The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-09-28
GLADSTONE THE, DEFENDER.
The Irish Roman Catholics Have
Always Fought For Their
Religious Freedom.
LOGICAL & ELOQUENT ADDRESS.

English Apprehensions For the Safety Of
the Protestant Minority
In Ireland.
MIR. Gladstone, in his recent campaign
through England in the interests of
Irish Home Rule, took up every con.
ceivable objection which the Tories or
the LIBERAL Unionists have ever po-
pularized, and refuted it in his OWN
logical and eloquent way. On one
occasion, he took up English apprehen-
sions for the safety of the Protestant
minority in Ireland, in the event of the
triumph OF the Nationalists. He said:
1t is impossible for any impartial man
to study the history of Ireland without
arriving at the conclusion that there is
no ground for it whatever. will not
give you full exposition Of thereasons
which justify me in this unreserved ap-
peal to your sense of Justice, but [ will
mention some things which will snoWyou
that do notspeak lightly OF unadvisely.
and that there are grounds and reasons
think absolutely demonstrative Why,
not only you may mitigate and qualify,
but YOU may wholly Danish from your
minds every fear Of what is to happen
in Ireland / will not speak of the
uniform and unreserved assurances OF
the Irish themselves, because where
suspicion exists it is not easily put away
by mere assurance of those who are sus-
pected. But 1 will point, gentlemen,
to history, and will briefly and sum
marily from the necessities of time
refer 70 the facts which, in my opinion,
are conclusive. have been obliged to-
remind you that in England there was
a sanguinary and ferocious persecution
during the reign of Queen Mary. Now,
whatha happened in Ireland at that
time? In Ireland nearly the whole
opinion was Roman Catholic. There
was hardly any division Of religious
opinion at all, and vet, though that was
the state of things in ireland, there
stands on record this fact-Ihat from
Bristol and from the Mersey. and [
believe from the Dee-at any rate from
the different ports of those days-the
Protestants Of England, in apprehen-
sion of their lives, fed to Ireland for
security and remained there in perfect
safety under the protection Of their
Catholic fellow.snbjects while the fires
of Smithfield were in full blaze,
(''Hear, hear.") Now, gentlemen, /
will give you these two propositions.
that can be made good upon every page
of Irish history. The people of Ireland
bave OH many occasions, including that
to whlck / refer, shown a most ardent
desire to MAINTAIN religious freedom.
Secondly, thev have never for one mo-
ment. to my knowledge, deviated into
the paths Of bigotrY and cruelty, except
under the most desperate provocation,
and then in decree far less thsn ac-
cording to the ferocious example which
was set by their oppressors. / dare say
you have heard of the rebellion Of 1641,
the greatest rebellion that ever happen
ed in Ireland, when the Irish people
rising up against the cruelties that were
really intolerable became possessed OF
q large portion Of the country. anu
continued through war of ten OF
eleven years, till finally put down by
Cromwell, tofght for what they deemed
to be-and nobody can blame them
the cause Of thei1.c country. Well; what
happened2 There was q certain bishop
of that day, Bishop Bedel, an illustrious
name, about the only illustrious name
amongst the very few connected with
the history Of the Protestant Church IN
ireland. the translator OF the Scripture
into Irish; and the Catholic people
were in possession Of the country. They
received him and his possessions, they
even tolerated his giving shelter to
their enemies. Whom they remonstra-
ted, what theY said was: :. We know we
shall be very likely put down, and then
the men whom you are sheltering will
be the frst to destroy u.s." But the
blsnop said: 1T is my duty to shelter
them, and must shelter them . That
bishop died in the middle Of the rebel
lion The whole Of the Catholic popu,
latiiton of the district attended his fune-l
ral and fred military salutes over his
glaYe, and. the priest at their head said,
q NV my soul be with the soul of Bedel: 8
nsIelB ienot q noblers record TO be found
iiEhistorY than that simple record to
hsI have 80 briefly referred. Gen.
ttleamn1en, 4 must be very short. Let mel
III III only h,lnd red years at that
tll1 whole Protestant population
81 q ll( q mite with tho Cath
q ~ IIIl 60 relieve them
II|Sg6aIs ohttc anl ,caal disal BILL
sl + : III lIl ! 4 4 10 ll,lail nnion