The New York herald., 1873-12-02
IR Ell A N D.
The War Against the Union
With England.
The Rise of the Home
Rule Party.
THE GERM OF FEN1AN1sM.

DUBLIN, Oct 90 1879.
or the Young Ireland leaders Mr.. NOW Sir
Chares) Gavan Duny, lately Prime Minister Of the
colony of Victoria, alone escaped conviction. after
some six seven trials, for treason and sedition-
On his release he revived the Nation declared
that Ireland was neither able nor willing to fight
for freedom, declined to 60 In for mere repeal
agitation, and urged for the formation OF Parla-
mentary party to press for the disestablisnment OF
the Irish Protestant Church and to demand q
strong land la to protect the tenantry, who were
then being exterminated In thousands. This party
was to be neither wing nor tory, but to aim. BY
holding balance OF power between the two, to
force either to accept strong Irish policy. A
party OF between so and 6O members was formed,
pledged In the most soemn-some indeed, In al
most blasphemously solemn-language never 10
relax their exertons, never to give up their nde-
pendence, above all never to take ONCE until the
great securities Of religious and social liberty
achieved.
THE NEW WAR FOR IRISH LIBERTY.
This party was composed OF two sections, tho
one headed by the present Mr.. Justice Keogh and
the late-if indeed, he be the late-Mr. John
sadleir; the other by Mr.. Gavan Duny, Mr.. Lucas
(the editor Of the Tablet, then member OF Parlia-
ment Tor Meath), Sergeant afterwards JudgeD
Shea, Of the English Bar and Mr.. Moore M p. for
Mayo The Papal delegate in Ireland, Cardinal
Cullen, at the head OF all the Catholic bishops and
clergy, had endorsed this platform.
THE POPE AND THE IRISH QUESTION.
Within six weeks after the meeting OF Parliament
its stability was rudely tested Mr.. Sadler, Mr..
Keogh, and as many OF their friends as places
could be found for. took ONCE In audacious viola
ton OF their pledges. The question arose, ''What
would be the action OF the authorities Of the Catn
Ole Church as guardians OF public morality What
would Cardinal Cullen dosn Cardinal Cullen did
nothing in the nature OF public manifesto Indi-
rectly he used all his influence, which was
enormous, on behalf Of Mr.. Sadlier and Mr.. Keogh-
Those who sided with them were favored and
promoted. Those who assailed them were pun
ished and degraded The independent party were
represented at Rome as little better than Mazzin-
ians Mr.. Lucas appealed directly to the Pope,
and, by the desire Of His Holiness, wrote memo
randum on the whole case, which is one Of the
most interesting documents connected with the
modern history OF Ireland. In 1t he most distinctly
prOphesied the decay OF the moral power Of the
Irish Catholic priesthood and the growth OF Fenian
ism in its place II such political conduct was per-
mitted to appear to have the sanction Of the
authorities OF the Catholic Church. He received
no reply. He died, indeed, before any answer
could have come from the Pope his death being
accelerated In the opinion OF his friends, Dy alarm
and anguish at the prospect o public affairs in Ire
land. Mr.. Gavan Duffy went to Australia, ana at
the next election Mr.. Moore lost his seat for Mayo.
There were still few members of the Independents
party in Ireland, but as great power, having at
its back the political force Of Catholic Ireland, IL
had collapsed.
THE GERM OF FENIANIsM.
Then come the opportunity for Fenianism, and
Mr.. James Stephens and Colonel O'Mahony were
not slow to avail themselves OF It, They found the
peasantry, for the mrs: time in Irish history,
piclous Of the political morality and fidelity Of tho
Catholic bishops and clergy. The thunders Of the
Church against secret societies were accordingly
throughout considerable extent of the country
utterly unheeded. The movement was carried ON
for years In profound secrecy. In 1864 Sir Robert
Peel, then Secretary for Ireland, declared he did
not believe that Fenanism had any serious exist
ence. That was also the opinion of the law officers
OF the day. few months afterwards the police,
by the aid Of informers. acquired sudden insight
into the formidable extent OF the conspiracy. The
Earl Of Kimberley, the then Viceroy, was so seri-
ously alarmed that he took upon himself the re-
sponsibility Of virtually suspendng the constltu-
tion. He suppressed newspapers, arrested men
by the score on the merest suspicion occupied the
telegraph oice and ignored the Habeas Corpus act.
THE HISTORY OF FENI4NIsN.
OF the subsequent history Of Fenianism as much,
II not more. is known in America than In Europe.
It kept up curious kind OF will-o'the-wsp terror
throughout the British Empire for several years
but though its military preparations were far su-
perior to those Of the Young Ireland party Of 'lS
1t never stood to fair stand-up fight with Brit
ish regiment 1t had one serious and valuable re-
sult-it forced the attention Of British statesmen
to the condition Of Ireland. Irish policy became
question OF competition between Mr.. Disraeh and
Mr.. Gladstone. The latter carried the country
with him, and then he undertook and passed into
law the very measures which Mr. Duny and Mr..
Lucas had proposed as the task Of the independent
party. Mr.. Gladstone disestaDlished the Protes-
tant Church, he passed strong land law, he re-
pealed the Ecclesiastical Titles act. Ireland has,
at least gained religious liberty and social secu
rity. 1t remains to be seen whether she Is really
sincere in her demands for home rule. II so. per-
haps home rule she may have. But think have
shown that the union has hitherto borne gresr
deal OF knocking at, and whether Mr.. Butt has got
the real "open sesame" remains yet to be proved.