The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-16
ENGLAND.

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Tie Fenian Prisoners--An Amnesty Procla-
nation Fereshadowed-The oxford aud Har-
ward Race-Lorins's Perpiexity.
LONDON. Oct. 2, 1850.
An energetic movement is at present on foot both
IN England and Ireland to secure tho pardon Of the
Fenan prisoners held In custody by the British gov
ernment and general amnesty for political offences
bids fair to become before long an important plank
In the platform OF the Irish If not OF the whole libe
raj party. Up to q comparatively recent period the
effort was confined to those who sympathized with
the objects OF Fenianism, II some OF them did
not approve OF all its acts but the magnitude and
character OF the latest meetings give evidence that
the circle Is widening and that already Includes
many who cannot DO suspected OF favorng any
such liberation OF Ireland as that contemplated
by the secret brotherhood. Some OF these are
doubtless influenced by selfish desire to
secure certain notorieY TO subserve their personal
ends, and some by the worther motive OF humanity;
but tho greater number have In view the steady
prosecution Of a. new policy for Ireland; radical
change In the system OF governing that portion OF
the United Kingdom which not only contemplates
justice for the future but atonement for wrongs IN
tine past. Indeed. there is good ground for stating
that the present British government views with no
tuu pIopcl dSAdbiou VI Jni
delivery, and receives with satisfaction those petit
lions for the pardon or The Fenians that couched
in becoming tone. The liberation OF oil political
prisoners woud DO an act by which Messrs. Glad
stone AMI Bright would willingly distinguish their
administration, and they witness with regret the
mconsiderate violence OF those woud-be heroes
whose iucendiary language only throws embarrass
ments In the way oil the pardon OF their fellow
countrymen. lt is by no means credltable to Eng
land, with all her boosted strength to keep handful
OF irish insurgents immured in her dungeons while
the French Emperor, whose political Insecurity she Ia
50 ond oil picturng, throws open the prison doors
OF all political Offenders. Independent OF this con-
sdcratun, however, the release OF the Fenians IS
necessarily an important part OF the programme laid
down 10y Mr.. Gladstone III his treatment OF the irish
question. The measure lie has already carried
through, and those by which IL Is to be followed
naturally catraage from him the hitherto leading
elements in Irish politics, Professionalism and land
ordsm, and lie must look elsewhere Tor strength
aud support In that portion Oh the kingdom tie mas
TO see6 his new friends among the Roman Catholics
and the tenantry, ana rs they are by millions tue
most numerous ho has only 10 disen.hrall them from
tile tyranny OF the Cburcn and the LANDOWNERS and
he becomes all powerful in Ireland. The Church IS
already detaroned, ana the reign Of landlordism is
drawing TO close but the wound OF Fenan imprson-
ment cannot DO left to ranke aad lester in the breast
OF the liberated nation. 10 make MIR Gadstone's trl.
umph 1t should be healed by the act Of grace
demanded at his hands by large and influential
BODY OF the people. And IL will be.
The English journals as general rule are opposed
stupid conduct OF the Fenlans who have already
enjoyed the ciemenoy OF the government as q warn
Ing against further lberationS. TO be sure, the
fustian of those woud-be heroes Is the Often
slge from tue knowledge That 10 crafty their own
stupid vanity they are needless OF the injury they
iufilct upon the poor wretche5 who are still under
going the discipline OF an English jail; but If the
whole batch should be turned adrlft TO earn their
own living, honestly II they could, there would be
nothing left for them to talk about their occu-
pations, like othcllos, would be gone. The argu-
ments used by the English newspapers against the
nm " n n Tn Mr
stone from his purpose Their principal points are
that the release Of the Fenans would be taken as
against the existing government in Ireland III 1867
was no crime, but laudable undertaking. or
s afaa, Was o,ars ee w1 n England Is
such arguments Is apparent upon their face.
