The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-05-29
SAYS MASS IS SUPERST|T|OUS AND |D0LATR0US
London Newspaper Authority For the Statement That
Catholics Are More Numerous in His Army
Than Nonconformsts.

A London dispatch to the American
relative to the British sovercign's in
sultinG declaration on his ascension
to the throne:
VILLAIN Redmonds bill. providing
for alteration of the insulting royal
declaration. in which the British SOW
ereign at his accession is required to|
stigmatizc certain Catholic beliefs and
practices as superstitious and idola-
trous. passed it's second reading today
In the House of Commons by a vote
of 1873 to 1913. Although similar bills
have been debated on many previous
occasions, this Is the first time that
one has passed its second reading.
However. as the bill is not a govern
mcnt measure. there Is little prospect
of finding time to pass 1t into a law
at the present session.
Mr.. Redmonds bill not only delctes.
the insulting portions of the royal
declaration, but5t also removes certain
Catholic disabilities still remaining on
the statute books
Premier Asquitll spoke carly in the
debate and gave his cordial support to
the objects of the bill. He declared
that the exclusion of Catholics from
the lord chancellorship and the lord
licutenancy was quite uniustifahlc on
tho grounds OF either logic or policy
Regarding the declaration. tho premier
said that it was dated during the Worst
period of British history. The Ian
guagc therein could not he justified
and the time had come to put an end
to 1t.
In the House Of Lords on Thursday,
April 20, the Duke Of Norfolk asked tho
government what course they had
decided to adopt in regard to the royal
declaration. He said that in December
last the noble earl (of Crewc), the
leader or tho House. stated that the
government had in anxious cOnsidcra-
tion whether any solution could be
arrived at IN regard to this question.
At the present moment bill had been
introduced in another place dealing
with this. among other subjects, and
the situation was not ono that could be
allowed to remain as It. was.
The Earl Of Crewe: ~ only wish
that ] could make reply which could
he more satisfactory to tho noble duke.
In considering this question of the
royal declaration there arc two classes
of persons whom at no time we can
hope to satisfy. At the one end there
are those who will not be content
unless the declaration is abolished al
together, or an absolutely coloress
other end there is a class Of persons
which Is not, should hope. a very
numerous class. so enamorcd with the
| phraseology Of the existing declaration
that they cannot bear to see It altered
| in any particular. Between these two
bodies there exists, believe, the very
| great majority Of the people Of this
country, who desire to see. or at any
rate are prepared to accept. some new
| formula which would make the position
OF the sovereign on the solemn occa
sion of his first meeting with Parlia-
ment perfectly clear In relation to this
matter, but at the same time would be
| entirely devoid of those expressions
which are so offensive to many millions
Of his majestys subjects, and which
must be, as we feel, most painful ia
any so. ereign to utter. Experience.
am sorry to say. has shown us how
dificult 1t is to find a formula of that
kind, because within that large class
representing, as have said I believe il
does, the great majority of the people
of the country, there is a great diver.
sity Of opinion as to how far the
formula ought to go in stating that tht
sovereign repudiates and does no
accept the Roman Catholic faith. ant