Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-04


have signs. passwords, grips, or oaths 70 keep
some things secret. Their opponents hsve
charged these Upon them. Suppose all 10 be
true that i charged Suppose that IL i a secret
Who belong TO the organization Suppose that
the immediate plans and proceedings and meet
iDgs are secret. suppose that in the view OF the
possibility OF = coming opportunity for noble old
lEelAnd "a disenLhralI herself from oppressive
Enrlsnd. her sons, 10 different clines, league 70
aid the glorious effort. as William Tell and his
confederates. leasred Cor the rescue Of ssitzer
hand. under The soTemhiry or an oath. Suppose
that these coHfederstes give each other counter
signs as l. pract;ced IN armed forces. which are
not 70 be revealed except u those having the
proper Glamour qaesion Is, fthe right OF each
individual be secured tn Withdraw. at any
ment he thinks rIght, from such c0aiederaey Of
lrishmen.- IS there anihing that the Catholic
Church condemns in the general plan!
We have seen condemnation of somexbat
similar societies existing in Ireland, by one or
two Irish bishops That condemnation proceed
ed upon political judgment Of the bishops. that
the movement was not for the good Of Ireland.
Nov. God has made no revelation the. church
in regard to what is for the temporal good OF Ire
land. The judgment Of bishop on such a mat
ter is no better than the judgment OF physician.
IL IS political judgment and belongs 10 states
men. not 30 theologiaBs; nor TO churchnen. who
are not always theoiogians. Archbishop Cullen
writes condemnatory pastoral IN Do0n; but
he has no jurisdiction in those dioceses of our
western American States where Catholic priests
iDlrusted by their own bishops with the care of
souls, Dot only favor this brotherhood. but parti-
cipate IN It's direction, and dying are honored With
all ne rites of the church and with the reveren
tial attendance of the brotherhood. These pas
tOrals, therefore, founded on the political views
OF their authors and not agreed to by other Fps
copal authorities, have no other effect than to
make that bad thing, doubling consciences in
some scrupulous but patriotic Irishmen.
So long as Catholic priests, unrebuked, belong
TO the Fenial Brotherhood, and no general law
of the Catholic Church is brought to bear 10 its
condemnation the condemnation of individual
Bishops seem, in our best judgment, only 10 com
plicate the matter The cssuist passes them BIZ,
opinions of Bishops, but the simple faithful
too often are disturbed without being controlled
by them Hence a multitude of false consciences
and OF needless -ins.
In its present phase this subject is one either
to be discussed or to be lodged by a paper such
as ours 1t there be more light to cast on it, we
ask for that light As 10 opinions, we know they
differ, and we decline, peremptoriy, publishing
such. either pro con. unless they cast suthori-
tatve light on the matter. I he following para
graphs are from paper that is theologically eau
tious, and that We are always happy when we
find ourselves in accord wth--the Pittsburg
Catholic:
THE FUTURE OF IRELAND.
We have received a paper containing an ac-
count Of the concluding proceedings OF general
meeting of the Fenisn Brotherhood, held in Chi
cago, together with an address from the same to
the Irish in the United States In it they claim
that their society is not secret and illegal, mean
ing, We presume, that il does not come under the
ban of the church. On this subject we do not
presume to offer an opinion. The authoritative
decision rests with the Bishops and we do no,
know enough OF the facts OF the case to justify
- 10 saving a subject on which such a wide
difference oil opinion exists among worthy men.
We will merely say that we trust that the leaders
at The Feuian Brotherhood have not consciously
or unconsciously done anything not in conform
ity with the laws OF the church.
OF the object of the Brotherhood, the libera-
ton OF Ireland We have spoken some time ago.
We think it clearly just. Everything that can be
alleged in favor OF Poland, and great deal
more. eau be alleged in favor of LELAND But it
is plainly laid down by Catholic theologians that
revolution just III itself cannot be lawfully at
tempted unless there be reasonable prospect of
success. This is the difficulty in the way of
Irish patriots. Ii is very hard We must confess,
to see how, under any circumstances, Irishmen,
uDdlueu, can Tree tueif country. lt Is not tnat
they are not brave and determined, but that the
Overwhelming advantages that England possesses
render anything worthy of the name of a serious
attempt difficult. and a successful uprising i'm
possible Ii Ireland is ever to be freed it might
be, We think. by aid from foreign power, and
there Is none able or likely to give this aid as
France. As for any permanent good resulting to
Ireland from war between England and the
United States, we look on such hope as chimer
ical
We know that ardent men do not take this
view of the case. But we doubt If, after a close
examination of all the circumstances even the
most ardent would find any foundation for their
hopes. 1t is this feeling that rules the action of
the Irish clery They know it is their sacred
duty to prevent useless shedding of blood. and
all the misery consequent a frutless rebellion.
Did they see any probability of success, they
would not. we feel sure. be found opposed to the
freedom of their country. But, seeing no such
probability they wisely say that it is better 10
endure present evils, than to aggravate them by
an instruction that is sure to De put down. The
experience of the past has taught a lesson which
should not be forgotten.
We do not, OF course, mean to say that an as
ISOLATION here with the view of being ready TO
seize any opportunity TO aid our Fsthersnd is
wrong in itself.
In organization so wide spread. something more
than Bishops Is needed. The legitamacy. other
wise Of the organization must be determined if az all