The conviction and Imprisonment Of the parties
who took part In tnat conspiracy stand as evidence
that the British government regarded 1t and ala not
fear to punish 1t as O crime. But while govern
ment recognizes rebellion against itself under any
circumstances as a grave offence, 1t may recognize
also the fact that such rebellion was induced ny
abuses that require removal. Having enforced its
authority ana indicated Its existing laws, it may
well accompany tue prosecution OF reforms with
ieniency towards those who have offended against
lbs majesty. But, 10 is said, the prisoners we are
asked to 0erate have shown. no conttton for their
acts; they have not Frustrated themselves at our
feet, they and their sympathilers and sued humbly
for pardon. IL might be remarked here that the
English newspapers, after the collapse OF the
American southern states rebellion, were yrtuously
indignant at the idea that tao government OF the
United states should desire to humlllae the rebels
or require OF them any expression OF contrlton 1or
their misdeeds. But 1t Is enough to say that re-
pentance and sorrow are not the only considerations
upon which the pardon5 OF criminals are granted.
III a good end Is to be sub5erved by the remission OF
q sentence 1t matter but little If the released
prs lner WILL persist III regarding his conviction as
UNJUST Mr. Gladstone would to-day put down
rising In Ireland by the most vigorous means ana
punish those who might take part IN It; but he Will
set loose tue men who coDspred in 1861 because he
would not only remove those real grievances
In the government Of Ireland which have been the
pretext Tor rebellion but would also obliterQte from
the minds of the people the remembrance OF past
injustice AMI put an end to a dangerous sympathy
Tor those VINO are suffering from political offences.
For speak adySely when say that In spite OF the
objections OF certain portion or the English press,
and IN spite of the noisy clustering OF ranting
Feaans the persons now imprisoned for political
offences VIII be liberated by the British government
next year. either on the reassenlbllng or Parliament
or on the occasion OF O royal visit to Ireland.
The stale subject OF the oxford and Harvard boat
race has been suddenly revived BY the republic alton
in London Of o conversation reported 70 nave been
held with MIR Loring, the stroke OF the American
boat, by New England reporter The papers here
are very Indignant nj tue suspicious limited Mt by
L0rng that tile Harvard crew were Ia danger OF
losing their lives BY poison during their period of
training PuneY AMI by MS charges OF ungenerous
Conduct brought against the OXFORD rowers We'll.
probably it would nave been just as sensible and
discreet IN Loring to have taken his defeat in better
part and mob TO have made ass OF himself IN the
slyle ne Ia represented TO have done By the New
England Bohemian. rho risks OF the change OF eli
mate, about which he seems inclined 10 Whine, were
voluntarily run by Loring and his associates when
they challenged oxford, ana as 70 the poisoning
horror. it ~ doubtful. hrst, whether the
terrible English betting men sta6ed any
enormous amount OF money on the race, aud
next whether, II they had they would have treated
1ye Americans az uncerem0niously a. they would q
Derby fayofte provided they had enjoyed access to
Its stable. The probability is therefore. that poor
Lorlng might have eaten his meals with an easy
mind, and have devoted himself to his training with
advantage to HIMSELF instead OF worrying himself
about his milk and vegetables and studying how he
could batie the PRISONERS by sending Blake to
ket, now IN one direction and now In another. Lor-
ing's complaint that the 0xiords In very ungen-
tlemanly manner, "took hrs water" may be all Just
enough, bnt at least they left him sufficient for the
coXswain TO wash him with before he got through
| with the race, NO person here pretends
| that the oxford crew acted with any
generosity towards their American competitors.
! They took every possible advantage and seIfishly
insisted upon having everything their own way but
II would be just as well for Mr. L0rng 10 leave others
20 comment upon these facts and not TO enter the
1eld himself AZ grumber. His conversation IL OF
o part with the snobbsh letter OF MI william,
wherein that gentleman, with genuine cockney
bounce and vulaarlty, boosted or how easily the
0xfords could have dstanced tho Uarvards If they
had desired to do Tho sooner this great Unver-
utfv hout 10 NJ