by large and
powerful navy. with a hostile nobility
and clergy in their own midst-exposed
to the cruelty and suspicion of vigi-
liant and jealous Government; and yet,
notwithstanding the vast power and
veal b of this Government, whose
navies command every inlet, port and
harbor of ireland, this feeble band of
Fenians, bound together by nothing else
but the remembrance of past injuries,
and love for their native country, ever
and anon strike terror into the midst of
their oppressors, and fill them with
anxiety for the security of their homes
and fresides, such as an invasion of
their country by the hostile armies of
foreign enemy only could create. All
this shows conclusively "that some
thing is rotten in the state of Der-
mark" and that, the thus far success of
the Fenians is not so much the result of