The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-06-07

Tht our hearts stood still, at the holy sight
And we lOnged to go
To that blissfu land, where our sorrowing tears
Shall cease to flow.
For the REGIsTER
Fenianism.
Mr. EDITOR Asa time when nearly
every one is so sorcly afflicted withFenian-
ism on the brain, one, it seems to me, can
scarcely be blamed for attempting to pry
into the why and wherefore Of this move.
ment, to examine the recent springs by
which it is controlled.
Information / have sought for, and, so
far as obtained, tends only to one conclu-
sion: that conclusion may be one-sided,
and to your columes | turn, hoping if my
deductions are unjust, some one may in
turn give something that will enlighten
me on the subject.
What do the Fenians want to do? To
take Canada and there wait until they
can gather strength and resources, build
and equip a navy, then sail across the
Atlantic to wrest the Emerald Isle from
the iron grasp of Great Britain. So they
tell us. Let us consider. Suppose that
they are victorious in the Canadas. Sup
pose that all the Catholics in the United
Provinces espouse their cause, that they
there gather resources, build and equip a
feet, suppose, moreover, that John Bull
quietly gnaws at his finger nails while all
this is goingon. They thenpropose to cross
the ocean, meet the mightiest army and
navy of Europe, cudgel the Queen Of the
seas and -whew 1t takes ones breath
away to contemplate. Surely, if We are
to believe they mean to do al. this, the
nineteenth century can boast a rivalship
to Don Quixote. What sane and well iu-
formed man would embark in an enter
prise like this, and such men there GER
tainly are in the Fenian ranks. Many
doubtless have rushed into their ranks
with such patriotic intents, yet it is evil
dent that their leaders and those who
manage the "wires mean no such thing.
Why them" you will ask, "do they as
sail Canada? ?" "no great principle Of JUS
tice is to be vindicated" Let me answer.
1t means a religious war between the
Catholic and Protestant factions in Can
ada. have not come to this conclusion
hastily. Let us examine the facts. For
nearly decade of years, perhaps more,
the army and garrisons there have had to
keep constant watch to suppress outbreaks
and open bloodshed between these parties.
Even the vigilance Of the army has not
always been sufficient to prevent them.
Who does not recall the bloody riots in
Montreal and other places. Few can un-
derstand the fierce sectarian hatred that
prevails in Lower Canada who have not
lived there. All that is needed is little
help from without to set such war in
progress. Upon this the Fenians count.
But you may object Catholics are among
the very troops that are fighting against
them : that signifies nothing more than
the colored men who served the Confed.
racy. Again l have heard it objected
that their leaders are not firm Catholics.
How do We know that ? far be it from
my purpose to take up the cudgel against
Catholicism. But when any Church de-
scends from the mission delegated to her
by Christ, for pressing gospel truth home
to the minds and hearts Of men, to the
use of carnal weapons, why are they not
open to criticism from the outside world ?
1t has ever been the great fault of Catho-
licism to forget the words addressed by
Christ to PLATE IF my kingdom were
of this world then would my servants
fight" "but now is my kingdom not from
hence" They doubtless think since those
Provinces are of so little advantage to
the English government, therefore, they
will make but little effort to keep them,
thus leaving Canada and its Protestant
population to their tender mercies. Does
not this accord we'll with the whole his
tory of Romanism? Have we not strong
reasons for believing that it is move.
ment for building up papal dynasty,
planned and matured in the Ecumenical
Council? Let us as Protestant people
and as lovers of religious liberty beware
how we sympathize with the Fenian cause
before we are fully aware of its import.
Does any need to be warned on this
point let him probe into the history Of
the Council Of Trent, and the Influences
that flowed from it, the intrigues in Spain
and France; the campaigns Of Wallen-
stien; the thirty years war in Germany.
For the present, their cause will doubt. +.
less prove failure but Papacy only
waits for favorable opportunity. This
l humbly submit, and if the Fenian
cause deserves our sympathy, let us hear
the reasons. PHILos.
Prince Leopold, the youngest son OF
the Queen of England, is in very dan
gerous state of health.
In 1866, Council Bluffs was $50 mile-