The Irish standard., 1893-09-30
THE ACT OF UNION
The Catholics Of Ireland Opposed
the Measure and Never De-
sired a solidation.
A FEW INSTRUCTIVE. FACTS.
w. j. O'Neill Daunt, O'Connelrs
Secretary, Writes interest
ingly on the Subject.

Secretary, Writes interest
ingly on the Subject.
Tho question having been mooted by
some super-ssrviceable writer's in the
English Tory Catholic press that the
leaders and the bulk of the Irish Catho.
lies approved Of and supported the Act
of Union, in 1899 and 1900, Mr.. VIM.
j. O'Neill Daunt, the veteran Irish pa
triot and comrade of O'Connell in all
those portentous timee, has sent to the
newspapers his views and recollections
on the subject which are particularly
interesting at the present time.
Mr.. O'Neill Daunt says
A discussion has appeared in the COL
umns of the Catholic Times, respecting
the attitude Of the Irish Catholics to.
wards the Legislative Union IN 1900.
In 1895 project was believed to be
entertained by the Government of ac-
companying Catholic emancipatie with
the measure Of union. On the 9th of
April, in that year, an important meets
ing Of Catholics was held in the Catho-
lic church in Francis street, Dublin, at
which it was 4
Resolved, unanimoilsly, that we are
sincerely and unalterably attached to
the rights, liberties and independence of
our native country, and We pledge our
selves, collectively and individually, to
resist even our own emancipation, if pro-
posed to be conceded on the ignomini-
Gus terms of acquiescing in the fatal
measure of an union with the sister
kingdom."
On the 18th January, 1900, meeting
of Catholics was held IN the hall Of the
Royal Exchange, Dublin, at which
OConnsll made his maiden speech. His
evidence as to the general feeling of the
Catholic body towards the Union is
given in the following words:
There was The said), no man present
but was acquainted, with the industry
with which it was circulated that the
Catholics were favorable to the Union.
In vain did multitudes of that body in diff
ferent capacities express their disappro-
baton OF the measure; in vain did they
concur with others Of their fellow sub
jects in expressinRt their adherence Of it
as freemen or freeholders, electors Of
counties, or inhabitants of cities still
the calumny was repeated ut was. printed
in journal after journal i = This
calumny was flung on the whole body
it was incumbent on the whole body to
come forward and contradict it. Yes,
they will show every friend OF ireland that
the Catholics are incapable OF selling their
country; they will loudly declare that If
their emancipation were offered for their
consent to the measure even were
emancipation after the Union 9 benefit
they would reject it with prompt in
dignation = Let every man
that feels with me declare that, if the al.
tentative were offered him of Union or
the re-enactment of the Penal Code in
all it's pristine horrors, he would prefer
without hesitation the latter, as the les
ser and more sufferable evil"
Resolutions in accordance With the
sentiments expressed by O'Connell were
unanimously passed. That he truly
stated the general ahhorrenoe with
which the Catholic community regarded
the Union, is unquestionable.
The Viceroy, Marquis CORVALLIS, had
made many attempts to gain Catholic
support for the Union, and he at one
time hattered himself with hope of sue
cess. But on the 18th December, l798.
he wrote as follows to Major General
Ross:
1.-The opposition to the Union increases
daily in and about Dublin; and l am
afraid, from conversations which have
had With persons much connected with
them, that I was too sanguine when I
hoped for the good inclinations OF the
C8G0OllC9, @ Cd $S
His Excellency's failure to cajole the
Catholic body is again mentioned IN the.
following passage d ! letter addressed to
tho Duke Of Portland, dated "a January,
1899:
sThe Catholics, az . body, still adhere
to their reserve on the measure Of Union.
The very temperate and liberal senti-
nepts at first entertained Of expressed
By sone 81, that body were " NO z means g
adopted BY the Catholics who met Ct
Lord all'a and pro Iced u spsak
for the e larl ssy
sOn S. April ia fr 2 nder-|
Ssors eokle o Killian QickI--ss 81
h,,, a. B ] lin y, sil ~ ~