The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-06-02
The Fenian Movement.

The advance guard Of the Fenian
army made move gu Canada, ON the
24th ultmo, from or near St Adams,
Vt. The Canadians were prepared to
receive them, aud at the first FIRE the
Fenians retreated, leaving their wounded
companions to the mercy OF the Cana,
dian troops. Their chief movement was
directed against Canada East, the points
OF entrance into Canada being from Ma.
lone, New York, aud St. Adams, Yer.
mont. Gen. 0'Neil was in command
OF the Fenians, but was captured by U,
S. Marshal Foster and Deputy Marshal
Failey. The arrest of their Leader is
said to have fallen like wet blanket"
upon the troops at the front aud many
are returning to this side of the line
This active movement, however, has
had the effect Of temporarily allaying
the difficulties between rival organiza.
tions in New York and other places,
aud unless unusual vigilance is exercised
upon the part of United States troops,
something more than a mere skirmish
will take place upon Canadian soil.
The n. Y. World says it is estimated
that the total number OF men now under
orders to move is $4,000 OF these
5000 will be for the east, 10,000 for
the west, aud the remaining 5000 will
be held in reserve until definite course
is decided on after the raid. Prominent
officers in the United States Army are,
it is said, in sympathy with the move.
ment, aud will assume commands when
the affair reaches certain point There
are three general officers in Vermont,
two Of whom are Americans by birth,
one in Utica N Y and one in Boston,
who hold commands. The Boston man
and Utica one have already arrived at
Malone n. Y, under orders to report
to General Spear.
The arms to be used by the army of
Invasion are Of the best class, and thirty
thousand stand Of arms are now depos.
tied in yariOu, stations along the from
tiers. The regulation infantry arm is a
Springfield muzzc loader altered into
Remington brcech loader, though the
precise breech attachment of the Rem.
ingtou rife is not adhered to-
The Baltimore Ga=eVe, of Monday
says: The Feuian raid uto Canada has
come very quickly to a disastrous end,
While We did not for moment suppose
that it could be successful, unless
through the connivance or support of
this Government, we were not prepared
FOR such a wretchcd flseo. Never be.
fore has any movement OF the sort been
characterized by more imbeclity or
terminated more ridiculously The in.
vaders, who crossed the border with
such vain glorious words, ran at the first
sounds of conflict like sheep before a
wolf, and the Commander in Chief was
picked up by the officers of justice in
the midst Of his army and ANONYMOUSLY
trotted Of in hack to Jail, So far as
Canada is concerned, the matter does not
amount TO much. She has been put to
some expcnse-but, us an Offset to this,
she can reckon on cessation for some
time to come of similar enterprises
This Government aud people are the
only sufferers by this futile and out
rageous exploit. Thousands upon thous-
ands of poor Irish men aud women have
been mulcted, for months aud years, to
meet tie expenses Of these expeditions,
aud to support in idleness aud luxury
the Adventures who plan them. The
whole country has been put to very
heavy cost, aud brought near to the
verge of u rupture with foreign power.
and few deluded men have lost their lives
by this silly project Of securing the in
dependence Of Ireland by an invasion of
Canada. That this Government could
have prevented the Fenian movement.
we do not for moment doubt. With
the power and resources at its command,
it could have thoroughly Informed itself
OF all that was going on, and could have
stopped the whole business before a
single overt act had been committed.
Why it did not pursue this course we
cannot undertake to say. But it is
difficult to see how, under such circum.
stances, it can keep up the farce of de
handing reparation from England for
thei juries inflicted on the commerce of
this country by the Alabama. That
vessel was built apparently for the mer-
chant service Though it was suspect.
ed that she was being constructed for
the Confederate Government, no proof
of the fact could possibly be obtained,
and, even if such proof had been forth.
coming, it would not have shown any
violation ofiuternational law. She went
down the Mersey one day on a trial trip
with large party Of invited guests GU
board, and to the surprise of every one
she transferred her passengers to u tu.-
aud stood out unarmed to sea. She
sailed for distant port, where she was
armed and turned over to Confederate
naval officers. 1t is insisted that Eng
land should have prevented her from
leaving Liverpool, aud not having done
SO is therefore responsible for all the
immediate aud remote consequences to
this country. Under these oiroum.
stances, how is it possible for us to evad.
claim on the part of Canada for com.
pensationfor all the losses andexpcnditur.
es caused by this aud previous inroads ?
1t it was the business of England to
have prevented single unarmed ship
from leaving her ports to destroy the
commerce OF the Northern States, was
it not equally the duty of this Govern.
meut to have prevented the invasion Of
English territory by an armed force