Connecticut western news., 1888-05-23
THE FATAL KESCRIPT.
The Nationalists Give Their Views o the Document.

The Dublin meeting of Parnellites prepared this manifesto:
 ssBeing aware that the Papal rescript is be- ing used by enemies of the Holy See and of the Irish people to the prejudice of the Irish cause to estrange the people and their spirit ual guides, and to increase the dangers which threaten the people, and being mindful of our obligations to the Holy See and of our duty as constits6ionally elected representatives, we have deliberated together and adopted these resolutions:
 "That the allegations of facts put forth in the circular are to our knowledge unfounded, and could not we venture to affirm, have been promulgated under the authority of the Holy Office if statements so prejudicial to the Irish people had been tested by reference to the Irish prelates and the elected representatives of the people.
 sThat the assertion that freedom of contract prevails as to the letting of land in Ireland, except in an insignificant minority of cases, is unfounded and unwarrantable, and is disprov- ed by the fact that the whole course of agra rian legislation for Ireland for at least eigh- teen years had proceeded upon the non-exist- ence of free contracts.
 Furthermore, since the inception of the movement known as the plan of campaign the present Tory Government has been obliged to enact statute for the purpose of breaking over 100, 900 contracts of tenancy on the ground that they were one-slded.
 ssThat the constitution and adjudication of the rent-fxing courts afford inadequate duce rents as to bring them within the limits of equity, since no provision can be made for disaster or a failure of the crops, as is sup posed by the Holy See. Moreover, partisans of the landlords predominate in the courts and rents continue to be fixed upon tenants inn provements.
 sThat no provisionis made for a reduction of rrears of rents, which are now declared by the courts to be excessive. These arrears en- able landlords, by threats of eviction, to pre- vent tenants from applying to the courts, from which large numbers of the tenants are still shut out.
 'sThat the unjnst and cruel exercise of the legal powers of eviction for generations have blighted the lives of the Irish people and ban as the legal power of eviction is armed with new facilities by an act passed in 1887, we sol. emnly declare that the merciless exercise of this power has been and is the one great cause of the evil passions, conflict and crime in Ire land.
 "We repudiato the assumption that the sta tus of Irish farmers is that of nero tenants at will, and assert that not only in equity but in law the dominant interest ill holdings belongs to the tenant who has executed improve ments.
 "We cannot refrain from expressing our re- gret that the Holy Office is silent regarding the source and provocation of the evils and disorder afflicting the Irish people. This si- lence is the more to be deplored in the inter- eStS or GellSlOu dlu Ol our HtlLudl cause, Do- cause it has enabled enemies to misuse tho name of the Holy See, and because the admo- nition of the rescript was against the system atic violation of justice and charity, commit ted by way of attack upon our homes and the property of our people.
 ''rhe demand of the Irish people for agrarian reform and political liberty is dictated by ne- cessity, sustained by natural justice, and con- ducted by modes of action and methods of or eanization prescribed or allowed by the Con- stitution to which the Irish people owe what ever they have won of civil and religious free dom.
 s'While unreservedly acknowledging the spir- itual jurisdiction of the Holy See, we, as guar dians of those civil liberties which our Catholic forefathers resolutely defendel, feel bound to solemnly reassert that Irish Catholics can re- cognize no right of the Holy See to interfere with the Irish people in the management of their political affairs"