The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-26
FATHER YoRKE ON IRELAND.
The Chancellor Makes a Brilliant Defense
Against English Aggression.
The Rev. Father Yorke, writing in de-
fensa of Ireland SAYS.


The Rev. Father Yorke, writing in de-
tense of Ireland, says:
JANUARY 25, 1896.
To the Editor of the CdII-DEAR SIR: In my
last letter l briefly referred TO the tolerance
exhibited by Irish Catholics under the most
adverse circumstances. Allow me to dwell
little longer on the condition of that country.
The advocates of prescription continually refer
10 Ireland as an awful example of the results
OF Romanism. They point to its chronic pov-
erty, its political helplessness its diminishing
population, its alleged illiteracy, and they cry:
Behold what Rome does when she is in power.
They find but one bright spot in the dark
picture.
Ulster, happy Ulster, is prosperous because
she is Protestant. The inhabitants of that
province are enlightened because they cult
vate the pious habit OF cursing the Pope In
all the things which go to make up civilized,
peaceful and q progressive community Ulster
stands far ahead OF the other three provinces
because she has the open Bible, while they
cling TO the cult OF that strange combination
known as Popery, brass money and wooden
shoes.
These ministers of that Gospel who measure
religion by the tieshpots of Egypt follow the
Irish in their wanderings through the world.
They seek them out in the slums and upbraid
them for their poverty. They note their names
over the doors OF saloons and denounce them
for their viciousness. They search for them in
the penitentiaries and cry out These are the
firstfruits OF Rome. The most taking argu-
ment these patriotic ministers can urge against
Rome is that the Catholic Irish run the
looms, I'LL the slums and populate the prisons.
| intend now, Mr.. Editor. TO examine:
First-The true cause of the state of Ireland.
Second-The real condition OF the province
OF Ulster.
Third-The facts concerning the Irish in
America.
Ea ch of these subjects would require book
to give it full treatment. 1 cannot do more
than hint at facts and arguments in the space
allowed me in your columns. To-day l will
treat the first point.
THE BROKEN TREATY
The history of modern Ireland begins with
the treaty OF Limerick, 1851. When his cause
was lost in England James II attempt to re-
the Catholics trusted to the word of the worst
of the Stuarts and fought for him and suffered
for him; Betrayed by his cowardice at the
Boyne the last stand was made under the
leadership of Sarsfeld behind the walls of
Limerick. One siege had been successfully
sustained, but disappointed by delay in re-
covering re-enforcements from France the Irish
commanders determined to surrender.
They were urged To this determination by
the favorable terms offered by the English.
Accordingly treaty was signed. The Roman
Catholics were guaranteed the privileges and
rights they enjoyed in the reign of Charles II,
and promise was given that at the next Par
lament the King would procure the said
Roman Catholics such further security in that
particular as may preserve them from any dis
turbance upon the account of their said re-
Hgion." The inhabitants of the unconouered
counties were to be made secure in the pos
session OF their property, their rights and the
practice OF their callingS. All these provisions,
says John mitchell, Presbyterlan, were duly
ratified by their majesties letter patent.
Sarsheld and Wanchop then, with their French
brothers, thought that they were leaving as a
barrier against oppression OF the Catholics at
least the honor OF King"
But the "honor OF king" proved a broken
reed. The most shameful chapter in history
Is told by the treaty stone of Limerick, which
STANDS on pedestal in that city TO inform III e
world that the Protestant ascendency of Ire
land broke their plighted faith before the
names OF their representatives were dry on the
parchment which contained their promises.
The Sunday after the treaty was signed the
Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Meath, DR..
Doping, preached on the surrender OF Linn
erick. He argued that no faith should be kent
with Catholics This TACT is notorious. When
ranting ant-popery lecturers or writer's bring
up the old caIumnies that we hold that faith
should not be kept with heretics let this be
their answer. The Protestant church OF Ire
land laid down the principle that the solemn
ARTICLES OF treaty possessed no binding force
when made with Catholics and the Protestant
ascendency in Ireland for a century and
hall put these principles into action.
THE PENAL LAWS.
The departure of the Irish troops for France
was the signal for the commencement OF that
bloody code of penal laws which Samuel John
son described as more grieYous than all the
ten pagan prosecutions OF the Christians.
II is a curious thing that here in America t
the end OF the nineteenth century the A. P. A.
is binding its members by an oath to enforce
the very same provisions which the penal laws
enacted against Catholics. The first Parlia-
ment which assembled after the treaty was
supposed by that document TO grant full reli-
gious liberty TO Catholics. 1t began by refus-
ing the Catholic members their seats. Not
long after it was enacted that "a Protestant
marrying a Papist was disqualified from sit
ung or voting N either house of Parliament"
Early in the eighteenth century the Catholics
were completely deprived of the franchise mo
Catholics shall be entitled Or admitted to vote
at the election or any member to serve in Par
Lament as a knight, citizen or burgess; or at
other town corporate any law, statute or
usage to the contrary Notwithstanding"
But this did not satisfy the Protestant in
terest" The Parliament was deluged with
petitions describing how grievously the Prot
estants suffered from the wicked Papists. The
Mayor, Sheriffs and Aldermen of the CITY of
Limerick plaintively represented that "they
were greatly damaged in their trade by the
great number OF PapiSts residing in the said
city, and praying to be relieved therefrom. !"
AS g matter OF fact they were relieved by ex-
press enactment. Another petition presented
was entitled "A petition of one Edward Spray
and others in behalf of themselves and other
Protestant porte:s, in and about the city of
Dublin, complaining that one Darby Ryan, a
Papist, employed porters OF his own persua-
sion" This petition was referred to the ''com-
miltee on grievances" The grievances how
ever, were soon to have an end.
EDUCATION PRESCRIBED.
BY Inc william III, c. z, all Catholics
were required to deliver up on a certain
day all their arms AMI ammunition. After
that day search might be made for conceale
weapons in the houses of Paplsts at any hour
of the day or night. The punishments were
TO be fine and imprisonment or the pillory and
whipping.
Having taken from them the means of de-
tending themselves, Parliament next pro-
ceeded TO brutaliZe the unfortunate Catholics
by enforced ignorance. Education was COM
pletely forbidden. No Papist could act as
teacher, or even as usher, in g school.
Moreover, the law ran 'f any subjects of Ire
land should go or send any child or person to
be educated in any popsh university, college
or school, or in any private family; or il such
child should by any polish person be instructed
III the popish religion or if any subjects of Ire
land should send money or things toward the
maintenance OF such child or other person
already sent, or to be sent, every such Of
fender being thereof convicted should be for
ever disabled to sue or prosecute any action,
or equity, to be guardian. administrator or
executor TO any person, or 10 be capable of any
legacy or deed of gift, and. besides should for
felt all their estates, both real and personal,
during their lives"
Let the candid American read this horrible
law and remember that it was enforced until
the dawn of the present century. Yet in spite
OF it all the Celtic love for learning could not
be quenched. Those who could afford 1t
struggled their children over to France and
Belgium and risked outlawry rather than de-
prive them OF an education. The sens of the