The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-12-09 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1865.  THE FENIAN PRCSECUTIONS. The Potions und their sympathisers havebeen naturally rejoicing over the escape of Stephens, who has thus become a hero, surrounded, as it were, by a halo of romance, but the conviction of Luby appropriately comes to mederate their unseemly rejoicing. All who have read the triad of this man must admit that the evidence which was adduced amply justified the severity of the sentence. It has been proved that there exists in Atearriea—sad that it should be so—an organintim], which has for its one leading Will ridienleas!), absurd idea, the overthrow, or, short ol .h it. may possible injury that can be inflicted on the British Empire. This man Luby was ti e recognised agent of the American Pi nious. From hat own p.m the man 'aeon leinned. Never has th4re been an outpouring of more venomous spite against constituted authority than that which is shown to have been written by this misguided and misguiding anon. Openly did he recommend the repeal of the Union between Great Britain and Ireland, as Le Is ad a perfect right to do, if he cared not for his reputation for common souse; hut the means which he advocated to secure this doubtful end were utterly indefensible. He simply recommended murder and assassination—anything and everything so that Englund might be disgraced and lowered _hy-the temporary triumph of a few wild and reckless nations. The policy of these Felliati throughout has been entirely a negative one. They have had no Irish policy to sustain but insult to and the degradation of England, and to further this insane idea the worst passions of the lower classes of the Irish have been worked upon. If such men as Lally could have had their way, wild bands of nations would have been led on to certain death in an inglorious cause. Happy, therefore, is it for Ireland herself that this stupid and wicked rebellion should be arrested by the strong arm of civil law rather than be crushed out in internecine warfare on the otherwise peaceful fields of the Emerald Isle.  The Iri-h, as a nation, may have grievances, but England is not, as a nation, answerable for them. They are of native growth, and the cause and cure equally rest with the Irish themselves. The "oppression " of England is a merely imaginary grievance. Ireland is represented in the British Parliament ; she has the protection of the British army and navy; offices of honour and emolument are open throughout the British empire to Irishmen, and there arc even some who maintain that Irishmen are rather too fortunate in this respect ; and the shield of law and justice shelters every inhabitant of the green island. To clamour for separation and independence is simply to display a childish ignorance which is unworthy of Irishmen, and which indeed is scorned by the great mass of them.  - Considering the active part which Luby played in this blood-thirsty conspiracy, and the frightful evils which would have resulted from his counsel being followed, we do not think that 20 years' penal servitu le is too severe a sentracc. In the case of less prominent men such a heavy penalty may not be desirable. But we trait that the bold front which the British Government have shown in these prosecutions, not undertaken till they were forced upon it, will have the effect of bringing the Feniuns to Unir senses, and restoring tranquillity to Ireland.