MF – 1865.09.30 – The Journal – Fenianism in Ireland – #123 – F12250

The Journal was long dissatisfied because the FREEMAN would say so little about the Fenians, and now it pretends to be dissatisfied because the FREEMAN says so much, and it endeavours to find in an article in which we merely sought to explain to our readers why, in our opinion, those unexpected demonstrations have been made in Ireland, something or other, it can not tell what, that should awaken indignation, something in which the Journal finds “a gloating satisfaction at England’s peril palpable, &c., &c., &c.,” The Journal is sometimes rather dull and slow, but in this case it is wonderfully keen and quick, discovering in the FREEMAN’S article what neither the writer of the article nor any other man of ordinary intelligence could possibly discover. In our opinion the article shows that the FREEMAN does not believe England to be in any peril whatever from Fenianism. The Journal questions us:

“The animus of the Freeman’s article is against the Government, and in favor of the Fenians. ‘The Government,’ urges the Freeman, ‘have suddenly chosen to treat as formidable those whom for two or three years past they have despised.’ And why should they not ‘choose’ to do so if they please? – The Freeman does not say that the Fenians are not formidable, but only that ‘for two or three years past,’ during which the Freeman never alluded to the Fenian movement except to pooh pooh its existence, they ‘despised’ the efforts of the Fenians. The Freeman charges upon the British Government the ‘suppression by military force, and without process of law, of a paper to which for some time allowed the utmost impunity, and the making of a number of arrests of parties whom in all probability they have long known to be Fenians.’ Why should they not do so? Would an earlier suppression of an inflammatory sheet, or earlier arrests of Fenian traitors have suited the Freeman better, or would it hamper a Government, bent on checking an insurrection, by laws applicable only to times of peace?”

We have not said or insinuated that the English Government should not choose to treat Fenianism as formidable. We merely stated that they have so chosen, as they had a perfect right to do when they pleased.

The FREEMAN has more than once said that Fenianism is not formidable. It does not believe the absurd sensation stories copied by the Journal from the New York Herald; such as that “fifty thousand soldiers of the American army who fought in the late war are now in Ireland,” &c. If this were true, Fenianism would indeed be formidable; but the British Government would never suffer an invasion such as that, which could not have been even attempted without exciting the attention of the whole world.

To the last question of the Journal we would say, that we regard the employment of military force as objectionable whenever it is not absolutely necessary. The suppression of copperhead newspapers in various towns of the United States by military force was, we believe, universally condemned by those in all other countries who love a government of law and prefer to see justice administered by the civil tribunals. The Dublin Fenian newspaper could have been dealt with in the ordinary way; and we believe the British Government would not in this case have had recourse to military force, had they not something more in view than the punishment of Fenians and the suppression of a newspaper. Perhaps when we know, if we ever do know, what that something is, we may find that the policy of the Government was wise and prudent, and that their action was fully justified by the circumstances.