THE FENIAN CONSPIRACY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 695, 15 August 1870, Page 3

THE FENIAN CONSPIRACY.

There is a strange vitality in Fenianism. For the last two months there have been whispers of some secret movements; open rebellion is impossible, but the brotherhood are rash and reckless enough for any Budden act of violence. I mentioned the apprehension of two men charged with obtaining firearms for unlawful purposes; another man has since been captured, who fired a revolver at a policeman, and is supposed to be a Fenian. Meanwhile, a wida-spread organisation has been discovered for the collection and distribution of offensive weapons. A soap and soda merchant in Leeds was found to bej receiving and sending away rifles, bayonets, revolvers, and cartridges, packed in what appeared to be flour barrels, herring tubs, and spirit casks. These arms were procured from Birmingham, and it was soon ascertained that cases had been forwarded from that town to various places, and their contents then repacked, and sent in barrels to Ireland. For some time past firearms and ammunition have I been sent on in this manner from Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, and Leeds; and the Dublin police have stopped a large number of these suspicious consignments on their arrival in the steamers from Holyhead. The Government have also received information that the Fenians threaten an attack upon the dockyards, and there has been at many points a sudden marshalling of guards, and the adoption of a new system of precautions. There was an alarm at Tynemouth also, where there is a large arsenal. 1 The raid into Canada has proved, like other Fenian attempts, a miserable fiasco. The only regret is that some heavier punishment has not fallen upon its promoters. These marauders crossed the frontier, near St. Alban's Vermont, on the 25th of May, and were met by the Canadian troops, and quickly driven back, after some show of fighting. General O'Neill, who commanded, addressed his followers as they neared the border: — " Soldiers of the advance guard of the American-Irish army for the liberation of Ireland from the yoke of your oppressors, from your own country you now enter that of an enemy. The eyes of your country are upon you. Forward 1 march 1" to which Captain Cronan, of Burlington, replied in the name of his country. " General, — I am proud that Vermont has the honour of leading this advance. Ireland may depend on us to do our duty." But the United States Marshal was close at hand ; the 1 general was seized, thrust into a close carriage, and driven from the field in compulsory silence. General Grant had issued a warning proclamation, and the United States troops were in the rear to cut off retreat; but the Canadians are naturally indignant that things should be permitted to grow to this height, and that they should pay Buch a price for so cheap a victory. The whole movement seems to be part of a gigantic swindle, kept going for the sake of the funds it produces.