Year: 1867

The Insurrectien In Ireland.


The Fenian movement, II it be not gathering
strength, is at least not as near suppression -
the tone Of the cable dispatches would have
led us to believe. At the last accounts the
insurgents were entrenched in Q pass called
the Devils Bit in one Of the mountain ranges
OF Tipperary. That their force there was con-
siderable may be inferred from the fact that
the government had deemed 1t necessary to
send artillery to dislodge them. In the mean
while partial risngs at other points continue
to be reported, and the insurgents appear to
be in large numbers in the mountain range Of
the Galtees, in the province OF Munster.


There ID q difference, however, between
guerilla movements such as these and opera
tions in the open field. As yet all the insur-
rectionary efforts made have been In the way
Of surprises by small bodies Of men, and In ell
of them, II we are to believe the accounts sent
US by the cable, they have been worsted-
will take long spell Of this kind OF lighting
to arrive at anything like result To inspire
the masses with confidence the popular leaders
should have struck decisive blow at some
point where the government was weak and
where, in addition to the prestige thus won,
they might have gained some strategical ad-
vantage. That they have not done so argues
that their plans are but imperfectly organized
and that the movement was imprudently pre-
cipitated.


1t is true that the desultory sort Of warfare
now being carried on was q favorite idea of
Stephens; but to ensure its success 1t should
have been commenced before the government
had had time to complete its arrangements.
Then it would have had the effect Of distract
ing its attention and Of inducing it to so spread
the comparatively small force at its command
that it could have been easily beaten in de-
tail. Now that it is prepared at all points 1t
would seem the height Of folly to prosecute
a system Of operations that was intended for
another and very different state Of things. We
say this, however, with q reservation. The
movement may have had a pressing object that
could not be delayed. 1t may turn out that
il was commenced in concert with the English
radicals. Should this prove to be the fact,
what would now seem rashness would prove
to be sound policy.


There can be no question that in England
the masses are ripe for revolution. Things
have arrived at point when the aristocracy
will have either to concede manhood suffrage
or prepare for civil war. The ministry Of
Lord Derby, with its promised reforms, will
stop far short of the popular demands. A
whig administration, composed Of men like
Lord John Russell and Lord Clarendon, will
not be disposed to 60 much further. There re-
mains but the chance Of the accession to Office
OF men like Gladstone and Bright, TO save the
country from . convulsion. They would avert
sanguinary revolution by bringing about a
peaceable one. The law of entail would be
the first thing TO 60 by the board, and after
that the monarchy. The ruling classes in Eng
land are fully aware of this, and they will not
yield their privileges without . desperate
struggle. The reform question is one Of life
or death to them, and If the Derby compro-
mise be not accepted they will buckle on their
harness and prepare for battle.


II is only in connection with these facts that
the insurrection in Ireland assumes any real
importance. By itself 1t would scarcely be
worth consideration. If it be undertaken in
concert with the English radicals it will
embarrass the government dreadfnlly. The
plan of guerilla operations resorted to would
in that case prolong the anxieties Of their posi-
ton until the crisis Of the reform question ID
reached.


We do not say that this view Of the case is
the correct one, but it has very much that
aspect II has been suspected for some time
past that this so-called movement for Irish
independence is only one Of the combinatiCn,
agreed upon with the English radicals for The
overthrow OF the monarchy. Certainly re-
publican form Of government WOULD seem tc
, lie the only one calculated 20 harmonizs
under one rule the various aniagonistiS
nat;onaliiies and sects o! which the Briti.l
empire b composed.


The Legislature md the New York Council.
msn-The Fox and the Flies.
Those who have enjoyed the study Of human
nature through the medium of Esops fable.
will remember the story of the fox and the
flies. A fox, pursued by a swarm Of flies, tool
refuge in river. His strategy rid him of .
portion Of his tormenton, but while his body
was relieved, his head, which he was of course
compelled TO keep above the water, was Gov
cred by the biting and singing insects.
{, swallow, skimming through the air, took com
passion upon the prosecuted fox aud offered
a. a. - 4