Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
was more highly favored in legislative matters

was more highly favored in legislative matters
than was England.
TALE on IRISH AFFAIRS.
To . STAR reporter Mr.. johnson talked
freely of Irish matters. "Our mission in Bel
fast" said he, has to contend with the diff
culties common in great acknowledgements
Sabbath dissertation and the neglect Of public
worship. We are doing our utmost 10 improve
the condition of affairs. and with good deal
of success, because Roman Catholicism cannot
Interfere with Us. We preach In the open air.
because in Belfast there are 220,O 900 Pro test
ants to 5o, 0OC Roman Catholics. 10 the fact
that we are in the majority does the city owe
Its growth, while every city in southern Ire
land suffers from a decrease. The population
Of Ireland has decreased one-half in thirty
years, while that of Belfast has more than
doubled in the same period. Wherever Roman
Catholicism ia supreme trade and commerce,
education and morality are imperiled. In the
north thore are mills and manufactures. IL the
south there are hardly any. Our population
increases; in the south the population declines
continually That education Is imPerIled by
Romanism is evident; one-third OF the voters Ia
Roman Catholic districts in recent elections were
flliterate; in the north the proportion was one
fifteenth. The same system OF education pre-
walls in the north and the south. Instruction
10 practically free; cents a week IS the
minimum charge, but if any one is unable to
pay that they may have the child or children
educated free OF expense. Morality lslmperiled.
because among Roman Catholics the Sabbath
IL q holiday, and not a holy day; foot ball,
cricket, hurley and other games are played
without let or hindrance on the Lords day in
Catholic communities. Religious liberty is
curtailed. During the last eighteen months
clergymen' of the Church of England and Meth
odist ministers have tried to hold open-air
services at Arklow-uIder the shadow Of the
late Mr.. Parnells home-but have not been
able to do so because mob law prevailed. Horns,
been employed to drown the preachers voices
and to render religious services impossible.
During the period to which have made refer
cnce hundreds Of soldiers and policemen have
been detailed every sunday to keep the peace.
Our best institutions are imperiled wherever
Rome dominates"
TIE DEATH OF PARSELL-
Speaking of the late Mr.. Parnell the Ulster
Irishman said: "The priests and politicians
have no right to say anything about immortality
in public men When the decree of the divorce
court became known a number of Mr.. Parnells
followers met in Dublin and condoned his Of
Tense, saying that private morals had nothing
TO do with politics. They also enthusiastically
passed vote of confidence in him as their
leader The priests were dumb. Mr. Gladstone
himself was silent, and it only when what
was called the non-conformist conscience spoke
out in tones of thunder through Hugh Price
Hughes, DIR. Clifford and DR.. Parker that Mr..
0AAostOne s1lu WOru. linen UlNlsieOu
the ranks of the nationalist took place and the
priests also spoke out, seeing that home rule
was in danger. For ten days, however, poll
ticians and priests were alike silent, SO that 1t
is plain that their condemnation of Mr.. Par
nelrs immortality a combination Of can't,
hypocrisy and sham"
''Will Parnell's death unite the contending
factions?'
Il don't believe it WILL" was the reply.
America called upon them to unite at the
grave Of Parnell, but the priests at that funeral
were conspicuous by their absence. while the
anti-Parnellites contented themselves with fur
tive glances at the great procession. The fact
is that the two factions are sharply divided; one
II clerical, the other anti-clerical There il re-
volt on the part of many In Ireland against the
political dictation OF priests; the young men
are In the movement and United ireland is the
party organ. The chasm between the priests
and the people is too wide and the spirit of in
dependence too strong for the breach to be
healed by the death of any one man.
The most hopeful sign of the times in Ire
land Is found in the fact that those who are
now claiming the right of private Judgment in
political matters are also claiming the same
right in religious matters. Many of the Roman
Catholics Of the land, especially in journalistic
circles, are defending the Magma Charta OF the
reformation-the right to exercise private
judgment in religious affairs