The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-13
The Irish Cause il Rome.

0G1O 1lO<bA ~ 0xSsA ~ ~ ~
Erin. Ed. Standard.
The Irish Cause in Rome.
What, Americans will ask, says Rev
DR.. Bernard O'Reilly, are the senti.
ments entertained in high quarters il
Rome on the Irish question: OF what
| is thought by the King and his minis
ters, and what is felt and said by the
mont Catholic or political press of Italy.
I need not say much. The kingdom q
Italy is in a great measure the work ot
England, and / need not tell Americans
how anxious the Italian government is
to secure the English alliance and CO.
operation in obtaining and securing
| footholds wherever she can along the
shores Of the Adriatic, the Mediterran-
can and the Red Sea. But Italy 'sgreat
| friend has ever been, and is still, Mr.,
Gladstone. The Italian press felt very
sore, during the late English elections.
at what some Journals termed Parnell's Is
betrayal of his benefact tors The Liber-
! al party. But if Mr.. Gladstone now
| joins hands with the Irish leader, and
obtains for Ireland the realization Of
her just constitute rights, Italian
public opinion will turn around in fav-
or of the National cause. But what
say they in the Vatican? There exists
in the court circles Of the Vatican the
same need for removing prejudice, and
|counteracting astrong and influential
propagandism of anti Irish opinion that
exists in England itself. But rs to the
Holy Father, no fear OF doubt must be
for a moment entertained as to his en-
ightened Judgment on the national
movement and on the men who direct
it. He is one who thinks for himself,
and is not easily swayed by those who
approach him. AS to Irish matters,
let all fears of such intrigues as the
one-sided negotiations Of Sir George
ErringIon be set aside forever. This
busybody never once had the ear of Leo.
XIII. And never again, so long as he
sits in the chair OF Peter, Wilt be pos
sible to approach him on any errand
hostile to Irish nationality. People
here reproach the Pope with being too
laborious and scrupulous to excess in
doing work which his predecessors left
to subordinates. If this be a
fault, it is a fault in the right
direction. / can assure Ameri-
cans that Leo. XIII. is thoroughly
and minutely acquainted with the poll
tieal and religious interests of both Ire
land and Aaaerica. While nuncio in
Brussels, from ssssso t. 1s4o, ne INFORMED
himself scientiously on the working
Of the constitutional governments and
responsible ministries. There, too, the
great questions Of state and denomina-
tional education were then passionately
discussed. 1t is known with what su-
.preme tact Joachim Pecci, young as he
then was, conducted the business of his
difficult mission. In April, 1s46, he
spent a month in England, studying
political parties and religious tenden-
cies, and acquiring information on the
Irish question. On all these points his
knowledge has since been growing. No
man has a higher opinion Of the heroic
struggle which the Irish race at home
maintained, enduring everything, sac
rifcing everything, rather than abjure
their attachment to the Holy See and
their baptismal faith. No man more
delights TO listen to what is told him Of
the atmosphere of purity and piety
which fill even the cabin OF the poorest
Irish mountaineer. The progress Of
the Irishin education and their splen-
did success in the public competitive
examinations fill with joy the soul Of a
man who has been all his lifetime, and
is still, most laborious student, as he
is spendid scholar. Then we have an
evidence Of his deep interest in educa-
tional matters in America, in the keen
delight expressed by him at the move
ment inaugurated by the council OF
Baltimore to establishment in the
United States great Catholic univer-
sity. TO all who at this m omont are
helping on in the United States the
Irish national movement can say: If
it be q comfort to you to know that
Leo XIII. wishes the object you have
in view all success, then be assured that
his sympathy is with you. He is con-
yinced that justice to Ireland means
peace. unity and strength to the Brit
ish empire. And he is one who has
taken Ia the present and the future of
nations too carefully not to feel that
true political and religious liberty is
nowhere understood as it is by the two
great empires composing the English
speaking worlds, the United States and
Great Britain. In the progress in
Chris ristian civilization consists the hope
OF the coming era Let England only
take away from her legislation and her
government, the practical cOntradic-
tion involved in her injustice to Ire
land, let her overcome her blind preju-
dice Of raLe and learn to esteem those
she has oppressed, reyiied, hated, and
she will increase her strength, proiong
her rule and extend her influence for
good.
a correspondent Of the BostUu Tram
script objects TO the use OF the word
..elegantn when beautiful is meant.
It Is highly Urobable that he also dis
likes to hear the word s'bully'' for Tex
lcelIent =