Year: 1866

The Fenian Movement and English


Inconsistoncy.


The latest news from England and from
Canada shows that terrible state Of alarm
exists both In the mother country and her
American provinces on the Fenian question.
There may be some reason for this alarm in
view Of the fact that the British government
has been compelled to declare Ireland in
state Of revolution, and that the provincial
government in Canada has suddenly ordered
out ten thousand militia to protect that colony
from an anticipated attack Of the Fenians. To
whatever danger the British empire at home
and abroad may be exposed is matter which
concerns its rulers, and no one else. If they
have permitted condition Of affairs in Ireland
to reach point which makes insurrection
fixed fact, that is their own affair. When we
were at war with our rebellious States, England
was on the side of the enemy; but we fought
our own battle successfully, not only against
the South, but against its ally-England. 1t
would appear, from certain indications in the
British press, that our government is likely to
be asked to interfere in suppressing Fenianism
in America. We might suppose that sense
of decent consistency would prevent the gov
ernment of England from making any such re-
quisition, and we opine that if any proposition
of this kind should be made it will be re-
garded, and very justly, as the most impudent
and shameless one that ever emanated from
any government, considering the position that
England assumed towards this country during
the rebellion.


Twelve months have not elapsed since some
of the most prominent men in England, even
members of the government were contributors
to the Confederate loan, the sinews of war to be
employed against our nationality. Mr.. Laird,
occupying position in the House of Com
mons, was then daily addressing the represen-
tative body Of the English people and at the
same time building privateers to prey upon
American commerce. Earl Russell grasped at
the first opportunity to recognize belligerent
rights in rebellious section Of this country,
and thus threw the whole weight of his gov
ernment against us. Nothing which the
most unfriendly nation could desire was
left undone by Great Britain to support rebel
lion in the United States, and destroy our gov
ernment, and yet we are told that an impu-
dent demand is about to be made upon our
government now to Obstruct q movement of
the Irish people to accomplish an object in Q
portion Of the British Empire which the gov
ernment of Great Britain lent all its power,
covertly and openly, to assist when similar
plans were on foot in this country. And while
the analogy between the two cases is very
strong in some points, how widely different II
is in others. Do we see any prominent Ameri-
cans taking part in this Fenian movement :
Are any Of our leading men purchasers of the
bonds Of the contemplated Irish republic Are
our members Of Congress among the fore
most to lend their aid to the movement! Is
any member of our government implicated in
il, rs the members of the British government
and Parliament, and the men representing the
largest commercial interests in Great Britain,
were found on the side Of the Southern Con-
federacyf Not at all. So far tho Fenan move
ment is confined to the Irish portion Of our
population, who have adopted this country az
their home, with view to the amelioration Of
Ireland. Whether their aims are crowned with
success, or overwhelmed with failure, they are
undertaken at their own risk Whether they
strike in Ireland or make diversion in Canada,
the danger and the risk are with themselves.
If England Is alarmed and Canada is excited
with fear is that any reason why we should in
terfere to soothe their distressed feelingsf
Most Of the men engaged in the Fenian move
ment fought under the flag Of this country
against the rebellious South and its English
ally. If they are disposed to confront the
power of England now upon another field,
that Is their own business, and not ours When
they commit an overt act involving the neutral
ity Of the government; when they send priva-
teers to sea, as England sent the Shena ndoah
to destroy our helpless whalcrs, It will be time
enough for our government to interfere, and
we are certain that II will not leave itself
open 10 any objection as to the strict OBJ
servance Of neutrality. But TO ask us to
become detective police in this matter of
Irish discomfort and English misrule, is piece
Of impudence which, considering oil the cir
cumstances connected with the policy that Eng
land pursued towards this country Of late