The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-06-06
The True Meaning o. the Pope's
Letter.

NEW YORK, June 5.-A letter oil
Cardinal Ssmeonl's, the project Of
Propaganda, to each of the Irish
bishops, 4 translation which recently
appeared in the London Times, caus.
ing the Irish people to believe the
Pope had assumed a position on the
question of Irish liberty favorable te
the British govern meDt, and which
raised clamor for boycotting the
Pope, has recently been translated
by James A. McMaster, of Freeman's
Journal. His translation changes
materially the phraseology and pur-
port of that letter. The difference is
caused, it is claimed, by translating
it according to scholastic Latin
which was used in the Times version
and by translating it according to
ecclesiastical latin, which is followed
b yMcMaster. The main point of
difference is that where the London
Times makes it appear an anti Irish
document that Of McMaster's shows
how the cardinal holds that right of
such people to struggle for liberty is
an imprescriptible one. The princi-
pal points in difference are as fol-
lows, the rules referred to being
those prescribed by the Pope in his
letter to the Cardinal and Archbish-
op of Dublin, and embraced in the
instruction of the sacred congrega-
ton that was accepted by the Irish
Bishops in their late meeting at Dub
lin, says the Freeman Journal: For
indeed in these rules it was set forth
that it is IN imprescriptible right
Ods est for the Irish people 10 seek
relief from their distressed condition,
and an imprescriptibIe right
for them to strike for
their independence Yet forever
that divine prescript must be guard
ed; thai it behooves them to "seek
first the kingdom of God and His
JUSTICE" and that it is vile to main
tain a cause however just, by wicked
means. Assuredly it is not forbid
den to gather meney for relieving
the situation of the Irish people; but
from the tenor OF the aforecited apos-
tolic commands, such collections are
entirely to be blamed as are fragrant
ly aimed at sxasperating popular pas.
slons, so that men may readily avail
of it to abuse these COM
mands in starting lawIess and dis
orderly plots. But most especially
must we charge you to abstain from
these things when it appears evident
nat hatreds are thus being engen-
dsred and clamsrs against distin-
gulshed men are set on foot and no
condemnation uttered in any way of
crimes and assassinations with
the infamous men have de-
filed themselves and when it is un-
'stentatiously claimed that the
measure of the true love of coun-
,ry can be grudged bv
money contributed or refused. 40 that
men may seem to be urged by a kind
u zeal and force. From these con-
alterations thought to be patent to
Lordship that the collection of
money called the Parnell testimonial
und cannot be approved by this
acred congregation, nor, hence. can
lin any manner be commended or
promoted by ecclesiastics, ana least
+ all by bishops.
The London Times says: It ia trua
nat, according to these instructions.
: is lawful for the Irish to seek re.
ress Tor their grievances and strive
'r their rights, but always at the
me time observing the divine may
n to seek first the kingdom of God
His justice, aud remembering
$50 that it is wicked to further anT
fuse, DO matter how just, by illegal
leans; 1t is certainly not forbidden
collect for the relief of the dis
essed In ireland, but at the same
the ~afore-cited apostolic man
absolutely condemns such COL
ctloh az n raised to inflame popn-
passion, and to be used rs a mean,
+ reading men into rebellion apainst
e laws. Above all things their