The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-22
Arohsishop Manning and tho london Iri.hmsn.n

,. ~ rs no wonder that Irishmen are enthusi-
a as.I ABOUT Archbishop Manning. He is more
bis shan the Hihernians themselves in
nis symp stniee with ireland. man of social
position, of old family, of the highest ednos.
ton and the most refined INSTINCTS he wonld
leave leave catholic noblemen mt any time to 90
OF London. He firmly believes that tho saliva
ton of England is yet to be accommodated
through the influence Of that religious devotion
which is at the bottom of the Irish nature. He
loves his own country dearly, but turns away
from her present condition of industrial pros
perity to the days before the Reformation,
England there has been no Saint since the Re.
formation" he said the other day in sad, sweet
tones, to one of wholly different opinions, who
reverence. No views that have ever heard
put into living words enbody to the same ex-
tent the foil claims of characterization. 1t is
quite wonderful to sit and listen. Ono cannot
but be impressed by the sweetness, the
thoughtfuiness, the dignity, had almost said
the sanctity of the man who thus pours forth,
with manner full Of the moot tranquil convic.
tions, opinions which proclaim all modern pFo-
gress failure, and glorify the Roman. priest OF
the Irish peasant, as the true herald and re-
pository of light, liberty and regeneration to q
A more singular, striking, marvellous figure
does not stand out, think, in English society.
Everything that ordinary Englishmen or
suspicious in the progress Of oviii.asion, Dr..
Manning calmly looks upon us lamentable and
evil-omened. What they call progress is to his
mi mind decay. What they call individual
DR.. Manning the time when Saints walked the
earth of England is more of reality than the
day before yesterday is to most of us. Where
the ordinary eye sees only poor, ignorant
Irish peasant, DR.. Manning disoerns q heaven
commissioned bearer of light and truth,
destined by the power of his unquestioning
faith to redeem, perhaps, in the end, even Eng
lish philosophers and statesmen.
Ofcourse if DR.. Manning were an ordinary
devotee, there would be nothing remarkable in
all this. But he is man of the widest culture,
of high intellectual gifts, of keen and pene-
trating Judgment in all ordinary affairs,
markable for his close and logical argument,
quiet kind of humor which seems especially
! calculated to dissolve sophistry by its action.
He was drawn towards Gladstone by the hope
and belief that through Gladstone something
would be done for that Ireland which to this
Oxford scholar is the Island of Saints" The
Irish or English, consult Archbishop Manning
consta utly upon all questions connected with
education or religion. He is a devoted up
holder of the doctrine of total abstinence from
Intoxicating drinks. He is the medium of
communication between Rome and England
the living link of connection between the Eng
lishC Catholic peer and the Irish Catholic brick
layer. He is the spirit, the soul, the ideal of
| medieval faith embodied in the form of the
living English scholar and gentleman. Think
such q man is q living phenomenon in our age.
1t is as if one of the medieval Saints from the
stained windows of church should suddenly
become infused with life and take q part in all
| stand the long-abiding power of the Catholic
Church when 1 remem Der that have heard
and seen and talked with Henry Edward Man
ming. JUSTIN MCCARTHY.