The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-12-04 00:00:00

CARDINAL CULLEN ON DUELLING
AND FENIANISM.

In his pastoral published before leaving for Rome to
attend the Council, Cardint.l Cullen puts his flick on
their guard, first against duelling, apropos to the
late attempt to revive the practice in Ireland; and
against continued efforts, under various pretexts,
to revive and spread the seeds of Fenianism.
The practice of duelling (says his Eminence) "has
been abandoned by ail really brave and highly-
spirited men." The Fenian association is at present
(the Cardinal adds) "altogether occupied in prevent-
ing the adoption of gocd measuresto promote the wel-
fare and peace of the country." it was "disponi to
uphold the Protestant Establishment, and is now hos-
tile to a favourable settlement of the land question."
Its leaders "seem to have formed an unholy league
with low Orangemen and interested land-agents to
prevent all useful le4islation, and to drive, if possible,
from power the statesmen who have rendered such
signal services to Ireland during the last session of
Parliament, hoping in this way to prevent the redress
of gnat evils and grievances, and to keep the country
in a state of chronic discontent, in order that they
themselves may have grounds to justify their consbira.
cies and revolutionary movements, and may cant their
nets more prbfitably in troubled waters." The Cardi-
nal hopes that the wicked machinations of the few will
not be allowed to blast the fair prospects of the whole
country, and that the mischievous ingratitude of a
reckless party will not prevent the great statesmen
now at the helm of the State from carrying out the
wise and benevolent measures which they have in con-
templati Tracing the history of Fenianism, the
Cardinal adds that the raid on Chester "was under-
taken at the suggestion and under the direction of a
' spy," and he says the same of the "campaign of
Tallaght."
His Eminence especially conlemna the "continued
attempts trade by Fenianism to use as a means for
promoting its own opinions even the burial of the dead,
thus degrading to the level of an unworthy party de-
monstratiin the sad ceremony of committing the re-
mains of Christian men to the cold grave." the (Jar-
dinal says the design of there processions is to spread
the belief that "the Fenian organisation is powerful
by its numbers, though in reality the great masses of
the people who take part in these extabitione do no
merely for the sake of a fantastic display, or of seeing
a crowd, or enjoying an hour's amusement, and care
little and know lees about the object." "It is pain.
ful," the Cardinal continues, "to nee the lifeless body
of a Christian borne to the grave, accompanied not
with the prayers of pious, loving beasts, but with the
muttered pass words of a condemned secret society.
All I shall sow add is that I hope the Catholics of
Dublin will take measures to protect their magnificent
cemetery from further profanation."

THE PEERAGE FROM 1603 TO 1775.
At, the present moment, when en much is being said
about the House of Loris, the following figures from
an old publication called "State of the English
Peerage from 1003 to 1775," will not be uninteresting.
On the accession of James I. the Peerage was I
marquis, 16 earls, 2 visconnts 40 barons: total, 59.
The number in 1774 was 3 princes 23 dukes. 1 marquis,
78 earls, 13 viscounts, 64 barons : total, 182 :
Created Extinct. Added Diminished
Charles I
Charles 11.
James 11.
William and Mary
Anne 3O .. 24
George I. 29 .. 16
George It.
George 111

1: 9

-

375 222 126

Add the .....
Deduct extinct.. 222
There was thus a total increase of 123 in the num-
bers of the peerage in the course of 171 years.

MEETING OF IRISHMEN IN GLASGOW. ,
A meeting of Itishmen, of whom there were pro- c
bably 800, was held in Glasgow on Sunday evening, for '
the purpose of adopting further Constitutional '
measures to obtain the release of their " fellow-country- 1
men in the prison pens of England," and to protest.
against the undignified and impolitic decision of '
Government in refusing the unanimous request of the
Irish people. A resolution was proposed,—
That we, the Irishmen of Glasgow, use every Iggitlmate
means, in union with our fellow-countrymen in England red
Ireland, to urge on the present GOVOTIMIeIit the ni ceesity of
granting an amnesty to the politfral prison ers, and that we
agree to accept no compromise in the shape of a sham Irish
Tenant-right Bill till our countrymen are free.
The resolution was proposed and seconded in com-
paratively moderate speeches. An amendment Wa4
moved that memorials should not he sent to the
Government, but that silent action be followed. The
introduction of the amendment ,•rested great c•unfusion,
and strong things against the Government were
spoken. Twice a fight seemed imminent; the gas was
partially turned down, and a body of police took up a
position outside the door. The motion and amendment
. being put, the chairman declared the former carried.
, No actual breach of the peace occurred. 'the meeting
I lasted an hotr. Other mutiors were to have been
l pr pots d, but the disorder was too great for the meet-
s lag to be continued.