The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1881-11-07
From the N Y. Herald.
The Catholic Church and the Irish
Question

The declaration Of Archbishop Nc.
Cabe, which we printed the other day,
denouncing the Parnell "no rent" mani
festo as communism In It's worst form,
has been followed by another from the
Archbishop Of Tuam, the venerable DR..
McHale. The text of the Archbishop of
Tuam's RECOMMENDATION does not come to
us, but all who are familiar with the
vigorous and positive style of this emf
nent and venerable ecclesiastic will I'M
derstand that when he speaks it is with
no uncertain tongue. To his opinions
must be added the recent declaration of
Archbishop Croke, in which that pre-.
late advised the people OF Ireland to
pause in their agitation and give the
Land bill fair trial. What gave ss-
pecial value to the declaration of Arch
bishop Croke was the fact that he had
been an earnest and outspoken supper.
ter of the Parnell Land League move
ment. Archbishop Croke so long az the
Land League agitation acted as lever
upon the government In favor OF a re /.
form in the Land laws, viewed it as
constitutional method of expressing
public opinion. The moment that Par
Lament conceded land measure as
benehcent and sweeping in its reform as
That oil MIR. GladstoEe's Archbishop
Croke saw that further support of the
Land League movement would be the
support OF barren and irritating agita-
| ton.
1t would be folly to underestimate the
Importance OF the declarations of these
eminent prelates. They speak the voice
OF the Church whose authority is para.
mount in Ireland. Nor can they be said
to rest under the suspicion OF undue
subserviency TO the landlord or British
rule. The Irish priesthood and the
hierarchy of the Irish Church have ever
been foremost in defending and protect.
ing the people, standing by their rights
against all antagonisms. 1t is natural
that they should be so. The very nature
of the relation between priest and bis
hop on the one hand and the follower.
Of the Church on the other-especially
in an agricultural communiiy-ist that Of
close aud afiecti0nate sympathy. These
priests are lrishmen. They have studied
deeply the religious and political chap
tiers of Irish history. They are more
competent TO understand the wants OIL
the people and to enter into their wishes
than Protestant leader like Parnell. q
young man of crude experience with az
endless capacity for laundering, without
that patient, calm repoSe which charac-
terizes men who are born TO be leader.
OF men. While these opinions are there
fore to be considered as the expression
ofvenerable and eminent, Irishmen, loyInI
their country and laboriDg for her wei
fare, they must also be considered as tn,
! opinions Of the head of the Irish Church
There would not be this consensus o
judgment against Protestant Parnell |
his agitation were unpleasant to thu
Holy See. This is the first time that the
Holy See has directly interfered In til,
Irish Land League. When we consider
the conservative principle which govern
the Papacy we can understand the i'm
! portance Of the question which compel
it to throw the vast weight of Its spiri
tual authority against Parnell and hi
agitation,