Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-14
FRIDAY, JUNE n. 1889.
Is the Clan Ma Gael a MurderOns
OIganiZattOn?

Is the Clan Ma Gael a Murderons
ORGANIZATIONS?
There has been great deal OF discus
sion in the press of the United States
concerning the asserted completely of the
Clan Ma Gael in the brutal murder OF
DIR. Cronin. This debate has been
greatly stimulated by the declarations of
the Chicago Grand Jury, which directed
the arrest of Mr.. Alexander Sullivan,
lately the head of the Irish Nationalist
movement in the United States. That
body has practically assumed that the
Clan Ma Gael was at the bottom of the
assassination, and has expressed abso-
lutely correct opinions when it assumee
that any society which tried people, con-
demned them to death and executed
them, in defiance of the laws
of the United States, was alien to
the spirit of American institutions and
ought to be severely depressed, both by
public sentiment and the law. Most
Americans, assuming the premises to be
true, will concur in such a sentiment.
But are they true?
Is the Clan Ma Gael an organization
which claims to set the laws of the
United States, and the dictates of moral
ity, at defiance? If it is, it is attempting
to set up that Emporium IN imperio which,
whether it was right or wrong, was set
up by Henry VIII and his successors in
their controversies with the Papacy, and
which was made the basis of the severest
repressive statutes ever enacted by any
people. If the Clan Ma Gael is an organ
ization of assassins, it ought to be sup
pressed in the United States and every
where else.
The first notable thing in connection
with this organization, in an inquiry that
would seek to ascertain its responsibility
for the Cronin murder, is the attitude Of
the Catholic Church towards it. 1t is
unquestionably a secret organization,
and is thus opposed to the celebrated
bull of Pope Benedict XIV, who
said that things that were good
naturally sought the light. But it is a
significant fact that while some Roman
Catholic Bishops have condemned it
within the lines Of their own episcopates,
others have at least countenanced it,
while the Vatican has kept silent, hav-
ing announced no formal condemnation
of it. Unquestionably, if murder were
countenanced by any institute Of this
secret society, Pope Leo, who knows
every one of it's bylaws as intimately as
any of it's secretaries, and who is sup
posed to be under the influence Of the
English Cardinals, would long ago have
put the Clan Ma Gael under the Papal
ban. The fact that he has not done SO
is strong presumptive evidence that it is
a political and not a murderous organiza-
ton.
A very distinguished member Of the
Clan Ma Gael is an influential and hon.
ored citizen of Los Angeles. One Of
the editors of the HERALD yesterday
sought conversation with him on the
Cronin murder. He was one of the
special council assembled in New York
nearly two years ago, to compose their
differences, and he is one of the political
British convicts who escaped from Aus
tralia, and who organized the movement
which rescued the "soldier" convicts,
who failed to escape, and who were
afterwards brought to the United States
by the Catalpa. He informed US that
the Clan Ma Gael is a distinctively politi-
cal organization, the keystone of which
is that its members shall labor for the
freedom of Ireland. He says that there
is not only not line in the constitution
of the Society which counsels murder,
under any circumstances, but there is
not a suggestion in its constitution or by
laws which even hints at the violation of
any moral law.
As to the death OF DR.. Cronin, he thinks,
that in all probability, it resulted from
the squabbles over the disposition of GER
tain moneys, which began nearly two
years ago. While he deems it possible
that some warm and injudicious personal
friends of Alexander Sullivan may have
been concerned in Cronin's murder, he
nevertheless believes that Sullivan him
self, neither instigated nor knew Of it.
He claims that the Clan Ma Gael would
not only not connive at, but would
heartily repudiate suggestion of MUIR
der, even as development of treachery
to its organization. He regards the MUIR
der as simply the outgrowth of strong in
dividual antagonisms, such as might
happen in the most innocent social or
benevolent organization.
We are inclined to think that our in
formant is right, and that the American
people would do we'll to suspend their
judgment. If the Clan Ma Gael is
political organization, with no bylaws of
assassination, or suggestion of other
crime in its constitution, the act of some
of it's hot headed members will not COM
promise it with fair-minded people.
A Great Need fer the Western
Residents.