The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-06-04
The FeEAianS.

The redoubtable O'Neal has agair
thrown Canada into great panic by
marching his fierce warriors to that Dor
der for the liberation Of Ireland. The
reporters of the Associated Press ap
pear to be suffering from the scare, and
betray evidences of great agitation il
their dispatches. We published on Wed
nesday and yesterday morning, about a
column each day, of news, all about
the Fenians, which, when divested Of
the verbiage and simmered down to
actual results, amounts to next to moth.
ing at all. On the night of the twenty.
fourth of the present month several car
loads of Fenians, are represented to have
passed through Rochester, New York,
from the west, ticketed by railroad for
Malone, town in the State of New
York, very near Canada. On Tuesday
a confagration was raging in Quebec,
and the Fenians are said to have cut
the telegraph wires in order to prevent
the details being made known outside
the city. The inference is that the
Fenians had fred Quebec, and the
greatest excitement prevailed among
the inhabitants residing in the immedi-
ate neighborhood of the St. Lawrence,
contiguous to Quebec, and in that por-
ton of our own country nearest to the
scene of action. Thus read the dis
patches the first day.
Subsequent reports say that a force
of irresponsible "parties, ''Iof about three
thousand men was on the march all of
Wednesday, in small squads, with Canada
for their ultimate point. The squad
nearest to the commander.in-chi was
surprised by the Canadians, ' fought
nobly," and finally ran off as fast as
they could, with loss of two Or three,
but without inficting any apparent in
jury on their enemies. So far as we can
learn, the only damage the Canadians
have yet sustained, is big scare, and
that not we'll authenticated. The ex-
cited individual who does up the press
dispatches in New York, declares that
e the utmost CONSERVATION prevails in
canada, owing to the utter lack of pre-
paration for resistance"
But the climax of the day was in the
capture OF the Fenian commander-in-
chief by the United States Marshal.
That officer appeared on the scene at
the moment of victory, perhaps, when
the name of O'Neil was about to be made
famous for all time to come, and with
the overpowering force of one deputy,
| bagged the fierce warrior, bundled him
| into carriage like bundle of dirty
clothes, and consigned him to a Bastile
in Burlington.
This may be regarded as an inglorious
termination to the career of man who
had gone out in the morning determined
to do Or die. When he crossed at St
Albans he told a repoter
that he would never recross the
lines aliys unless victorious. After
this boast. to be captured in martial
armor, by civilian and his one assis-
tant, and abducted from the field of
battle like helpless girl in the grasp of
her seducer, in the presence of his
whole command, must have been vastly
trying to his noble spirit.
Of course, this mishap threw the
whole force into confusion, and forged
the fetters on Ireland as strong as ever
| The various squads Of men scattered
here and there, acting without concert,
or not acting at all, became dispirited
and demoralized. Hungry and weary,
they sought the friendly southern bor-
| ders, and will, no doubt, soon disperse
to their several homes. We notice that
| various causes are assigned for this Fen
ian discontinue. If there had been
transportation those who were left be-
hind might have gone ON. IF the party
that was surprised by the Canadians had
been reinforced they might have held
their ground. In short, if there had been
men enough, and they properly armed
and equipped. and there had been no
hostile Canadian troops in front, nor
meddling United States Marshal in the
rear, the great day mighthave been won,
and Ireland set free on the spot. For
it seems to be taken for granted that as
soon as the Fenians have conquered Can
ada, the British will hastily evacuate
the Green Isle, and conclude such a
treaty as shall be dictated by the victo-
rious General whoever be may be. As
the case now stands, however, it will
probably be necessary to renew the bus
mess of raising contributions OF money
from the " friends of Ireland" which, it
has been limited, is the chief object
the Fenian leaders have in view.
| ><~~-~@sa@~..-~-