St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-05
WHERE THE RESPONSIBTLITY BE-
LONGS

LONGS.
The GLOBE is not whit behind the Win
nipeg Times in denouncing the dynamite
atrocities, but VIC insist upon dissenting from
the position our Canadian neighbor takes in
asserting that the people of the United States
are morally responsible for the work OF the
dyuamiters. The mistake that the Times
makes is confoundiug the dynamiters with
the Fenian brotherhood proper. The latter
society was effected for the purpose OF unit
ing Irishmen throughout the world into a
com pact national organization with view OF
ultimately delivering their native country
from the tyraunical rule of foreign power.
1t could hardly be expected that the people
of the United States who had secured their
own freedom from the same tyranny that
now curses Ireland should turn their back
upon the Irish people engaged in such a
cause. 1t is true that this government, faith
full to the friendly relations which exist be-
tween this country and Great Britain, has
permitted 70 overt acts on the part of the
Fenans, nor has that society attempted to
DO anything that would compromise our neu-
trality. 1t must be admitted, however, that
American sympathy has been with
Ireland, and as this is coun-
try of free speech no special objection
could be made to crowd of Irish-American
citizens assembling in peaceable manner
and discussing the wrongs of their mother
country. So much for the Fenian brother
hood.
Now as to the dynamiters. They consti-
tute separate class frc-n the Fenian society
proper. II is true that some of them, per-
haps most of them, belong to the Fenian
order, but as dynamiters they have no con-
nection with the order; nor are they in any
wise encouraged by the bulk of Irishmen in
America. The dynamiters are socialists,
aud just as apt to be of French, German or
Russian origin as Irish. So far as their at
tacks against England are concerned we adj
nit that probably the Irish nihilistic Gle
ment is In the front. But we fail to see how
America is to be held responsible for their
atrocities. The Times asserts that ''by per-
hitting Fenianism twenty years ago, the
American people encouraged the use of their
soil as the base of the most infamous species
Of warfare known 10 history" We have
shown how the Times falls into the error of
coufounding the Fenian order with the reck-
less dynamite crew.
1t may be as the Times asserts that the
American people have been too little observ-
ing, too negligent, and too indifferent to the
growth Of socialism. We believe that our
authorities, national, state and municipal,
are often too lenent with criminals. and give
too much indulgence to the criminal classes.
At the same time we feel confident that our
government will take prompt steps to check
these evils. The EDMCNDs bill
now before Congress, and bills of
similar character pending in u
number of the State legislatures afford the
best evidence that SO far as our national and
state interests are concerned we will protect
ourselves. We fail 10 see, however, as the
Times seems to indicate It should be, that the
American people are under any special obli-
cations to convert themselves into police
and detective force for the protection Of Eng
land, or any other power. II the English
govern ment hes reason TO believe that Eng
lands enemies are conspiriug on American
soil TO make war upon that country II has a
perfect right To send detective force here To
work II up, and when established aud the ev-
idence Of the conspiracy laid before our gov
eminent, our English friends need have no
unessiness but that 1t will be crushed in the
blooming. Our own opinion is that English
ineapacity, II not stupidity, is responsible for
the success Of the dynamite fiends, and not
the American people. II there was One-half
the snap aud shrewlness In the English po
lice and detective system that is found in a
Chicago detective, New York policeman, or
the average American newspaper reporter, the
dynamiters who blew up the Tower and
House of Parliament would have been hang
ing from the limb o. tree long ago. We
advise our neighbors across the line to get the
beams out of their own eyes before they com
meuce to search for moats in American eyes.