Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-05-23
THE PAPAL RESCRlPT.

Manifesto of Parnellites-Statement of
Nationalist Leaders on the Condition of
Affairs in Ireland-They Say the Pope
Acted Upon Wrong Information.
DUBLIN, May 19.-The Nationalist met.
yesterday and discussed the papal rescript.
A committee was appointed to formulate
resolutions, and reported the following,
which was agreed upon by the members
present:
WHEREAS, The rescript has been used by
enemies OF the Holy See and Of Irishmen to
the prejudice OF the Irish cause; therefore,
mindful of our obligations to the Holy See and
our duty as the elected representatives OF Ire
land, be it
"Resolved, That it is our belief that the ale
cations OF the circular are unfounded, and that
it could not have been promulgated if the mat
ter had been referred to the prelates and rep
resentatives OF Ireland. Be it also
"Resolued, That the assertion that q free con-
tract prevails with regard to the letting of
land, with few Insignificant exceptions, 10 I'M
founded, and can be disproved by course of
agrarian records for eighteen years past"
The manifesto further recites that the con-
stitution Of the adjudication and rent-fxing
courts affords inadequate grounds for the state
ment made in the rescript that they so reduced
the rents as to fix them within the limits
Of equity; since no provision is made in case
OF disaster or failure in crops, as the Holy
See supposed; also that no provision is made
for the reduction Of arrears now declared by the
courts to be excessive. The manifesto further
alludes to the baleful results Of the unjust,
cruel and excessive exercise OF the legal power
Of eviction, which is now armed with new ia
cilities granted in 1887, and is enforced in a
manner that is the cause Of the evil passions,
the crime and conflict in Ireland" The mani
festO proceeds:
1--WE repudiate the assumption that the
status of Irish farmers is that of mere tenants
at will, and assert that not only in law, but in
equity the dominant interests of the holdings
belongs to the tenant who has made improve
ments upon it, and We attribute much of the
prevailing discomfort to q disregard OF our con-
slant protests against the imposition OF rent or
improvements"
The resolutions express regret that the Holy
See is silent regarding the source Of the PROV
ocation Of the evil and disorder affecting
Ireland, which is the more deplorable be-
cause through it enemies misuse the name OF
the Holy See, and because the rescrlpts adj
monition was against the systematic violation
of justice and charity committed by the way or
attack upon the homes and property OF the
people. They declare the demand OF the Irish
people for agrarian reform and political hber-
ty to be dictated by necessity sus-
tanned by natural justice, and which is
conducted in manner allowed by the
constitution They finally resolve that
"while unreservedly acknowledging the
spiritual jurisdiction of the Holy See, we, as.
guardians of those liberties which our Catholic,
forefathers resolutely defended, feel bound,
solemnly bound, to creassure Irishmen that
Irish Catholics can recognize no rig 1t of the
Holy See to interfere with the Irish people in,
the management Of their political affairs