The Irish standard., 1888-01-21
FOR IRELAND'S FREEDOM.
Archbishop Lynch, Torcnto's Prelate,
Writes Forcible Letter on the
Irish Question.
INJUSTICE IS VERY DANGEROUS.
When the Parliament Left Dublin !
Carried Wit It the Strength
Of the Nation.

The following vigorous and patriotic
letter WAS sent by the venerable arch.
bishop of Toronto to the meeting re-
Gently held in that city in honor Of the
Irish envoys, Messrs. O'Connor and Es-
monde, and it's reading evoked great
enthusiasm; To Mr. O'Connor, NJ F.,
and Sir Thomas Grattan Esmonde, Irish
delegates: Gentleman, J. regret very
much that the state Of my health and
incessant occupation at this time pre-
vent me from attending your meetipg,
but you have my earnest sympathy in
your work Of mercy towards the poor
and oppressed people Of Ireland. beg
to enclose trjiie, s25 (for QUIZ calls are
very numerousl towards the relief of
the poor, evicted tenants from homes
Though miserable, still they had a
shelter) where they were born and lived,
and made home by their own sweat
and industry. + wish to define my posi-
ton. and that Of the clergy in the pres.
ent Irish crisis. 1t is too well known
and acknowledged by the most reason
able men, even English themselves,
that for centuries back Ireland has been
governed in the interest Of England,
and for tI}e ruin of Ireland. It's sad
condition only proves this; her trade
has gone. and the poor tenantry were
obliged 20 pay unjust and exorbitant
rents, leaving them half starved and
poorly clad. This has been acknowl-
edged by Che English government Of
the present dav when it instituted a
land court TO reduce rents, but as the
court could not reach the immense ma
jority Of Gases for many years, the ten
ants initiated the land court and re-
duced the rents themselves This was
termed ''pian Of campaign BY an
unaccountable and unjust procedure
the government employs both police
and soldiers to evict tenants that could
lot pay rents that We're unjust and ex-
horbilant. No man is obliged il he can
help it to pay more than he owes The
Catholic clergy are blamed for enc0nr
aging the people to resist injustice.
They have perfect right to do so.
Many great saints in the calendar Of
the Church have been Prosecuted and
even put TO death FOR standing between
the oppressor and the oppressed. On
the other hand, the clergy have been
often accused Of favoring tyranny,
when they employed all their power to
put down Fenianism, which meant a
forclble resistance to tyranny, which
would only end in useless bloodshed.
For no people, no matter how much op-
pressed, are justified to revolt if they
haye not a moral certainty Of success,
for failure would bring on greater evils
than those from which they suffered
But at present the struggle for Justice
is constitutional and imploring; and we
consider that the Right Hon. Che, Lord
Mayor of dublin, T. D. Sullivan, Mr..
William O'Brien and other honorable
gentlemen, peasants, boys and glrl
in ialls in Ireland by the injtstlca
Of COERCION acts, are martyrs Of
patri otism and to be honored and re-
spected, Cneir condition in the constitu~
tional struggle is preferable than to be
carried OFF the bAttlefi .Id, dead or
wounded, in struggle Tor justice with
an overwhelming army. The moral
victory is won when all reasonable men
are on ths side of justice for ireland,
which would not be thought of if there
were no resistance. I may quote the
saying of Senator Ingalls, the o!her day
in Washington, 'sthat there is nothing
so dangerous and Improbable as injus-
tice." Imay add, retribution will come
sooner Or later. God is slow but sure,
and it is not impossible in the provi-
dence Of God to see England getas poor
as she made Ireland. Neither the clergy
nor any true lover of Ireland wants po-
litical separation from England. We
want to be as Canada is. Irish home
rule would not be demanded SO persist
emily If the Irish could extort from
England just laws for the general good
Of Ireland, but over eighty years of trial
and of broken promises and upjustand
eoercive laws left them no hope. When
the Parliament left Dublin it carried
with it the strength of the nation. The
arlstocracy left, absenteeism began,
trade languished, rents were transferred
to England, and commerce followed.
ALI this will be brought back by home
rule. The rule left was that of absurdity.
Gentlemen, you have seen the pros perity,
of the Irish in this new country: they
came impoverished from misgovern-
#ment and landlordism, but rich blood,