The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-26
IRELAND AND THE POPE,

rs understood by the present agitation Tor
the legislative independence of that coun.
try, has received in some years, is the re
cent letter of the Pope, forbidding the Irish
clergy to take any part in the political az.
ltation toward forwarding the objects OF
the new Irish League either by speeches
or raising money in its behalf.
| The letter, as was 10 be expected, has
raised decided commotion among tue
friends of the Irish cause" Mr.. ParnelI
himself has thus far remained silent, but
most of the leaders of the new league move.
ment have been unreserved IN their cen
sure of the Pope. Mr. O'Donnell thinks
him "monstrously ignorant" OF IRISH AT
fairs Mr.. Davitt considers HIM unjust;
Mr. Healy refers to the devotion OF the
Irish people hitherto to the Holy See and
taxes him with "ingratitude;' Mr.. Blggar
objects to papal interference in Irish at
fairs and says 1--WE are willing 10 accept
our religion from Rome but not our poll
tlcs;n Mr.. Sexton declares that the move.
ment for Irish independence must go on
with or without the aid Of the Vatican :;
Mr.. Finerty, of the Chicago Irish Citizen,
denounces the papal letter as an "unholy
intervention in Irish politics" and the
mandate to the Irish bishops and clergy in
regard TO the Parnell fund as "intolcrably
impertinent;" and DR.. Walsh predicts that
the effect Of the letter will be to "hasten
the dream of Thomas Davis-the union of
the Orange and the Green against the com
mon enemy of Ireland"
"These be parlous words" but how much
will they avail to turn aside this fulmlna
ton from Rome. Can Mr.. Parnell afford
to fight the Vatican? II is fairly prcsum.
able at least that the body of the Irish Cath
Ole clergy will obey the papal mandate,
and can Mr. Parnell hope to sweep the Irish
constituencies with such detection? VIII
casting mud at the Pope by his followers
be likely to advance his causc' Mr.. Par
nell has read history to little purpose if he
has not learned the disasters OF al Euro.
pean communities, especially Catholic,
that have warred with the Vatican. Even
Bismarck, strong rs he is and backed by n
more than half protestant constituency
what has he gained by his Hulttrkampf?
an the thought OF the nations which rise
and fall, Of the men who come and go, and
and e the PapaCy which stands firm
through the ages, immovable il the midst
| ofGChange," MIR Parnel will pause on
such brink.
What has prompted the Pope to this dis.
hear,ening step? This IRISH agitation has
been going on for several years and though
attended with numerous acts of violence
and Outrage" has been seconded almost
bodily by the Irish Catholic priesthood,
yet the Pope renamed rigidIy silc mt
Even after the murder of Lord Cavendish
and Mr.. Burke the Papal lips remained
sealed, though earnestly appealed to for IN
expression by the body OF English Catho
lies, seconded by at least one eminent Irish
prelate, Cardinal McCabe. Doubtless the
prompt expression OF dlsapproval of and
horror at the Phoenix Park murder on the
part of Parnell, Davltt and many other
Irish leaders for tho time quoted the Vatl.
can. When, however, IN addition TO for.
mcr violence, the late extensive dynamite
projects were uncovered, and neither from
the Irish representation in parliament,
nor from the leaders elsewhere, nor from
the great Philadelphia convention, nor in
Mr.. Parnel's free communication with that
body, was there a lisp or syllable against
such methods, then 1t seems His Holiness
could contain himself no longer, and chat
crimes and murders may no longer go nm
censured," these are the papal words he
issues this elimination against further aid
in behalf of the league projects on the part
of the Catholic clergy in ireland; tor it Is
notable that the papal letter is dated less
than a week after the adjournment of the
Philadelphia convention.
But must lrlsh agitation cease and the
cause" of irish independence be aban.
dohed because of tins untoward interycn-
ton from Romey That need not follow.
AT most the papal mandate binds only the
clergy. Besides other methods of contn-
Jung the agitation may be devised tina.
shall not encounter pontifical opposition.
In any and every event hereditary hate is
stronger than religion" and England will
find, though she may have won the Vati
can to her side IN her contention with Ire.
land, hereditary hate" of England is in.
grain in Irish nature and part of Its in.
stinct, and never can be eradicated except
by full and free redress of Irish wrongs
The heavy frost on Monday night exten.
ded over the entire region between the Al.
leghanlCs and the Rocky Mountains, south.
ward as far az the cotton line. Some cot