St. Paul daily globe., 1893-05-14
SUMMED WITH CARE,
Rev. John Conway DiScourses
Interestingly Of His Trip
Abroad.
The Home Rule Bill, He De-
eIares, Certain to Become
q Law.
Emergencies Will Not Permit
Priests to Retire From
Politics.
A Graphic Pen Picture Of the
Exact Situation in Ire
land.

The Rev. DR.. Conway, who has just
reached st. Paul after long visit IN
Europe, was seen by GLOBE represent
ative yesterday. Father Conway has
persstently refused to be interviewed
since his return to the United States,
but he makes an exception of irish af-
fairs and of Minnesota, as this state has
recently shown It's generosity by send
ing financial aid to the home rule party
in their final struggle for Irish lnde-
pendence. Father Conway made the
following statement:
The home rule bill is sure to become
a law. 1t is OF little consequence
whether the lords throw 1T out or not;
if they do reject it so much the worse
for the lords. Their power is as dead
as the rOyal veto, and opposition on their
part only emphasizes their impotence.
The house of commons has really the
absolute power to force the hands Of the
house of lords. Both sections of the
Irish party favor the bill. Indeed, it is
high time to give up speak
ing of division in the Irish
party. Redmond, the Parnellite leader,
and Davitt, a man of light among the
Nationalists, made two of the best
speeches in favor of home rule. The
former has been called by the Glad
stones the leader Of the left wing of the
Irish party. Now they are one upon
the main question, and the subject or
their quarrel is as dead an issue as the
paschal controversy, the date 81 ST.
Patrick's death, or the military prowress
of Brian the Brand. The chief defect
afl iS
clauses. AS it stands at present the
money to carry on an Irish government
must come from the liquor traffic.
In other words, the drinking
habits of the people must be
kept up in order to supply resources
for carrying on a home government.
Speaking of this, a leading Irish mem
Der of parliament says: "Temperance
legislation would, under this scheme,
mean bankruptcy, and wide spread IN
crease of habits of sObriety among the
Irish people you'd mean financial ruin
to the Irish eXchequer." This must be
changed. Apart from this the bill is
satisfactory at least as basis of opera
tiOD. 1t is useless to speculate as TO
whether the bill has absolute tlnallty,
or whether the Irish people Will ever
ask any more. Nations grows as we'll
as individuals, and L think IL was Leo
XIII, who laid down that ma
tion grown to manhood can lawfully
put off the things which suited It's
childhood davs. The opposition to the
bill on the part of Orangemen, Castle
Catholics, and illiterate squires is the
fierce fury of despair. l cannot help
admiring the marvellous activity they
are showing for forlOrn hope and an
unworthy cause. 1t is good lesson to
the sympathizers with home rule, and
teaches these latter that they must not
slumber. The Irish members OF parlla-
ment are loud in their praises OF Amer
lea for her unstinted aid in the home
rule movement. Besides a generous
moral and financial support we have
given them three of the most useful
members of the Irish National party.
New York gave Dr.. Fox, the prudent
organizer; Minnesota sent John sweet
man, who backs up his opinions with
ward Blake, who is already in the front
rank of English speaking statesmen.
The nOn-Catholics of Ireland have
nothing to fear from their Catholic fell
low countrymen. When candidate is
selected for any constituency, the peo-
pie do not ask what is his religion, but
what are his politics? Dublin elects a
Protestant lord mayor and makes no
fuss about il. The more intelligent
Protestants i ave thrown their lot in
with their Catholic fellow countrymen,
and look upol Ireland as their nation.
The lesson j. well learned that men
may be good lrishmen regardless of the
altar at which they may worship. AS a
matter Of fact, irish patriotism has been
learned to no small extent from Irish
Protestant patriots. Such, for instance,
were Grattan, Flood, PlunKet, FItz-
gerald and Emmett.
Priests in Politics.
There is a great deal of talk Of late
years to the effect that the priests
should withdraw from Irish politics. 1t
would be a great God-send to them and
to others if the emergencies Oft situa-
ton permitted them to withdraw. L
have talked on this subject at great
length with the Archbishop of Castle,
ard am forced to believe that politl-
cal movement in Ireland cannot be sue
cessfully carried on without the aid of
the priests. In Ireland the country
rules and the country people can be
reached only through the priests.
The clergy have had to be.
come not only the organ