The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-25

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Home Rule for Iyeland. The r,;.h ~. !.
n M;s published two letters from Mr.Vesev
IMzgera!d on the Question of Federalism.
U0sn written with remarkable fnrcA and
!aoanty. We sprint the concluding letter.
~ wnlcn Mr.. Fitzgerald sums up his argu.
sa Oa.s 10 favor OF home rule. The writer
says: nave no hope for Ireland except
IN Federalism. My interests, my family
:Onnections, my property, are all bound mn
IN she unity and integrity of the Empire.
ana are vitality involved in its prosperity.
CONFESS l have feeliDgfor the honor of
n,sn toa lily, ana wishsso see its govern
neht strong, and in position to adopt
language and measures towards foreign
powers such as shall be satisfactory to the
feelings Of loyal citizens-of citizens who
are not only loyal, but are likewise alive
" Tue TACT That nation, like an individual,
sought for. But our government can be
strong on OnO cOndition alone. and that is
that the sentiments of Irishmen shall he
conciliated. If Irishmen are conciliated
Russian and American eventualities need
excite no alarm. / may be asked, what is
national sentiments The question has
Deen asked before, at q time when enioy-
cd the great happiness, in conjunction with
many honorable men, of bringing about a
spirit OF Incorporation between different
parties In Ireland. Many of the circum-
stances are known to some still living.
f0und it not difficult to supply definition,
ana In reply to, the question asked, stated
.Ipat national principle consists in q prefer
ence OF country over party, which defini-
zion met with very general concurrence
rom those engaged in our proceedings-so
far as know, with universal concurrence.
Halter myself that it will meet with
an equally large measure of assent from
those engaged in the present movement in
favor OF home government. Our proceed
angs eventually led to the influential and
tod ks,1<. suL
IN the RotnndO, of the Irish nobility aud
gentry, which, as will be remembered, was
presided over by the Marquis Of Ormonde,
VINO, in the part he took, worthily fulfilled
the Obligations which man of honor will
recognize % devolving on him with his
COric name. must in fairness add that the
spirit OF cooperation to which 1 refer had
good deal to do with subsequent move
ment, in which had the pleasure of being
joined with Lord William Fitzgerald and
the late Lord Massereene, in favor of hold
!pg az suitable times sessions of Parliament
IN dublin. A proposal to the same effect
nad been previously made in the Corpora
ton of Dublin by DIR. Maunsell, and had
received the favorable consideration of Mr..
O'Connell. The practical working of this
would, doubtless, have brought about very
much the same results as may be expected
to ensue from federalism. do not profess
TO be better 1rishman than Henry frat
tan, who at one moment was the means of
preserving the connection of Ireland with
Great Britain. Like him, I believe that
imperial unity, greatness and strength will
best serve Ireland and Irishmen and I
further believe that home governmen will
emlnently cUnduce to Imperial unity, great
ness and strength. must recur to what /
said, that do not profess to be better
lrishman than Grattan. Does any one in
the home government movement do so 2
None, / believe. Then Grattan's princi-
pies are adopted, as to perpetuating the
connection OF Ireland with Great Britain.
Home government will best fortify this
connection, and further than this, must
say that l see no sign of the statesman ship
OF any individual now in Office proving ad-
equate, without resorting to home govern
ment to cope with the descriptive tendencies
which have become 40 threatening. MY
great anxiety is to look at the matter as
affecting the Empire ~ large. England
has greater wealth than Ireland, and has
more to lose, and is more interested than
Ireland in things being placed on such
footing, by the establishment of n we'll
arranged federalism, that fear should no
longer be entertained as to arming the |
Irish people. It is worth while to remem-
Der that there will always be supposed by
foreigners {who express the judgment of
what has been well called a contemporary
posterity) to be some cause for such disaf-
lection as unhappily we witness. Have we
ourselves any doubt whether there is
cause of disaffection in Poland or in Tur-
key Z The promises held out to Ireland
before the Act of Union was passed have
not been fulfilled. That measure, it is true,
was carried by force, fraud and corruption.
My own family Il really think every indi-
vidual 10 large political connection) suf-
fered more than any other Irish family in
consequence of their opposition to it. How
ever, hopes were entertained by some of
the supporters of the Act of Union, and l
may mention what passed between my
grandfather, MIR. Fitzgerald, and Lord
Glare, its great supporter, on casually
meeting in Pail Mall a few years after it
became law. My grandfather resigned the
he held, rather than support
the policy of the government of that day,
and was, by reason of his Office Of Prime
Sergeant, which placed him officially at the
head of the Irish bar, as prominent in OPP I
posing as Lord Glare in supporting the bill, {
and it would be unworthy in me to pass {
over the fact that Irishmen are still ready {
to honor his conduct. On their meeting at {
the time speak of, Lord Glare told him 6
how utterly disappointed he had been in
his expectations, and added, Had l known !
how these things would be, would sooner !
have cut off my right hand than have any &
thing to do with the MEASURE" 9
The Cathedral Meeting.- The meeting {
which was held on Wednesday last, under t
the presidency of the Cardinal Archbishop t
of Dublin, in the Cathedral Church of his +
must be taken by the enemies i
of the Pope, as well as by his friends and L
great moral significance in the fight be- l
..,ht oh,