Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-21
The Pope and Ireland.
EXPLANATION OF THE ENCYCLTCAL LET
TER


New YORK, June 15.-The cores
pondent of the New York Herald at
Rome, has personally interviewed
Cardinal Simeoni, project of the Propo-
ganda, who by direct authority from
the Pope, says in regard to the recent
letter to the Irish bishops:
"To begin with, the letter to the
Irish bishops had no political aim or
purpose. Into political questions the
Holy Father has himself said, and the
Osservatore Romano has since repeat
ed, he cannot and does not enter. The
letter was disciplinary, and written in
the interests of morality and discipline
only. 1t could'matter nothing, or very
little, to the Holy Father whether Mr..
Parnell received a testimonial of ten
thousand or a hundred thousand or
million lire. Mr.. Parnell was per-
sonally not in the mind of the Holy
Father or the Propaganda when
the Letter was issued; but behind Mr..
Parnell and sheltered under the pres
tge OF his name are many agitators,
Irish and Am erican, whose conduct is
immoral and revolutionary, tending to
SOW dlssension between nations and to
create breach between priests and
people.
WHAT THE POPE SAYS
This very morning" continued Car
dinal Simeoni, "the holy father said to
me: "The Irish have always been led
by the priests, and it is to be hoped
that the priests and the people will al
ways be united in Ireland"
SYMPATHY FOR IRELAND.
Moreover" continued the cardinal,
"the Holy Father said to me, and ap.
peared gratiied by the fact, The rgi-
tatiod IN Ireland is surely subsiding.
The letter Of the Propaganda is being
implicitly obeyed, both by the bishops
and the people. I should willingly see
a cessation of angry discussion with all
who suffer as the Irish suffer-"
PATRIOTIC CAUSE.
The holy father warmly expressed
his best wishes for Ireland, and said to
me: L feel now and shall ever continue
to feel the deepest sympathy with the
Irish tenants, aud so long as the Irish
or any nationality take moral means,
such as the law permits, of advancing
their patriotic cause, I should never for
a moment think it necessary to inter
fere.'"
FATHERIY WARMING
The cardinal continued: "The pro.
paganda's letter was not even intended
as rebuke er reproach to the bishops.
1t was simply issued as fatherly
warning: that under cover of a test.
monial subscription they might be fos-
tering possibly murder, but certainly
unlawful agitation, and interfering with
individual liberty. Archbishop Croke
recently said: ''Give to this fund, and
by the measure of your liberality shall
your patriotism be judged" In this
way undue pressure is brought to bear
upon individuals.
PRIESTS IN POLITICS.
"Ihe letter did not forbid agitation
at public meetings nor FORBID the priests
from attending and voting at meetings
SO long as they made no violent speech
es, but used their influence to calm the
angry passions which rage at such
gatherings. They arr not forbidden
by the Propaganda, nor does the holy
father forbid them to attend meetings.
With persons and politics the holy
father has nothing to do. It was
HE duty to show the way of true moral
atty to those in danger of forsaking it.
The letter applies to all Catholics. 1t
may be studied by Americans and Irish
with equal profit.
NO FOREIGN PRESSURE.
" may add that the Holy Father
said TO me: in the matter of the let
ter Of the propaganda, it would be well
to make it clear to all Catholics that
the Holy See neither has acted or will
act under the pressure of any foreign
government whatever"