The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-04

THEM IN THEIR FAITH-GENER0US HELP
FROM MEN OF EVERY FAITH.
---
and terrible In Ireland and unknown In scotland,
where the teuufe Of land Il The same the soil
poorer. snd the climate unspeskaoly worseP
Answers To this conuudrum Respectfully solicited.
ObSerrer.
The above question is legitimate and
worthy of an answer. Some lind a solution
for the social and economic differences OF
Scotland and ireland in the respective reli-
oious faiths Of the two countries. j can al
most see the sQuint OF such an answer be-
tween the lines OF the proposed conundrum.
II is readily admitted that religion is a
potent factor in the formation OF national
as Of individual life. Not believing that
this is the solution, | am not called to
discuss the characteristics and enduring
traits which are impressed upon people by
their religious beliefs. History fairly writ
fen and honestly read reveals the true
causes for such contrast. The difference
in the treatment OF Scotland and Ireland by
the English Government sufficiently &C
counts for their conditions apart from the
Catholicism OF the one and the Protestant
| ism Of the other. The following causes
have been Justly assigned as affecting Scot
/ land more iavorably, while an opposite
treatment TO Ireland has been the fruitful
source Of her world known, innumerable
woes:
/. The establishment Of the Kirk OF Scot
land. 1t was the Kirk which the people
loved. ! do not believe in Church establish
mems. either Catholic or Protestant. But
| il an establishment exists, it somewhat miti-
gates its meanness that the people that pay
| the tilhes worship at its atars and believe
| its creed. Scotland found her Kirk in which
she gloried recognized and secured by law.
How different might have been ScotIand's
condition if England'S Church had been
thrust OH her people by force OF law ana
terrible penal code.
.. The parochIal-schoo system in har-
mOny with the religious convictions OF the
people and under their own control.
2. The amcIiOratiOn Of the feudal system.
so that there were the landowners and their
tenants, stin there was something Of the
bond Of fealiy left. They were one in faith,
/ in traditiOns-nO weak bonds.
4. Free trade. Whatever the country
could produce or the skill OF her artisans
| manufacture was not crushed and burdened
by repreSslye legislation.
In marked contrast with these favoring
conditions is the atrOcious legislation and
treatment OF Ireland. Bitter fruits are the
growth OF germs which were scattered CEN
=. Tn5 policy OF The Elizabethan age was
TO subiugate Ireland, confiscate her lands,
and so ."ro0t out the Irish" This evange-
llZing scheme was as remorselessy carried
out as that OF Alva in the Netherlands. A
large mart OF the landed interest passed into
the hands OF English Adventures, or was
conferred rs a reward Of merit for the de-
.truction OF the natives. What source Of
bitterness TO start with, that, like an old
wound, bleedS afresb at every new grievance
or distress. This original source was az
orayated by others only less cruel because
thcy might now be looked for i'll the wake
OF the first great wrong.
.. The Church established by law was
not the Church oi the Irish peOple-pro0a-
blv not OF one seventh part OF them. Ii was
the Church Of England, their OppresSor and
= deSpoier. 1t was the Church OF the en-
, ricbed minority; but the poor Catholic paid
for il while rejecting its creed, deSpising its
sacraments, and ignoring its clergy. The
aim OF the establishment was TO destroy the
faith OF the country, while lis support was
e Wrung from a crushed and bun dened
peasantry.
3. England sought to meet the wants oil
the people for knowledge by making IL
felony eltnPl 10 ltdCl vi NhANi N"'""
lie control. She organized what were called
charter schools-nOt the present system OF
national education. These EDglish-sup'
ported schools offered the boon OF an edu'
cation upon condition that the Catholic pa
rent would abandon his child and permit 1t
TO be an alien to his faith. TO the credit OF
r human nature such sop was rejected
+ I rejoice that the Catholic refused TO pawn
h;s ch,ld and his own soul for such insult
ing aid.
4. Encland's commercial legislation wa'
of kindred character. Irish cattle could no.
he eXDorted. Forbidden the colonial trade
= her manufactured wool was prohibited tD'
markets of the Continent, and even OF Eng
land. thus England broke down one o.
the principal industries OF Ireland anc
struck at every manufacturing interes
which promised to interfere vita her trade
Is it auv wonder that suffering and famine
came upon an isolated and helpless people.
The Irish Parliament, during its fevereC
existence, was in the main subordinate tC
r England. The chief officers were Englisu
The Church was English. Church patron
age was dispensed in such way as woulc
S have made Simon Maui, stand aghast. j
: is needless TO speak OF the Penal code prin
cipally directed against Catholics. TheiI
1eilSlu0 III Idllu anu pi"NlNN We, - - -,
e The Catholic faith was under the ban. Tht
priest was hunted as wolf. Thank 6o'
90 that the spirit OF these infamous systems
has been broken. These wrongs OF centu
ries have been entailed upon the poor tenan
class. IT,. atrocious legislation mas dOn
more to mSHe asd riyet Cathonc ialtn upo'
the Irish than almost any other cause. Ire
lands calamities have been England
crimes.
Religious differences have been fanne'
into discord by Ireland's enemies, ana ln
stead of union for the common good, alien
l. alton has been TOO often the Bistake ant
: crime. have sometimes seen-never WIN
= out regret and Indignation the attempt I
: ascribe all the woes Of Ireland to her rell
. zion. as il her very famines were the irul
! OF her faith.
IS How dare we, with Pharasaic seli-com
:. placency, undertake TO settle question
Is which the Divine Redemer heard only I
e rebuke p" Suppose We that these Gaiilean
d were sinners above all the Galileans, DC
D, cause they suffered such thingsY"
e IL is matter OF grateful Joy that the CT
y from the pale lips OF starving peop'
= touches chord in every heart, proclalmin
that we are brethren. May the blessing
the plying Father rest upon every helpe
of every faith. In the humble cabin
IN many suffering family In Ireland there al
= blessings asked upon the brave ana gene
rous people across the sea.
HENRY MCDONALD.
have not touched the grievances OF tl
: land question. IL Is TO be hoped tnat M
Parneli may discuss 1t before kicnmoh