The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-02-26

DERRY NOT MAIDEN CITY.-The jubi-
lations in song and prose over the position
taken by Derry, in rebellion against the
English King James H., all assume the form
of proclaiming that Derry was ga maiden
on the hill, boys" who would GO remain n
maiden still, boys" 1t is unnecessary here
to say anything about that "sege," or "a
Their blockade. The gates We're first shut
lacking enemy had had few good guns,
the walls would not have been in such 4
state of preserv alton. The moral courage
of the inhabitants deserves all credit, for,
though they made no such display of valor
as were exhibited by Custume On the bridge
Limerick, they yet held out against famine
very gallantly. If the Catholics of Derry
were Romanists or "Popish," instead
of being Irish Catholics-upon them would
devolve the duty of taking principal part
in these celebrations of the siege. For the
Ill, against James II. and France: 1t was
William, therefore, not James, who could
show {" the Popes commission" Only for
the Pope's influence with the Emperor in
Germany, it appears certain that William
would not have yentured across to Eng
land. The Pope smoothed away the OBJ
stacles, and helped him over. And the
Court of Rome rejoiced as much over the
result of the battle of the Boyne as any
later Williamite. This is history, but it is
also of historical record that Irish Catholics
have not been always in accord with the
political arrangements of the Court of
Rome. In neither way, therefore, can
prejudice sway us from a strict historical
Judgment of facts. Derry was not
'smaiden city" before that siege, where the
champions of the Popes pro sege, William,
held out SO sturdily. Not having been
a maiden before that time, its resist
ance then could not make it one.
The date of 1908 must be remembered as
we'll as that Of 1888. Sir George Pawlett,
Governor of Derry, in that year insulted,
by word and blow, a firm ally of the city,
young Sir Cahir O'Doherty. That gallant
young chieftain would have preferred death
rather than tamely brook such an affront.
His blood boiled to avenge himself on the
arrogant man who had go broken the laws
of hospitality and violated the conditions
of q cordial alliance. He took counsel with
hisfriends of Innishowen, and his vengeance
was swift, sudden and complete. The fort
of Culmore, on the ri YER side, below Derry,
was seized on the night of the Sd of May,
1908, and at day break in the morning he
gave the soldiery of Derry the "cold
awakening of the sword" Governor Paw
lett fell before the retributive hand of
owen, grandson of Gerald O'Doherty; his
lieutenant, Corbie, was slain by John
O'Donnell. There were but q few of the
many slain. Captain Vaughan and the
wife of the Bishop were taken prisoners-a
Captain and u Bishopess, we presume, were
of equal rank in the defence. Sir Cahir
O'Doherty was we'll avenged. Great spoil
was carried off from the Egyptians who
had insulted him, and the red flames of
Derry that flashed from the Foyle and
crmsoned the sky with the glaze of its
confagraton, proclaimed to Ireland that
Derry was u violated and vanquished
city.-IriShmGn.
. 1.-THE extreme political views of the writer of
the foregoing has blinded him to the truth of
history, in SO far as it refers to tho connection
of the Pope with the incidents narrated. There
s.no authority for the assertion that " the
Court of Rome rejoiced rs much over the re-
suit of the battle of the Boyne any later
sWilliamite."]