The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-05-24

THE pope's mandate to the Irish clergy
TO abandon the cause of the people, would
cause a schism in the church If addressed
to any other class of people IN the world.
But an Irishman's religion is part OF
himself and the pope's order Will have
more effect than all the co ercion bills
that the parliament could pass. 1t may
seem to some that the Irishman's deyo-
ton to his church deserves some little
consideration at the Vatican, and that as
between a hereto government, such as
England, and pronounced and consistent
Catholics, such as the Irish people, the
sympathy of the pope would be with his
own people who in poverty and distress
have never grown weak in their allegI-
ance TO st. Peter successor. The Irish
people have been unquestioning in their
acceptance of papal DEGREES, have been
answering in their devotion to the cause
of their church, and have sustained its
principles with the fierce energy of mar
tyrs. The ties of kindred are scarcely
as strong among this people as the ties
which bind them to their religion. If
the popes order will not destroy agita-
ton, it will weaken it.
1t is possible be will modify his order
Git is in no sense requesD when he
learns that Parnell is not murderer,
cutthroat and rascal, but man who is
trying to better the condition of his
countrymen by legitimate means.
Parnell has done great deal for Irish
people by his work in parliament. Ap
Irish landlord can no longer eject his
tenant and give him no compensation
for the work he has done. To secure
legislation of this character favorable to
a people who have for centuries been
crushed by oppression, whose condition
has been more servile and intolerable
than that of any other class known to
civilization, may be crime and the Irish
people who accept the leadership of
such man and aid him in his move
ments, may have earned papal eensure.
Bat they would be the veriest poltroons
if they did not give their support to a
man who has devoted his life to their
service, reduced himself to poverty in
their interest, and became lonely ten
ant of dungeon, because of his fidelity
to their cause Meekness and non
resistance are no doubt exalted christian
virtues, but very poor substitutes for
political weapons in securing a redress
of wrongs If the Irish people would
let Parnell feel in his conflict with hered-
itary prejudice ard hate, that he stood
alone, that he was not the representative
of intelligent public opinion, that he
spoke without warrant for a people too
craven to assert themselves, then are they
undeserving of such leadership.
His Holiness assumes that which the
British government is straining every
nerve to prove or to give the color of prob
ability that ParneIl counsels murder.
There has not been an act done, nor a
word spoken by, the Irish leader that
does not indicate peaceful agitation as
means toward securing those rights
which the Irish people demand and
which true manhood require. The
Phoenix Park trials have been conducted
not so much with view to punish the
guilty ones as to secure testimony that
would break down the Irish parliament
airy party, and ruin ParneIl His lead
ership has given success to the Irish
movement and has forced concessions
from the British government, too illiber.
81 to yield anything to sense of justice.
Break Parnell and you destroy hope for
ireland. But those people who have
inherited bondage as birthright, who
have never experienced the pleasures of
political or religious liberty, must aban-
don their leader when the beacon lights
of hope are lighted; they must surrender
what they have won and wait for justice
which comes not when not sought.