The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-17
PRIESTS IN IRISH POLITICS.
An Irish Home Rule Editor ON the
Catholic Clergy as Political Leaders.
NATION OFFICE, DUBLIN Dec. 2s, 1873.

| An Irish Home Rule Editor ON the
Catholic Clergy as Political Leaders.
NATION OFFICE DUBLIN, Dec. Is, 1873.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Your special Commissioner. who recently visited
Ireland to investigate and report to you upon the
home rule question, while necessarily condensing
his account OF rather pr0tracted interview with
me, has, quite unintentionaIIy. conveyed inaccu-
rately the substance of one portion OF CONVEX
sation. aude to that which dealt with the past
and present position and influence Of the Catholic
clergy in Irish politics.
His questions were very searchingly directed
and pressed as to the idea prevalent in England
and probably in America-that the Catholic clergy
exercised despOtlc power over their nocks in
political AFFAIRS, compelling them, by spiritual In
fuence to vote in blind and unreasoning submits
sion to the dictates CT the Bishop priest.
pointed out that the fact that the Catholic clergy
undoubtedly were followed with unquestioning
obedience and undoubting adherence In all our
past political struggles, and were, IN fact
our only leaders, visible or actual, haa
given rise. no doubt, to this i;ea But
l satisfied him. ! should nope, that
this was the loyalty OF discipline, the trust OF wen
proved confidence and affection and the obedience
Of free WILL and not the blind submission OF slaves
! explained by reference to the penal times
came to pass that our clergy were absolutely ne
cessitated to discharge for US these func-
tons OF political leadership, ana alluded to the
many public declarations ON their part that once
the Irish voter was free las he Is made now by
the BALLOT they would, as far as regarded such
exclusive leadership, voluntarily quit the scene.
Your Commissioner asked what force there was
in the allegation or apprehension that II we had
home rule the Catholic clergy would dominate our
Parliament. was able to point to the fact--made
plain In several OF our recent elections--that in
matters purely political the Irish electors were
now able to act for themselves and that even the
most Catholic constituencies in Ireland exercised
independently their own Judgment IN these mat
tiers, In one or two instances st0utly and reso-
lutey c0ntesting elections with their old-time
leaders and altme friends the clergy.
In reply to questions as TO the action OF
the Catholic clergy in recent elections,
referred to Kerry, whore they almost unanimously
supported the national candidate, though q Prot
estant; to LongtOrd, where they unanimously
and most bitterly opposed Mr.. Martin; and Meath,
where, though not on the national side for that
time. they acted fairly anu honorably.
Finally. expressed my conviction that, although
the influence Of the Catholic clergy in Ireland is
sure to be always powerful and certain, on the
whole, to be In thorough accord with
the popular feeling, yet the day is gone
when they could exercise or would wish
to exercise the sort OF leadership which peculiar
circumstances in bygone times had forced upon
them. The people are now educated as voters.
they are now free. They will use that education
and freedom manfully, intelligently and independ-
emily. But they will always gratefully remember
the leaders, but for whose heroism and fidelity
they would not now possess either school or fran
chise.
ought to apologize for this trespass on your
space with matter somewhat personal. Let
me, however, ada word to thank you
on behalf OF my countrymen for the tribute
you have paid to the Importance Of their
national movement by specially commissioning q
gentleman who hlls high place in British litera-
ture to prosecute an impartial and independent
investigation into the history character and pros
poets OF the Irish national question. l remain,
sir, yours faithfully,
ALEXANDER M. SULLIVAN.
p. 81 would ask any journals which may have
quoted the communications OF your commissioner
to which refer to do me the favor OF quoting this
note also.