The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-06-30
IRISH DIsEsTABLISHMENT,


House Of Lords and will undoubtedly |
become Il law. The intimation, a few
weeks ago, that it would probably be
rejected by the Peers, in the face OF the
immense majority in the Commons,
was received with the most intense
excitement. The Gladstone govern
ment had made the issue before the
people, had been triumphantly success
full, and could not, therefore, tolerate
the defeat of their pet measure on the
part of an aristocratie body who have
no sympathy with the popular will
Hence, it was boldly given out that
the Lords would be driven into meas
ures if they should hold out in their
obstinacy. A creation of new Peers,
il sufficient numbers to pass the bill,
was openly threatened. It was the
fear of this which led to the success OF
Parliamentary reform in 1882. And it
is probable the fear of the execution OF
this threat now which has led the
Lords to submit to the passage of the
Irish Church Bill. The Lords are jeal-
GUS of the privileges Of their order
They would dislike to see the number
of Peers increased by the introduction
of members who cannot boast OF blood
which ahas run in dogs e'er since the
Aood.n They wonld much rather give
up their principles than have their
numbers increased.
The English Church establishment
[ in Ireland has ever heen so unjust that
| it is surprising its injustice has not
been acknowledged by every liberal
minded statesman in the United King
don. The great majority of the people
Of Ireland are Catholics, and large
and very respectable class in the
/ North of Ireland are Presbyterians.--
/ Now, there is no sense or justice In
/ forcing these people to keep up in their
{ midst church establishment SO repug-
nant to their ideas of true religion
When, therefore, spirit of justice
first led the English people to adopt
Liberal legislation towards their Irish
subjects, it is very singular that
aCatholic Emancipation" had not en-
4 braced the disestablishment of the
English Church within the limits OF
ireland.
1 1t appears little singular at first
sigh. that considerable opposition to
the Bill now before Parliament has
shown itself among the Irish Catholics
themselves. But the reason of it can
| be easily explained. The expensive
English Church Establishment has the
J, disbursement of no little money wher.
ever it prevails. The poor Irish find il
! profitable and are, therefore, 10th tt
, part with it, for fear that its abolition
, might interfere with their due proper
, ton of potatoes. The Ephesian reli
!, gionists are by no means an uncommon
rltype. Many Christians of to-day
/ would cry "Great is DiaEa OF tn
Erhesiansn if thereby sno small gain
!, should be brought unto them.
If the English Parliament wishes 7
r do the just thing by their Irish sub
jects, let them go one step farther tina
their present disestablishment bill pro
g poses. Let them make state provis
! ion for the Roman Catholic Clergy i
|, Ireland. This would secure to TIL
!, Clergy a comfortable support whic
now is very precarious among peopl
e as poor as the Irish Catholics are.
would give the people Clergy of the
: own belief, and attach them to a go,
: eminent SO considerate of their wishe
and welfare. 1t would elevate the Il
ish priesthood as class and by recor
J Cling them to the English government
y would enlist their influence in mair
tanning the loyalty and patriotism
. the Irish people. At the same time tt
s. same state assistance might be extent
ed to the Scotch Irish Presbyterians
y the North of Ireland.
- The idea is by no means new on
,r It was proposed by Mr.. Pitt in the b
d ginning of the century and has bee
. advocated by both political parti
t. since that time. It would prove t
. eliminating point in "Catholic Ema
n cipation." 1t would show that q
English people have an equal rega
for all the Queens subjects, whetfl
" they are Welsh and attend the esta
l. lished Church, or Irish and attend t
ID Church of Rome. It would give pea
10 and tranquility to Ireland, and sta
ID her on the high road to prosperity.
,lll Let not Mr.. Gladstone be- ashamed
id adopt a measure which had its orig
gs in the stupendous intellect of Will:
ig Pitt.
r Hap We have been supplied wi
~ papers, since our last, by the.offc'
,e of the Celeste, Lotus No.2 Era No.
I'D Dora, B. L. Hodge No. 2 and Frolic
90 -..-.l.~
+ A. A Roland, clerk of Ia belle Geles
nd on her last trip, supplied our of
III with an extra batch of late Nefthe
and Western papers.