Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-09
THE LONDON Explosions,

There are, as was to be expected, two
stories of the cause of the London under.
ground explosions. The lrishmen of the
metropolis, our dispatches say, almost unan.
imously think, or pretend to think, that the
outragcs were due to deliberately planned
Vaccinations of enemies OF the national
party of ireland who intend to create an
anti-lrsh feeling in England. On the other
hand the English, naturally enough, charge
the crime upon the Irishmen, and such
lying donkcys in this country as the
notorious jeremiah O'Donavan, who
calls himself O'Donavan Rosa, are
are doing all they can to strengthen the Eng
lish in their belief. O'Donavan tells n report
er that the explosions were the work of the
Fenian Brotherhood that the work was done
by band of Fenians in London who are in
constant communication with their comrades
in New York and that the Woolwch ex-
ploson was another sample of what is being
done. London, lie said, would be in ashes
before long unless England gives up Ireland.
Furthermore, he said, it was the purpose of
the Brotherhood to push the work rapidly
and reduce England to submission"
This is of course unauthorized moonshine
The men who caused the explosions we're not
the men to take into their confidence such a
bowling blatherskitc as O'Donavan, and who
ever had hand in it, that worthy did not.
But remembering the past history of dyna.
mite operations in England, the English PEG.
pie, 1t must be admitted, have reasonable
grounds for attributing the present outrage
to lrishmen. The theory that it was the
work OF enemies of the Irish National party
is quite untenable-so much so, indeed, that
1t is not worthy moments consideration.
1t irrcsistibly reminds one of the negro &C.
cused of chickens stealing who vehemen,ly
denied the charge. Finally his person was
searched and the missing chickens were
found in lis pocket. "Ah," said he, more
In sorrow than in anger, mo
friend of mine put them chickens
thar " But while this theory seems absurd
1t is grievous wrong, on the other hand,
to charge the offence upon the Irish as pco-
pie or the National party as an organization.
Inc crime is undoubtedly to be attributed to
lew desperate characters, as ignorant and
reckless as they are desperate, who really
think they are striking blow for Ireland
when they murder an Englshman. The
Phoenix Park assassinations were committed
by such band. Such a party was that
which recently crossed the ocean laden with
dynamite and internal machines, but fortu.
nately came to grief and now languish in
English prisons. Such men, there can be
little doubt, were they who planned and
executed the Underground explosion. Their
crime was colossal one, but no people and
no organization can be Justly held to account
for it,
The result, however, it may be disowncd
by the Irish, will have very bad effect on
their cause, aud this at a time when they
greatly needed friends.
An lrish-American, Mr.. John Breslin of
New York, very justly says
II attach this much Importance to the Lon
don explosions-it reflects Infamous discrcdit
upon us. 1t may have been an accident
but everything of that character is, of course,
attributed to the Irish. From the meagrc
accounts published am unable to form an
opinion, but /! can't understand that any
irish organization could resort to the blow
ing up OF innocent men, women and children
passengers at a railroad station. | could
understand such thing as the blowing up of
an arsenal or barracks, or the attacking of
such as Cavendish and Burke, but the attack
on passengers on railway is murder. 1t is
no part OF the programme OF the Irish ma
tionallsts. We complain of the atrocities of
Inc British when they turn women and chill
dren out OF their homes to die on the way
atrocious acts. Such atrocities, If counte-
n,anced, would only help : to bring infinite
disgrace upon The Irish people. No person
OF common sense would tolerate such a
thing"