The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-17
INJUSTICE TO IRELAND.
England Has PTactlcsd II Since Time
Of Henry tho Eighth.


Mr.. John Fretwell in opening the
years course OF lectures at the Frank
lin society. last evening. said the last
three lectures he had delivered before
them referred TO historical topics.
which had direct bearing upon the
events now passing before our eyes,
and in adding 10 those lectures a study
of the non-religious motives which in
tiuenced Henry the Eighth and his po-
litlcal advisers he was treating OF a
topic which had a very close connec-
tion with the policy OF the Chamber
lain salisbury cabinet in England to-
day.
No doubt Il we compared the Engiish
churchmen OF the fifteenth century
with the English churchmen or TO-DAY,
we might lind much 10 blame, hut
even LANES Anthony Froude, the chief
apologist OF Henry the Elghtn, was
Obliged TO confess, I'm referring 10 the
doings of the honorable noblemen VINO
controlled the boy king Edward the
sixth. that the worst deeds OF fhe
Catholic churchmen in Englshu'
seemed like innocence itself in com
parison 10 those OF the Protestant poll
tIcians who came after Cardlnai
Wolscy.
The wars OF the Roses had filed Eng
land with bloodshed. and almost an
ndhilated those leaders OF the people
who could resist royal encroachments
on the peoples rights; and the church
men mostly sprung from the middle
classes. were still the best friends OK
the oppressed lower classes.
Richard the Third gained his crown
by treason and murder. and lost lt IN
the same way. Henry the Seventh
owed his crown 20 the protection OF
France. but when seated on the throne
OF England he forgot his gratitude 10
France, and his son, led away by the
madness of Imperialism wished even 20
add France TO his dominions before he
had reconciled Ireland and Wales 10
English rule.
Like Napoleon Bonaparte and many
other Of the ablest men in the world,
he was singularly selfish and unscru-
pulous man: he sacrificed the best In
terests OF his country 10 his personal
ambition. and finally 10 the bad infiu-
ence OF Anna Boleyne and her unwor-
thy relatives. There were great re-
formers i'm the Catholic church in
those days. Coiet, Sir Thomas More.
Cardinal Wolsey. Fisher OF Rochester
desired a reformation. which might
have been possible under the suprem-
acy OF the Catholic popes, but for the
fact that Henry the Eighth prostituted
the reformation to his own altogether
irreligious ends.
To this action was due the anarchy
that followed I'm the reigns OF Edward
and Mary. who. rendered half insane
by the cruel treatment that she and
her mother had endured at the hands
of Henry the Eighth. could hardly be
regarded as responsible for the cruel
mes exercised under her rule.
Henrys illegitimate daughter Eliza
beth had no more conscience than her
French contemporary. Catherine or
Medeci. or Maria Stuart Of Scotland.
but, because Of her title TO the throne
was questionable, she was obliged 10
follow the guidance OF the greatest
statesman OF her time. William Cecil,
who did as much TO strengthen Eng
land rs his now living ~eseendant.
Robert Cecil. Marquis OF Salisbury, is
doing to weaken IL.
The Anglican church OF Henry the
Eighth was rather a political than a
religious creation, and IL II had Not
been kept in order by the so-called dis
senters, Catholic and Protestant, would
have been the most dangerous enemy
of British liberty.
1t has indeed been the chief him
drance TO Justice 70 Ireland. until VIII
liam Gladstone. the most faithful son
| Of the Anglican church and the most
| loyal subject OF Queen Victoria. had in
some small degree relieved England
| from the intolerabe shame OF forcing
upon the Catholic Irish the supremacy
| of a foreign sect.
In defeating Mr.. Gladstone's further
plans OF justice to ireland. Lord Sails
| bury's party i'm the House of Lords had
! brought England into greater danger.
| and no matter what might be the re-
| suit Of the present war in Africa, Eng
land would find that the policy of in
| Justice To Ireland, which with verv
| slight intermissions has been persisted
| in since the time Of Henry the Eighth.
| might yet be among the most potent
| causes of her decline and fall.