Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1866-12-07 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

STOCKTON HERALD.  FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1866.  FENIANISM.  IRELAND has always been a discontented country ever since it became a conquered part of the British dominions. The assumed descendants of the petty kings, who have disappeared for several centuries, still keep up the idea of being restored to their thrones, and entertain hopes which continually keep them discontented and ready to join any insurrectionary movement. There are the tillers of the soil, who, because they have been allowed to occupy little patches of ground undisturbed during the succession of their families—it may be for more than a century—upon the payment of a rental, now claim a right to the soil, and are dissatisfied because the landlord will not give them possession ; there are the Papists, who claim to be the sole teachers of the people, and demand the income and property of the Church, while they, in their hierarchy, refuse allegiance to the Queen. All these, and many more, imaginary grievances keep the Irish in a constant ferment, and have been from time to time agitated by designing men, who claimed to represent the voice of the people, and have led them into violence and rebellion on several cccasions. The latest phase of Irish discontent is Fenianism, the intention of which is an overthrow of the present authorities, a seizure of property, a redistribution of the land, bloodshed, assassination, and wholesale murder. Iliese are the avowed objects of the Fenians. A more treasonable, wicked, or extraordinary attempt could not be comtemplated. Such a thing has been in contemplation for at least seven years, and has been quietly progressing and maturing under the knowledge of Government. Secret societies and swearing in members have been known to exist all over Ireland, and in many places in England. Six years since we called the attention of the people to the fact in a leader in this paper, but the objects of the societies have not become apparent till during the last year. It has now taken a definite shape. Its organisation has become known to the Government; its leaders are many of them under the eye of the police, who are quietly apprehending them under the Habeas Corpus Act; and a reward of .C 2.000 has been offered by the Government for the apprehension of the Fenian leader Stephens. The late Whig-Radical Government trifled with the treason till it had grafted itself on the land ; companies of Fenians met daily and nightly for drill ; and at last, for very shame, they were obliged to interfere, and suspended, by sanction of Parliament, the Habeas Corps Act, and arrested several men whose guilt was clearly proved, and to whom the utmost clemency was shown. But the treason still works, and the present Government are dealing with it with a strong hand. There are 26,000 soldiers in Ireland, and 22,000 police who are drilled to arms. But there is not much fear of a Fenian army. Where are their rifles and cannons to come from? A pike is a bad substitute for a rifle, and the want of cannons would be very fatal to an outbreak. It is true rifles and ammunition have been smuggled into the country, but in small numbers, and not sufficient for a large