The New York herald., 1874-11-19
RELIGIOUS WARS IN THE PAST.
A Historical Retrospect.

Historical Retrospect.
Ever since the Reformation the annals OF Eng
land have been crowded with reports OF religious
excltements growing out OF the real or iancied
designs OF the Pope TO bring back that country to
the fold OF the Catholic Church. The mass OF the
people have been taught to believe that the
boosted free institutions Of the kingdom would De
subverted IN the event OF such calamity occur
ring. and that the privilege OF liberty OF con-
science which they now ENJOY would soon cease to
exist. The Catholic body in Great Britain is com.
parativey small, and includes among It's members
many OF the most distinguished and aristocratic
OF the inhabitants. No charge has been made
against their loyalty to the Crown. and rhere Is
no pretence that they are not law.abiding
and estimable class. They, however, are remark
able Tor their devotion to the Holy See and Tor
zeal In the cause OF Christianity. This would ap-
pear to have recently, as IL has on former occa-
sions, given offence to some OF their Protestant
coultrymen. The Catholics, 1t cannot be denied,
have suffered severely under English penal legis.
lation, and some relics OF discriminating laws
against them still remain on the statute books.
Tneir efforts to have these ena,tments repealed
have been characterized by moderation and
spirit OF patience that certainly entite them to
the greatest respect. There are some persons,
however who are unwilling to give them any
credit lor this conduct Such men as Messrs.
Wnaey ana Newdegate throw aside all ideas
OF charity and courtesy wnen considering
the rights OF their Catholic fellow subjects; but 1t
was not expected that Mr.. Gladstone would come
forward to stir up religious strife and seek to en-
bron the country IN dangerous and uncalled-for
doctrinal war, which, he claims, involves the
allegiance OF ABOUT one-iourth the population OF
the United Kingdom. 1t Will be seen In what fol-
lows that even IN recent times the puoic feeling
hnns. ~ oIu
of Roman Ca hoics. and that the originat0rs OF
the exctements have either lived to acknowledge
their errors or died under melancholy and dis
tressng circumstances Lord John Russell, when
in power twenty-four years ago. under
singular circumstances to be stated hereafter,
created general reform all over Great Britain
and Ireland, and procured the enactment OF law
which was intended to extingulsh the hierarchy
which Plus TX. had just created. During Mr.. Glad
stones ADMINISTRATION this law was repealed thus
concedlng that the dangers apprehended In 1850
had no foundation. The alarm was as great and
widespread then as now, and was created to as
large an extent by Lord John the present emo
tion has been by The ex-Premler. 1t Will also be
observed that those who feared the evil effects OF
the act OF emancipation in 1922 after It's pas.
sage acknowledged its benefcent and just results.
LORD GEORGE GORDON's RIOTS.
The oppressive laws that existed against per-
sons protesting the Catholic faith in Great Britain
and Ireland ever since the time OF Elizabeth were
partially modified in ITS and subsequent years
before the close OF the eighteenth century. Cath
ollcs were allowed to enter the army, permission
was granted 10 the followers Of that creed TO be
educated by their own Instructors and there was
no longer an inducement to perse cute them under
the authority Oh the penal statutes that exceeded
IN severity anything known IN Europe az The time.
An act introduced BY Sir George Savle was
passed granting some privileges to the Roman
Catholics which guve great offence to portion OF
the population. Ia l77o proposition to procure
oi seoinss Roman Catholics, similar 70
ment In which Lord george Gordon took prom
inent part and became the leader OF the malcOn-
tents. Gordon was the third son OF the Duke OF
Gordon; ne had served IN the navy and entered
Parliament al The age OF twenty-!our. He was a
Determined POLITICAL agitator and man or an
rights at ali to Roman Catholics took the form Of
mana. fG "a Y IN .so - he presented ps;s pe;tion
but, 6ndinI the government Indifferent TO the ap.
piicAtlon, ne convened a meeting Oi
THE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION,
which he mad organized in London, OF which he
had been elected president. On the day appointed
neds and accompanied him TO the houses Of Par
lament, which they completely surrounded. The
House having several times refused to take
the petition INTO Immediate consideration, Gordon
addressed the mob from the top OF the gallery
stairs. naming the members who had spoken
against the measure. and protesting that 'there
would be no help Tor the Scottish people till all
the Poplsh cnapels were destroyed" The raDDle
OF London who formed the great body OF mis-
hearers appiauded these sentiments and proceeded
to act upon them. The scenes OF terror and out
rage that % ioiowed are % graphically described De I'm IN
SardiniaD and the Bavarian legations with many
other places OF Catholic worship In the metropolis
me cy OF the mob; the house OF the Chief Justice
tLord Mansdeld) and many public buildings were
attacked and burned; the prisons were broken
open, and fires ragged in every quarter OF London.
TROOPS NOW BEGAN TO POUR INTO THE OiTY.
The riot was queied after more than 450 people
had been killed and wounded. Gordon was ar.
rested on charge Of treason, but he was acquitted
on the ground that his intentions In assembling
the people were not malicious or traitorous. In
May 1885, he was communicated by the Arch
bishop OF Canterbury for contempt In NOT appear
ing IN court as witness IN cause. Two years
later Gordon was sentenced to several years. i'm
prIsonment and to pay heavy lines for having
iDelied the admlnistlalion OF criminal justice In
to Holland; but he was arrested sent home and
committed TO Newgate. where he passed she re-
National Assembly Of France to interpose in his
behalf His last moments were embttered by the
knowledge that ne could not be buried among the
Jews, whose religion ne had embraced.
THE EMANCIPATION ACT
as maa.sd m oe m Zoo ,erawan tns nn cnn,nua1
agitation carried on by O'Connel, Dy which he
brought about complete union between the
Catholics Of Great Britain and Ireland. The de-
mands OF the people became SO earnest and press
Ing that the English Cabinet only yielded to avert
civil war. Entering the House OF Commons, duly
elected member, O'Connel refused to take the
oaths framed 70 exclude Roman Catholics, and the
excitement which the event produced was so
great that Peel and Wellington had TO succumb TO
avoid the contingency alluded TO above. From
first to last the su1erings OF the Roman Catholics
were the frutt OF political tyrrany quite as much
as OF religious rancor or fanaticism, and their re.
lease was effected by change In the political
rather than in the religious views Or feelings OF
the dominant party. The English Parliament,
which was intensely ant-Cathoic, enacted
in 1851 that Irish members should take the oath OF
supremacy. and three years later set OF acts
were passed, which placed the Roman Catholics
in a worse position than at any previous period or
their history. The whole population was disarmed
anu
THE PRIESTS BANIsHED
from the country. But what was still more in
toerable was tine interference with the private
ARRANGEMENTS or their families. All Catholics were
prohiDited from acting as guardians, not only to
Protestant but to Catholic children. At q some-
what later date 1704) 1t was enacted that n son
chose TO turn Protestant he should be entitled TO
dspossess his father and at take possession OF