The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-09

italian Rule or Home Rule-Which?
TO the Editor OF the Indi annapolis Journsr
The recent action of the Sovereign Pontiff in
officially condemninR the "Plan Of Campaign
and other expedients found necessary to be re-
sorted to by the people of Ireland to meet the
methods of their oppressors, has called forth
much comment from all quarters. Unhsppily
it is not the first time that the heads of the
Catholic Church have thought proper to record
themselves against the just aims and aspirations
of the Irish people for better government, and
in the interest of their csnturied foes The
fealty of that people to the church of their
choice, and their belief. and their natural re-
luctance to disregard the orders Of its head,
even in matters worldly, have been too often
used as instruments against them to thwart
every measure for their political and material
advancement Rome has too often
shown willingness to please the
titled Catholic scions of English
nobility and rank, even though it entailed the
ruin and degradation of millions of the poor and
faithful of Ireland The writer, however, be-
lieves that the time has long since gone by when
an unfriendly. impertinent message from Rome
would turn that people aside from the peaceful
path to freedom they have been so long and go
stead lily pursuing. They present a firm and IN
yieldi pg front themselves. for the recovery Of
their longlo place among the nations.
united people if with one voice peaceably
pleading In the great court Of right and reason
TO be permitted ito manage the affairs of their
own land. By the simple force of the fairness
and justice Of their claims they have won to
their aid the people of Scotland and Wales and
even one half of those of England proper itself.
Trey have won to their side the aid and advoca-
cy of most Of the great liberal minds Of Great
Britain. headed by its greatest statesman. They
have won to their cause the public opinion and
good will and God-speed of all the liberty loving
people of the world in the heroic fight they are
wagng for their rights against powerful odds.
They have arrayed against them the decaying
remnants Of old-time English Tory despotism-
the dukes and the earls-those who are so
darkened by dotage, and blindness, and bieotry
that they are unconscious that the world moves
And still cling 10 the belief that God made the
earth and the mass Of its people for them and
their kind alone; and that they still have di-
vine right to rule and own them With the
latter the Roman Pontiff seems to have. east
his great power and influence. The situation
indeed Is ageravating, whichever way one
looks at It, The successor of Christ
the champion of proud. arraeant power
and rank, ard against the people. and those who
are trying TO improve their condition. Curious
commentary on the Wanted advance Of man In
hberality through the centuries
What will Ireland dot Are the progress aud
the gain she has made through long years of
patient, uneessing effort 10 be now abandoned
at the dictation of even the head Of the Catholic
Church IN Romel VIII she permit herself to be
thrown BACK as u were from the very portals OF
the temple of liberty she has reached by so
much toll and sacrifice at the instance Of a bull
from Rome secured through English Tory in
trigusi / am confident we can trust the Ire
land Of today to do the right and proper thing
to be done in the premises without surrendering
one jot of its religious or political creed-with-
ont any falsehood to God or itself I
believe that were the Irish people
now driven from their purpose By papal man
date. they would be little entitled to sympathy
nd in he ~ m
despair OF any high place for them among the
family Of indie pendent, self-respecting nations
The friends Of Ireland might then regretfully
exclaim, In the passionate words Of the poet As