South Canterbury Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1883.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3114, 27 March 1883, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1883.

The recent explosive atrocities that have been committed at Home have not unnaturally aroused in the breasts of Englishmen a strong feeling of indignation against the perpetrators of them—the Fenians. In the present disturbed state of affairs in Ireland, it is not to be wondered at that some people have learned to group all Irishmen under the category of Fenians. It would be well, therefore, to point out that Fenianism embraces but a section of the Irish people, and that Ireland is no more responsible for the acts of the secret societies than Christians at large are accountable for the massacre of the Jews in Russia. These acts of terrorism are distinctly chargeable (o certain wretched brotherhoods. These represent exaggerated patriotism; they are the outgrowth of the wretched condition of Ireland, fostered by American freedom. Fenianism, though of ancient origin, is of American growth. Emigrants to America have carried with them a burning sense of injustice, and they have in the land of their adoption drunk to intoxication of freedom. It is not wonderful that, in the first wild moments of liberty, they should break out into hostility against the Mother Country. Patriotic Irishmen must, and do, perceive that these people can do nothing for the cause of their country—their weapons are secret murder and dynamite. It most be apparent that the most liberal governmeht cannot permit these things to go on unchallenged, and certainly it appears only right that those who employ these weapons, should be dealt with, by the strong arm of the law. The Irishman who does not denounce the Phoenix Park murders is a traitor to his country, and the foe of her best interests. It is to be hoped those who employ such means, (be they knives or dynamite), will speedily be brought to justice, and their punishment be made exemplary. In the excitement of the Indian mutiny, the Government countenanced the blowing of the rebels from the gans. Surely no lighter punishment should be meted out to those who resort to assassination and explosion, and it is to be hoped that those to whom the blame is sheeted home, may be dealt with by drumhead court martial as enemies and traitors. There is no punishment too terrible for these men; and all Englishspeaking people will rejoice to learn of their capture, and 'their being dealt with as their vile deeds deserve. Any society of this kind in Prance or Austria would have been long since visited by the most harsh measures and would have been suppressed, by fire and sword. The policy of forbearance has been too long exercised in England. It is to be hoped it will now give place to sterner and stronger measures.