The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-17 00:00:00

CARDINAL CULLEA'S LET TER.

The letter of Cardinal Cullen to the Mayers
correcting the assertion of Marshal MacMahon
that cases of cannibalism had occurred during
the famine in Ireland, cannot fail to call the
attention of France, in whose eyes it is the
ambition of every Englishman that his country
should stand well, to the slow and reluctant
process by which Ireland is being emancipated
from the ban of religious persecution. The
Cardinal's letter speaks of Marshal MacMahon's
Irish ancestors as distinguished among Catholic
chieftains in resisting the sanguinary persecu-
tions of English Protestantism under Crom-
well, and France sees with amazement that,
after the lapse of two hundred years, Ireland
is still struggling for emancipation from the
greatest injustice that could be inflicted on a
Catholic nation—the establishment of an alien
Church in its midst. As long as the Pro-
testantism of England could manage to domi-
neer over the Catholics of Ireland without
danger of exciting in Ireland civil commotion,
or of attracting the indignant attention of
Europe, the Irish Church was allowed to stand
in all its flagrant injustice. But no sooner
had Fenianism disturbed the peace of the
Empire, and excited the curiosity of Europe as
to the manner in which Catholic Ireland was
governed by Protestant England, than the
people bestirred themselves—at least the ma-
jority who are happily no longer under the in-
fluence of Protestant bigotry—with a right
goodwill to remove a great injustice, and to
wipe away a stain on the national honour.
England wishes the wrong it has done to be
forgotten or not to be spoken of, least of all
in France, even before the promised restitution
has been made. Hence the sensitiveness, which
the Times could not conceal, at the publication
in the French papers of Cardinal Cullen's letter
to Marshal MacMahon. There was nothing
really in his Eminence's letter to make the

Times wince, beyond the fact of its alluding
to the sanguinary persecutions which Catholic
Ireland has suffered from Protestant England,
to the patience and Christian resignation which
the Irish people had shown under a famine
unexampled in Europe for its severity; and to
the ties in religion and race, which bind Catho-
lic Ireland to France. But the letter, itself,
renewed the recollection of the fact, that after
a prolonged and sanguinary persecution,
Catholic Ireland. still has to bear the badge
of Protestant ascendancy, and still suffers,
on account of its refusal to accept the Pro-

testant religion, a treatment which no other
nation of Europe is subjected to except un-
happy Poland, between which and the Ireland
of to-day, of course, no comparison exists.
We can forgive the Times its silly assertions
about the supposed foreign proclivities of
Catholicism on account of the shame which
it betrays lest the true state of things concern-
ing the treatment which Catholicism has so
long received at the hands of an antiquated
bigotry, which is now about being laid aside,
should become generally known out of Eng-
land. Shame is the symptom of amendment.
We really believe that the time has come to
treat and to speak of Catholicism, both in
England and in Ireland, with more justice
and with more veracity than has hitherto been
the case. Jester ideas have come upon the
people of England, and, in spite of political
necessities, we believe the day is gone by
when a "No Popery cry" could be successfully
raised. Our friends and neighbours on the
Continent will watch on this account the
coming elections with interest and curiosity,
and with, perhaps, here and there the un-
avowed hope to catch per fide Albion tripping.
We trust that we may do nothing which, as a
nation, we shall be ashamed to avow before the
face of Europe.—Westininster Gazette.

1..."'

out, and other measures taken to repel the inroad,
and all the regiments are under orders to be 01
readiness at a moment's notice. O'Neill has frankly
proclaimed his intention of spilling blood, and If
his operations are not interrupted by the -United
States, if he succeeds in nothing else, he will suc-
ceed in that. In the United States the people take
the scare very quietly, as well they may, it not
being their throats that are in danger. So do we
in Europe for precisely the same reason, but ''e
hope that the President will show his appreciation
of the joy expressed in this country at his acquittal
by putting his foot down on the Fenian organio-
tion. The latest news is that the Government of
the Dominion has called out 3,000 volunteers for
the defence of the frontier above Montreal, and
doubled their force ; that a battery of the Royal
Artillery has been despatched from Montreal, awl
200 men of the 60th Rifles are in readiness to
low. The Fenian Fair held at Buffalo on May 2'
was enlivened by the passage to the Canadian side
of 200 men, who made a demonstration on the left
bank. The gunboat Britomarte got ashore opposite
Buffalo while patrolling the Niagara River. It Is
anticipated that au attempt will be made between
Lancaster and Cornwall, and Adjutant-Genera!
M'Dougall, Sir Charles Windham, and Colonel
Wolsey are examining the position to provide nieans
of defence. Even supposing that no attack be unad3
the Canadians who have deeply suffered by the de-
pression of trade will hate the very name of Fe'
nians, and confound them with all Irishmen. Ilf°
can see the Irish loss, but can they tell us what 11,
likely to be their gain in these insane proceeding' •
—Anglo-American Times.