The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-30
THE FENIANS IN AMERICA.
A blast from siThe Thnndnrer.n q

The London Times, of the 18th instant, says: -
The released Fenian prisoners continue to be
treated almost as national guests in the United
States. The vote of welcome passed by the
House of Representatives has been followed by
an interview with President Grant at the White
House, and during their stay at the capital they
were Hospitality entertained by the Washington
city government
themselves as others see them, and we may
freely admit that, from an American point of
view, Irish treason must wear a very different
aspect from that in which loyal Englishmen
regard it. No doubt this difference arises in
part from the patriotic self-decepuon to which
Englishmen, like other men, are liable; but ii
arises in at least an equal degree from the igno-
rance of the American public. A half-educated
American knows even less of English government
than a half-educated Englishman knows of
American government. All monarchies in the
eyes of such man are equally tyrannical, and
all republican movements are equally admired.
English despotism and Neapolitan despotism;
irish Fenians must be suffering under
some grievous oppression or they would
not be always conspiring, and having hoisted
the republican flag, they deserve the support of
the United States. We are the less disposed to
be severe on these reckless judgments because
it must be confessed that foreign patriots have
sometimes been welcomed in this country with
little concern for the sensibilites of the govern
ments against which they had rebeled, and,
perhaps, with little appreciation of the princi-
pies which they represented. Even Garibaldi
was, doubtless, eheered and feted by people
who had not the faintest notion of what his
political or religious creed really was,
and who only recognized in him the
enemy of the Pope and the Neapoliton Bour-
bons. After making every allowance, however,
both for possible bias on our part and palpable
ignorance on the part of American politicians,
we cannot but consider the reception of these
Fenians in the United States thoroughly dis
creditable. Assuming that O'Donovan Rosa can
be classed with Garibaldi, this precedent can
only be cited at best to Justify the distinctions
showered on him by individuals or private asso-
Citations. and not the congratulations offered
him by the House of Representatives and local
public bodies. But much fairer and more ap-
posite parallel is afforded by the case of JEFF
ferson Davis, who embodied cause espoused
by millions in America, and supported, as we
are often told, by the general sympathy of our
own upper classes. Now we venture to say
that in the English House of Commons the
idea of presenting an address of respect
or coincidence to Mr.. Jefferson Davis would
have been rejected with unanimous shout of
reprobation, and that for the simple and sui1i-
cient reason that it would have given just
offeDse to a friendly nation. Yet it will hardly
be maintained that Southern independence was
a less respectable aspiration than Irish inde-
pendence, or that Mr.. Jefferson Davis was per-
sonally less deserving of such homage than
ODonovan Rosa and his associates. Nor can
it truly be asserted that we have an advantage
over America in having no Irish vote"
to conciliate. We have, as a matter of
fact, an Irish vote to concliate, and the
inducement to bid for it by an unfriendly
attitude towards Italy, for instance might some
times be severe trial of Ministerial virtue but
for one decisive consideration That considera-
tion is that with us base or perverse impulses
aTe G5 ne @Sf 81 n
1t is the reproach of American politics that an
despjse with a far more than Anglo-SaXon arro-
gance, is, nevertheless, petted and applauded
in its widest demonstrations of hostility to
Great Britain without protest from those who
know better, and with a painful disregard not
only of international courtesy but of national
dignity.