The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-02-26
forming Star and Catholic Messenger.
HEW ORLEANS. SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 70,
u1scE1I.AMEOUs IRlsH NEWS.

GosIrsSs SUNDAY, FEBRUARY as, 1871.
N1scELLAME0Us IRlsH NEWS.
The meeting held. in the Rotundo to de-
nand the complete liberation of the poiiti,
- prisoners was the beginning OF agi-
eaton which, sooner or later, must be
crowned with success. The character OF
ire meeting was in some respects, peculiar,
and deserving of attention. Men OF Ill
ereeds and opinions who held aioof from
the policy Of the Amnesty Association
ing, in the name of political righteousness,
the completion of the measure entered upon
NV her Maiesty's advisers. OF that meas
ure 70 have declared our opinion. Inc
Archbishop of Cashel, the Bisaop VI
Clogher, the Bishop of Cioyne, Mr.. Martln'
II. r., the two fellows OF trinity S ooa n
the array Of clergy from the provinces pre-
sent an Intelligence and represent power
chat no Minister can safely despise. The
voice of the Irish nation has been pro-
nounced Enthusiastically on this question.
From across the Atlantic our rulers may
discern warning in the welcome ACCORDED
to the exiles by tho representatives OF the
xreatest of peoples. Are there not hosts OF
Eishmen who even in the happiness of their
new homes can scarcely numb the pang OF
recollection What wrongs and sufferings
have not the exiled prisoners to relate
Tales which only and parallel in the pages
Of dim history shall rouse TO paseaonaee
indienstion the unconciliated lrishmen
Whom bad laws forced from their native
land. Intellectually to increase this danger
0us mower will be the sure result OF the
mea9re and half-hearted concession of
ministers. But when We consider the
ehagrin of nation, when we remember
the trembling expectancy OF the Irish Peo,
ple during three years, aud the anger and
4iaaDpointment when release and exile
we're iumbled in the confusion Of blindness,
,va cannot bnt believe that the wrong must
he undone. In the shock of empires and
the fear of kings, in the upheaving turmoil
Of ali Christendom and the dead-iog drift
ing of statesmen, we see no more 6anger1e
ous weakness than the obstinate defiance OF
\ nations will. The Irish nation demands
for her friends, mistaken though they were,
= pardon, free, unconditional, complete.
The Minister who endeavOrs to avert her
purpose by eloquent words and dim sug-
1estions is treading the highway OF danger,
and arousing hostility which 1t may lake
updreamed-O of concessions to allay.-tree-
man.
The Eeeman, speaking of the opening of
Parliament, says:
One question more dear to the Irish
heart than any other can hardly be evaded
during the coming session. The time has
come when the question of local legislation
: in Ireland must be dealt with one way or
the other. The desire of the people for
salf.rule is unmistakable. There was a
time when Ministers might have SO legisla-
ted for Ireland as at least to postpone this
question of questions for Ireland. But they
missed that opportunity, and they must
now be prepared To LOOK tne questlon
of sense under deep responsibilities. 1t
was announced at the close of the last, that
the question would be brought on early in
the coming session. No man is more COM
petent to do b than the Hon. member for
Cork city who made that announcement,
and we, in common with the Whole conn
try, look with no small anxiety to the
realization of his promise and to the man
ner in which this great question will be met
by the Government.
The Land Act.-The new Irish Land Act
seems to be working very satisfactorily in
every respect except costs. The judges
find no difficulty in applying it, assessing
damages for eviction by q flexible rule OF
common sense, with distinct leaning to-
wards the tenant. A holder for instance,
of farm of 3a. lr. Sp., at a rent of &c los,
who has been evicted without cause, claim
ed f45 under the Act, gnd was awarded
939, or the maximum award minus the
years rent due. Fines like this check ca.
PRECIOUS eviction, while they do not annoy
One of them, just fined more than $500
openly states that he is neither annoyed
NOR hurt, the additional security increasing
his rental from the next tenant in quit
equivalent proportion. just SO, and
they had consented to fxity with power O
Revising rentals, the Irish landlords woul
in twenty years have been amongst til
Weeltbsest Of mankind.-Spectator.
Z Ascarcely less remarkable event than tn
passing of the Church Act, is the following
testimony to its working from the minutes .
an Orange Lodge: "With the beginnin
of the year." writes the Grand Orang
Lodge Of the Independent Orange Associa
ton, to the brethren at large, the Pre-
visions of the Irish Church Act come int
operation. Already we have ample proc
that this great measure will exert healin
influence as time progresses, and men be
come satisfied with the position of absolu,
equality in their relation to the State
There are gentlemen in Ireland no.
a-bed "-as the work of the press me
goes-who, on reading this announcement
at their breakfast tables, win be dispose
to rub their eyes and to misdoubt the
waking senses but the document come
nevertheless, from the Office of the Gran