The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-02-04
Home Rule.

question OF the DAY In 1roieOu ID tue ono
indicated by the above words. CentraliEa-
ton is meeting with growing opposition
in the British Empire, and the principle OF
confederacy is gaining ground. 1t may be
that the example set by this country in its
peculiar organization has given occasion to
this development of sentiment in the old
world. Even in Scotland, the principle of
local legislation for local purposes is
preached, and will no doubt take hold
upon public sentiment.
In Ireland, the progress already made by
| the movement is most gratifying to its
friends. But three elections have been
held since the new agitation on that sub
ject has been fairly started, and the three
seats have been filed by "Home Rule"
men-Butt, Martin and Smyt the. Elections
are now pending in Galway and Kerry,
with the most sanguine anticipations of
success for the candidates of the same
party-Nolan and Blennerhassett En- Cork,
Dublin and Kilkenny the newly elected
mayors are openly pledged to the same
policy.
A Home Parliament las long been the
uIehiu VI Luduy pdtAAOIS Aiiou"Cu, UuC
religious dissension has hitherto acted
powerfully in preventing fusion of the
people on that point. Now, however, it
appears that the Protestant population is
moving earnestly in the same direction as
the Catholics, and some of the gentlemen
above referred to as champions of "Home
Rure are strong Professionals. This, then,
&<> hn
national movement, unity of popular,
sentiment, which is absolutely indispensable
to success in such an undertaking.
The fact is, that the idea goes forth into
the world with the prestige of victory, for
it is based on common sense. It is prepos-
ferrous to suppose that the 553 British men,
bers of Parliament should know as much
about Irish affairs as tho los Irish men,
bcrs, yet the overwhelming force of their
majority neutralizes every effort of the
Irish representatives in favor Of special
legislation for their country. Some of the
general statutes intended to effect much
needed reforms, have been limited in Their
action to England and Scotland, Ireland
being specially excluded-the Municipal
Reform Act, for instance-and it is said
that not solitary law has been passed in
the last seventy years really beneficial to
Ireland and especially devoted to her affairs
except the one disesta blishing the Protest
ant Church.
The Irish movement is based or the
same principle which in this country
proclaims State rights and establishes
State Legislatures. There is no doubt,
according to the American theory, that
for certain purposes of strength and
convenience, of foreign responsibility and
and internal commerce, a combination of
weak powers in one grand confederacy or
union is extremely desirable, while for pur-
poses of domestic control it is equally de-
sirable that each of those powers retain its
independence. There is no reason why we
of this State, for instance, should be con-
trolled by a majority in Massachusetts, in
our ideas of the laws Of succession, of the
various rights of property, of improvements
in our rivers, lands and cities. On the
contrary, it is much better that each COM
munity should strike out plan for itself
in all such matters, each improving on the
experience of another, and all gradually
perfecting the general political system by
dint of experiment.
AT least this is the American idea, and
whether really advantageous or not, it is SO
fattering to mems propensity to follow
their own plaus that they may be counted
on as favoring it, even though they should
not do as we'll under it as with the old
fashioned Capitalization. "E Pluribus
Cnuns !" is taking idea, and is probably
going to become fashionable on other con-
tineuts than ours. Austria is adopting it.
France will probably settle down on some
thing of the sort, and SO far as Ireland is
concerned, we believe it to be the only
way in which that country can be bound to
the empire Of which it now forms part.
Let her control her own domestic affairs,
and have a reasonable voice in imperial
affairs. She will then feel secure from op-
preston at home, and will find an element
of security in her foreign relations which
may reconcile her to a union now SO dis