The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1868-05-02 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SATURDAY, MAY 2. NW  THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE DIIICE OF EDINBURGH. Before we can address orerselVes to our renders the terrible news of the attempt to murder the I lake of Edinburgh will have flown over Europe, will leave been recorded in countlesa thonaands of journals, will have been flashed along the bed of the Atlantic, and will have been the theme of conversation ine castle and cottage, in palace and hovel. Aral it is not too lunch to say that in almost every place where the news has been told it leas been received with indignation and disgust. Would that we could omit the word "a!roost," but the hitter eternity and blood-thirsty eraelty of FeniaLi3:a have forced us to believe that there may be some few—we will hope they are lent few of eater fellow-subjects who will regard the attempt at assassination as peetriotiam, and in their insane hatred to England, English institutions, and the royal fancily will only regret that the attempt wets not succesaftel. The assassin whose murderous hand was directed against Prince Alfred, leaving avowed himself a Fenian, we throw upon Fenieenisna as an inetitrnion all the responsibility of the crud, dastardly, and diabolical act. Aced we unhesitatingly assert that nothing that the Fenian leave yet done, is at once so atrocious and so utterly inexcusable. We leave not a word of palliation for any former outrage, lent in comparis en to this they sink into insignificance. The Fenians who attacked the police in the van at Manchester had the rescue of the prisoners as their one object, and could they have accomplished this without murder they would have done so. The same object prompted the explosion at Clerkenwell, and no One ran reasonably assert that theft engaged in it had an intention to produce the havoc and death which they effected. But in the case of the Doke of Edinburgh there was a deliberate attempt to murder one who was not in the remotest way antagonistic to the Fenians, seeing that in no way had he ever expressed any opinion about it, or done any act in connection with it. The assassin's object was simply to wound the feelings of the Queen through the death of her son, and to stab at the heart of England as it were through a member of the royal family. The miscreant who attempted this foul deed has so far succeeded that he has desperately wounded and injured for life, an unoffending and amiable young man who was received throughout Australia with a hearty welcome, and with the honour that his position naturally commanded ; wherever lee went the Prince was enthusiastically received, and his frank and thoroughly English manners endeared him to all but a few malicious scowling Fenians whose vices seem to have been concentrated in this wretch O'Farrell.  At the very time when we received the news of this dark deed English and Irish journals were teeming with accounts of the enthusiastic rejoicings in Ireland on the visit of the Prince aud Princess ot Wales to Ireland. Australia as a rule welcomed one of the royal brothers, but exceptionally the hand of an assassin was raised ant Idiu. It is sad to think that a whole country or an entire colony may be loyal and friendly to a royal visitor, but that a bullet fired 'by one murderous scoundrel may do its deadly work, and turn rejoicing into mourning. Venial-ash], we now Aft), will stick at nothing, and an attempt on the life of one member of the royal family having been made, it is impossible to say who way be the next victim selected by some other assassin. This consideration cannot but Infect the militia of the royal family to some extent, and we can but hope that strength of mind may I e given them to conquer such fears, at the same time that due precautions are taken to secure their immunity from harm. The royal family have at all events this consolation, that this cruel and cowardly act his called forth, and will still call forth, evidences of the affection which the nation bears towards them. The feeling expressed in the Legislature finds its echo throughout the country. May the occasion for similar condolence with the royal family never again arise.