The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-12-12

Campbell Zimmerman, Mr.. John Nor
ley, Sir Horace Davy, and Mr.. Asquith.
was simple measure which confined
Itself to two points-the removal Of
the disqualihcations which exist rs to
catholics holding the position Of Lord
lieutenant of Ireland and Lord Chan
cellor Of England. The debate upon
this Bill Of Mr.: Gladstone's was most
interesting. The present Prime Minis
tor took part in it, and in referring to
the still remaining penalties attaching
to people protesting the Catholic faith,
he said-"sixty years ago the princi-
pie Of religious exclusion was en-
4renched in this country behind an
imposing fabric of legal safeguards
and securities. Ono after another
its strong places have been cap
ured and it's walls battered down until
all that remains is this paltry little
corner-the solitary and belated relic
of a past which can never be cebuilt.
The finger Of fate is upon it, and al
though by your votes this afternoon
you may for a few, years retard. de-
pend upon 1t you cannot avert, it's
downfall" Most interesting speeches
were made in support of Mr.. Glad
stones Bill also by Mr.. Gladstone him
self, Sir Henry James and Sir Henry
Campbell and othsr lead
ing members Of the Liberal Party. Mr..
Gladstone's Bill was rejected on a
party vote by Conservative majority
Of 80. its rejection being moved by Mr..
w. H. Smith. who then led the House
Of Commons. propose in the Bill
introduce to accomplish what Mr..
Gladstone sought to -do-to remove the
barriers which prevent Catholics &C.
cupying the positions OF Lord Chan
cellor Of England and Of Lord Lieuten-
ant in Ireland. In 1857 the provision
preventing Catholic occupying the
position Of Lord Chancellor Of Ireland
was removed. and at that time an en-
deavor was made by a former member
for the County Of Glare. Sir Colman
O'Loghlen, to remove the Disqualified
ton also in reference to the English
Office. It was argued then, however.
and indeed it was argued in the debate
on Mr.. Gladstone's Bill, that no real
prohibition against Catholics occupy
ing either the position Of Lord Lieuten-
ant Of Ireland or Of Lord Chancellor
of England really exists. Be that as
1t may, Mr.. Gladstone thought it nee
.essary to place the question beyond
doubt, and what Mr.. Gladstone propos-
ed seek to carry out In this Bill. I
also propose in this Bill to do away
with the offensive part of the access
sion declaration which the Sovereign
of this country is required to take.
There is nobody. I am sure, who can
approve Of the Catholic Church being
singled out of all the religions in the
world for denunciation in the Access
sion Oath. The late Government rec
ognized that the references to Catho-
lies. made by the King on ascending
the throne, We're offensive, ana an efs
fort was made in tho House of Lords
to remodel the oath. That effort
however, came to nothing, and the
Declaration still remains outrageously
offensive to the sentiments of millions
pf Catholics throughout the Empire. I
propose in this Bill to leave out Of
the Oath the offensive reference to
Transubstantiation. and the words.
'That the invocation or alteration Of
the Virgin Mary or any other saint,
and the Sacrifice Of the Mass, as they
are now used in the Church of Rome,
are superstitions and idolatrous" This
statement, It will readily be admitted
by every fair-minded man. is grossly
offensive (hear, hear), and, moreover,
1t is. as every Catholic knows. palpa-
bly, untrue. No Catholic adores the
Blessed Virgin or any other saint.
Alteration is reserved by Catholics for
God. In his message to India, the
King. who. 1t is said--I know not with
what truth-has no liking for the Of
fensive Oath which he was compelled
to take. declared that the indians were
not disquieted or molested because of
their religion. The Catholics, at least,
are molested, disquieted. and outrage
cusly insultcd when the most sacred
Rites Of their religion are called super
stitious, when they themselves are
branded as idolators. l, am certain no
dlmculty will be found in agreeing to
the alteration proposed in my Bill, as
every fair minded man must admit
that to single out the Catholic c,n,rch