The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-08-05
A VICTORY EOR IRfI AND

| A VICTORY FOR IRELAND.
The most important event that has trans
PRED in the history of Ireland for half a
century, or since Daniel O'ConneI carried
triumphantly the measure OF Catholic eman-
cipation, has Just occurred in the passage OF
the Irish Church Bill in Parliament, and its
approval by the crown. II provides for the
disestablishnem Of the church Of England in
Ireland, or its separation from the govern
ment-the divorce Of church and State From
the days of Henry the Eighth. the founder
of the church of England until about thirty
years ago, the tithes. Or taxes for the support
OF that church were vigorously cxactcd from
Catholics rs well as from all dissenting Pro-
lestantS. OF the eight millions of popula-
ton in Ireland thirty years ago only one
tenth We're members OF the established
church--vct the ninc-enths were compelled
to contribute regularly 4 tenth Of their III
comes to support church establishment that
they hated. In 1888 the most obnoxious
features of the tax were concealed by the
substitution Of q fixed rent charge PAYABLE
! by the owners of the land But rs they in
turn added this charge to the rent, the popl-
lation were in no wise benefited hv the
change.
When OConnell had taken his seat in the
| House Of Commons, after the emancipation
act on repeal of the law lorb'lding i Catho-
1 lie to sit in Parliament he 1T once began
agitation for the further relief of Ireland
A repeal of the legislative union. and an
abolition Of tithes, We're among his schemes
The former, by far the more important, in a
political sense, is still in the future. The
latter is but Just realized
! We in this country, who enjoy the right of
contributing for the support only OF such rt-
l@ion rs we believe, can scarcely imagine
the feelings with which the Catholics of Ire
land, outnumherin@ ten to one the members
! of the established Church, have been com
PEELED to contribute Of their little substance
to the bloatcd Golfers of the latter Two
archbiShops, twelve bishops, and over three
thousand Of the inferior clergy were sup
ported by this means. together With the I'M
mcnse endowment of the church. II was an
unwieldlv, obnoxious and hated institution
with no power for good. and receiving only
/ the malclliclons Of nine-tcnths of the pcopc
| With an income Of one hundred million,
from rents, lands, parsonagcS. &C.. il wrlno
over three millions by titheS from an unwill-
inc people.
The power which has overcome and BAN
ish"A this great wrong, is that progressive
and liberal spirit which finds its voice and
effective action in the House of Commons
The House Of Lords was the opponent of the
measure until convinced that ii would be
beaten by tactics, when ii welded and &C
guessed. Mr.. Gladstone, the great liberal
leader, began his attack on this establishment
in April. 1868 by the introduction Of 4 rcso-
luton that the Irish church establishment. as
such, should cease to exist. His attack
brought down upon him torrent of tlcnrln-
citation from the friends Of the church. The
old cry of mo Popvry" was raised, and an
attempt made to create the belief that Glad
stone was in the pay of the Pope, and that
this measure was but the entering wedge for
the destruction OF the whole established
church. But he perSeyercd, and passed the re-
solutions through the House Of Commons. The
House Of Lords being strongly opposed to
the measure. and not disposed to Weld en-
cept to the strongest pressure from the Com
mons. by tacit agreement, an appeal was
taken to the sense Of the country in the
Parliamentary election Of November. Ii re-
suited in an increased majority for the
Liberals. That election virtually decided the
fate of the proposed reform The bill goes
| into effect in 1871. And thus is removed
from the people of Ireland 4 wrong under
which they have groaned for centuries.
| The leading radicals and their newspapers
are having much to say about the decline Of
American shipping, and are cndcavoring to
find the causes which undrre the fact Mr.
| Pike writes u letter from Europe on the sub
ject, Mr. Hichborn writes about it, and all
| the radical papers have comments on the mat
ter. Mr.. Pike thinks steam is to do all the
carrying trade, and that we must turn our at
lclllloH " steamers. WI IIicilpoll, Oh the
contrary, is of the opinion that the day of
wooden sailing ships is far from being past,
and that a letting up on taxation is the pana-
cea for our failing marine.
| These suggestions all fail to touch the root
Of the trouble. Put the Democratic party in
to power again, and the country can once
more have the magnificent merchant fleet Of
former days 1t grew underline fostering and
| liberal care of Democracy ItperiShed when
the party went out of power. 1t will be re-
stored when the broad and conservative ideas
Of democracy are again recognized by the
| administration.