The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-02-05
PRIESTS In THE REBELLION.

PRIESTS IN THE REBELLION.
Edward Hay is the author Of e history
of the Irish insurrection of 1898, which
IS very severe on the brave patriotic
priests who took part in the war. He
thinks they disgraced their sacred pro-
fession by taking arms in their hands
and leading insurgents to battle. He
declares it is contrary to the spirit of
the gospel to have clergyman engage
in warfare; his duty is to preach peace
and charity towards all mankind. why
throw off the meek garb OF peace" he
says, for the horrid habliments of
war? Under no possible circumstances
ought clergyman to be instrumental
to the death of any person, except In
the most urgent necessity of self-de-
fense." He goes on in this strain and
arrives at the conclusion that the priests
who participated in the strife were
traitors to God and deserved a fatal
end. Net one Of them escaped a vlo-
lent and sudden DEATH" he exclaims,
CLEARLY indicating a providential fate
We have no respect for Catholic
1rishman like Hay, who witnessed the
Instruction and never took a part in 1t
to help his countryme.n in their struggle
against overwhelming Odds According
to his own statements he Was a coward
who ought to have been hanged by the
rebels for protecting ruffians with whom
he was on friendly terms. Speaking OF
the Catholic clergy of Wexford he says
that 1.-The misconduct of few indi-
viduals among them should not involve
the good character OF the many, and that
it must be remembered that even among
the twelve apostles there was a traitor"
Their misconduct" consisted in pre-
tectlng the lives Of their flccks in the
open field when the British authorities
had deprived them OF arms in order to
have the scldiery and Orange militia
kill them the more easily and escape the
retaliation they deserved.
The names Of the priests of 9S are
household words with the sea-divided
Gaels. Every good Irishman has prayed
for their souls during the past 100 years,
and generations yet unborn will bless
their hallowed names. The brave priests
of Wexford who led their tlocks against
the miscreants of Britain deserve 10
censure from an Irish historian who pro-
fesses the ancient creed. Even Hay
must admit that no acts of cruelty
stained the character OF the patriot
priests Of '98. They preached peace ana
good will before the rebellion broke out.
They induced the people to give up their
arms when the county was proclaimed
under martial law, relying on the prom-
ises made by the authorities to save the
people from harm, and it was only when
unarmed and defenseless men and
women were violently attacked and
slaughtered like rabbits that the priests
arose and led the people against their
savage prosecutors
Rev. +. T.. kavanagh, the best his
torian Of the Wexford rebellion, honors
the brave deeds of the skllful and dar-
ing priests who faced the best soldiers
OF England and made the Orange mis-
creants fly like chaff before the wind.
He says it required 10000 soldiers, led
by experienced generals, to subdue &c.
600 insurgents, armed for the most part
only with pixies, and destitute of almost
everything necessary for. the successful
carrying on of warfare. The priests who
died for Ireland with their faces to the
British foe to save their focks from
determination will ever be affectionately
remembered by the Irish race and the
aspersions cast upon their memories by
Edward Hay will only endear them the
more to every friend CT Irish freedom.
During this centennial year monument
to the lion-heavted Father John Muir
ply should be erected in his native
county by Irishmcn the world over
to parretuate his consecratel memory
as warrior priest.