The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-02-02
H1scELLAHEous IRISH NEWS.
THE OUTLOOK,

/ M1scELLAHEous IRISH NEWS.
| TIE OUTLOOK.
| ".How is old ireland, and how does abe
STAND !" The question can never be with
out interest for those for whom We write ;
put 1t suggests itself with peculiar force at
the present period, when, standing on the
threshold of the opening year, we dismiss
into the realms of history the changes and
occurrences of another completed cycle.
What have We gained what have we lost,
10y the year that has passed away; what
are our prospects,, what may we hope for,
| IN the lifetime of it's successor Z Does
the cause, indeed, go marching Cd, or have
we halted on the path of national pragress
Are we stronger, holder, wiser than We
were when ~ dawped upon us, or have
we learned nothing. done nothing. gained
nothing; through the months that spanned
its term! Such are the considerations which
the season suggests to the most unrefect-
ing, and which, refuse to be set aside un-
answered.
But answered they can easily be. What
ever else men may differ about, on this
there can be no uncertainty-thatt the past
year has been marked by the evidences of
great political activity and great popular
spirit in Ireland. 1t 10 no dull or uneYent-
full twelvemonth that has closed on us lite
records are filed with inscriptions which
freshmen may read with triumph and with
pride. We hare fought our way upwards
| and on wards we hare wruug from adverse
circumstances the guarantees Of QUE final
success. Amongst the lovsrs Of the Irish
cause who survey the events Of the past
! year there can DO no room for despondency
or hesitation. The earnest Of q glorious lu-
| ture is contained amidst its products and
Ireland stands o-day, in hope, in spirit, in
prospects, higher, prouder and more secure
than ever since the Union cast its balefal
shadow across her path.
Surely we need not shrink from testing
! tue 1esults of that twelvemonth which
| opened with tho great popular victory in
Kerry and closed with the election of Mr..
Ronayne in Cork. 1t is true that the coun-
| try had begun to arouse itself to action
before the Home Rule Banner was unfnri-
ed amongst the lakes and mountains of
| Celtic Kerry but it is still indubitabie
that the impetus the cause there receiv-
ed has contributed perhaps more power
fully than any other event that could be-
named towards placing it in it's present posi-
ton Of confidence and strength. Gallant
Galway too, lent willing hand, and in
the ignominious rout of the landlords
nominee, gave signal aud conciusive proof
of the extent to which the principles of
patriotism and Independence possess the
heart Of the Irish masaes. The Galway
Judgment" was powerless to injure that
splendid manifestation of public spirit
! whio IL "uppiSu tuO pcUplc WITH uOW
illustration Of the poisonous hostility to
their interests which aninates the British
Government and it's allies. IT did more it
afforded the Irish people a magnificent
opportunity of tesufyiDg their abbor-
ence Of Castle politics and Castle
Judges through means of the Galway
Vindication Fund end.h6w generously,
was availed of there is no need for as
to tell. This much, at least, may be said,
| that the blow aimed at the cause of the
people has recoiled on the aggreesor; and
though the true representative of the
| Galway electors has been excluded from
! his place, the moral effect of the victory
! achieved in his name remains undimin-
ished and .updistuFbed. TheItwo other
elections which fell within the gear are at
! least free from cause Cf encouragement.
! Mallow, if it did not do all it might have
done, at least stipulated for the adoption
of the principles of Home Rule on the part
of its representative, and has so far co -oper-
ated in the national labor; and if Derry fell
! before the enemy the failure was due to
causes SO peculiar and abnormal as to rem
der the case entirely exceptional. Nor
! should We, while noting as a heavy entry
on the other side of the ledger tho death
of the tried and true patriot, John Francis
Mcguire, forget to mention the important
| addition made TO the constitutions al
strength Of the masses by the introduction
of the Ballot, change which may be said
| TO toll coercion's death kneli, and complete
the emancipation of the Irish electOr.
But, stirring as are the events Of the
past year, il is easy to see that tho rev
year will bc to the full as serious and
eventual. Let there be no doubt about it,
We have entered on q year of action. A
year which will do much towards tho til
uDph ofths IIish cause, and which IL We aEs
only true to ourselves, cannot fail TO condHel
us to the poftaIs of national freedom We
are proud and happy to believe that ouI
countrymen are fully alive to the impor
tancc of the crisis that is come upon them
and we have perfect confidence ia thsi