The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-18
The Iusurrsct.on Of 1898.

- The 11Surxec1ou OF 1898.
The Catholic relief bill of 1898 was pass
ed by the same majority which a few
for the flame of democracy were being
kindled even among the Presby terians of
the north. The Catholics were allowed
the right of voting for members of parlia-
ment, and they were allowed to exercise
subordinate civil and military Offices
it was necessary to detach them from the
republican party, and avert the revolution
which they might otherwise have effected.
The concession thus made through fear was
more valuable as a precedent than as a
privilege really regained. The franchise
granted to the Catholics was turned by
their masters to their own advantage. The
Catholic tenants were compelled to vote
according to the dictate of their landlords,
and their votes were regarded as part of
the landed property. The relief bill, too,
was accompanied with fresh measures of
COERCION; public meetings were dispersed
by the military; trials for sedition became
frequent; and editors of newspapers paid
truths. The hopes of the Irish were raised
high by the appointment of Lord Fitzwil-
liam as VicerOy, for he was an amiabfe and
large-minded man, a kind landlord, and
pledged to accomplish, SO far as in him lay.
the complete emancipation of Catholics and
the reform of the Irish Parliament. But
these hopes were dashed to-the ground as
by mocking demons when Lord Fitzwilliam
was recalled by Pitt; a member of the all
powerful Beresford family, whom the Vice
roy had dismissed, was retained in office;
and the question of Catholic Emancipation
was set aside. Earl Fitzwilliam was snc-
ceeded by Lord Camden; discord was re-
newed; corruption became more corrupt;
rebellion produced coercion, and coercion
rebellion, the exasperated people were
gOaded to revOlt-revOlt too feeble to OBJ
tain redress, yet serious enough to form a
pretext for the withdrawal of Parliament
from Ireland and the accomplishment of
thealong meditated Union. "Two desper-
ate Harties," says Grattau, "were now in
arms against the Constitution. On the one
side there was the camp of the rebel,- on
the other the camp of the Minister, q great
er traitor than the rebel, and the treason Of
the minister against the people was intin-
itely worse than the rebellion of the people
against the Minister"
Meanwhile the "Peep o'-day- boys" in the
north became lost in the more respectable
but not less ferOcions Orangemen; and the
"Defenders," who were denounced us re-
"rebellious Papists," joined the ranks of
the United 1rishmen, in which name that of
defenders" became almost entirely alb
sorbed. 1t was a mysterious and much
dreaded body, which owed its existence in
the first instance to the Professionals of the
north. Its main objects were emancipa-
ton and reform, but it's ultimate intentions
were not clearly defined. 1t looked to
France for assistance; bound its members
to secresy by an oatn; and justified it's hos
tile attitude by the instincts of self-preser-
walton. The Orange yeomanry became in
October, 1896, an armed and paid associa-
ton, and the United Irishmen felt that
they could be match for them only by
onvertiDg their society into u military or
rrtllZ af Gfori ,nfn
phosed into sergeants and corporals; dele
gates were turned into captains;- colonies
were appointed, and generals over them;
and the entire body was placed under the
direction of an executive of five. If the
Catholics In large numbers joined society
from which under ordinary circumstances
they would have held aloof, it was because
the Government turned a deaf ear to their
just complaints, and encouraged their Bit
terest and most violent foes. 1t was be-
couse 500 Catholic families had been eX-
PEELED from their native county of Armagh
cried in vain tor protection to the magis-
trates in their neighborhood; and then
homeless and penniless were driven and
scattered over ali parts of Ireland, carry
ing with them every where the appalling
history of their eviction, of the savage cry
of "T1 He'll or Connaught" with which
they had been assailed, and the alternative
of death or expulsion which was forced
upon them with bayonet and blunderbuss.
In tho outset of the efforts of the United
Irishmen, their opposition was altogether
unsustained by treason. The Irish Ca
tholics who Joined them were influenced by
the simple desire of improving their con-
dition, and of escaping from bondage by
constitutional means, and by these only.
They represented the vast majority of the
nation; they belonged to the moral force
party; and they did not entertain a
thought of having recourse to foreign aid
and physical strength until hope, in the
public mind, had been succeeded by de-
spair. Lord Cloncurry has borne ample
testimony to the fact in his interesting
" Life and Times" and he answers with
equal confidence for the purity of the mor
tives of "the Protestant martyrs and
champions in the cause of Irish liberty"
He came of Catholic stock. Both his
grandfathers were Catholics; and his father
was also, who had settled i'll France. This
Lord Cloncurry, "probably having pre-
viously experienced more substantial an
noyance,s was finally lit is his own child's
account) so nettled at the partiality shown
by the Cure of his parish in administering
the honors of the censor to a neighboring
Seigneur (who, as he thought, had no right
to be incensed before himsel0 that he sold
his estate, and returned to Ireland, where
he conformed TO Professionalism, and be-