[CUMBERLAND] THE FENIAN RAID OF 1866 107 
offered them returned railway tickets to their several destinations 
which they gradually accepted and so departed. Thus both the 
Executive, and the political parties had avoided making interference 
and of risking the hostility of any of their voters until after the Fenian 
attempt had been defeated. 
This menace of the interference of party politics in the foreign rela- 
tions of the United States with their neighbours will always be present 
under their form of constitution. 
The President being elected by a public vote is the continuing 
representative of a political party and his actions as the head of the 
executive are moved by consideration of what will be desirable for the 
advantage of himself or of his party at the next election. When, as in 
this case, he is at personal issue with his Congress a still greater impedi- 
ment to speedy and judicial action is further introduced. 
The illusion of depending upon the active neutrality of an adjoining 
nation had been abundantly proved in 1837 when secret clubs known 
as “ Hunters Lodges” had been organizing in many American villages 
on the shores of the St. Lawrence. In these moneys were raised for 
procuring arms and enlisting men for the expedition against Canada 
which followed. The readiness of the volunteer militia of Kingston 
dislodged them from Hickory Island when they had landed; but it was 
not until they had retreated to the United States that the State militia 
were called out at Cape Vincent and Clayton. 
A similar condition existed in 1812 when the war was brought on 
by the political aspirations of Madison and the “war hawks” of Clay 
and the South, and again in 1866 when the invasion of Canada was made 
possible by a desire not to antagonize the solid vote of the Irish adherents 
That the Americans as a nation would ever attack Canada is un- 
believable; but political exigencies may hamper their intervention and 
sudden excitements of local bodies get beyond control. 
Especially is this the case now that the Rush-Bagot Convention 
of 1817 for the peace of the lakes has been virtually annulled and strongly 
armed gun-boats are in active volunteer service in all the large border 
cities in the United States on the inland lakes. A “Flag incident” 
brought on by thoughtless partizans might suddenly blaze into recrim- 
inations and reprisals and set the two nations unwillingly by the ears. 
In State and in Federal politics a yellow press and an approaching 
election could readily cause delay in action, guided by self-seeking 
politicians. 
The true peace of Canada is to be found not in trusting to inter- 
vention by any foreign government, but to readiness for honourable 
self-defence. 
