The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1870-05-28
uuR eayERnnEEr AND The EEsIAEsl

If the Fenian invasion Of the Domin-
ion of Canada should ever amount to
anything. Great Britain viii use il as a
strong argument against the settlement
of the Alabama claims. And, from all
w know now, the immunity Of the inva-
ders from official trouble before crossing
the border, will afford to British states
men sufficient ground for fresh diplo-
matte strategy in the discussion of those
claims.
The apathy of our Government in this
matter is inexcasable. Whilst we are
willing to contribute all our moral inAu-
ence toward the liberation Of oppressed
peoples and the advancement of Repub-
lican principles, we are not called upon
to turn our country into q military camp
and a base of operations to oyerturn
governments with which we are at peace.
The Cuban instruction would long since
have been suppressed had we not per-
mitted the Cuban Jnnta. in New York.
to protract it by military aid raised and
dispatched under the very noses of our
Federal officials. Whether Spain will
bring claims against us for our part in
the p~rotraction of the Cuban rebellion,
is doubtful; but that Great Britain viii
hold us responsible for the present Fe-
nian invasion, we are fully convinced.
The injuries resulting to property in
Canada will afford an Offset to the Ala
bama claims, and the principle of inter-
national law involved in the question
will be used with as much force against
us as we have used it against England.
The fact IS, if there is any virtue in
neutrality laws, they should be enforced
whenever an evident Intention of their
violation is manifest. No such invasion
as the present could have been inaugu-
rated in this Country without a pretty
correct knowledge of the movement
coming into possession of the Govern
ment. A question which should now be
asked, is, at what stage of an offensive
military movement against a friendly
power does it com under the ban of in
ternational law7 Is it lawful to permit
Evolutionary Senates and ~insurrectiona-
ry Juntas to hold open sessions in our
midst2 Does the Law of Nations and
our own neutrality laws only take effect
after armies have been formed by these
directing bodies and the offensive march
has commenced? In n controversy
with England. the strongest point made
by Minister Adams was that the British
Government permitted the building of
Confederate cruisers in English yards,
Notwithstanding the most conclusive
proof of the use to which they we're
to be put. Let us apply the same prin-
ciple to this Fenian raid, and who can
doubt that our Government has violated
the neutrality laws as construed by itself?
No secret is observed in regard to the
object of the Fenian organization. Il is
manifestly and confessedly a body of
men organized to make war upon a Gov
eminent with which we are at peace; and
as long as we permit the United States
TO be made the base of operations of the
aiders, abettors and executors of move
ments like the one now progressing on
the border. our own complaints and
arguments against the action of other
nations, will be weakened, if % alto
gether overcome by our own failure to
enforce the laws.