The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-02-05
IRISH CATHOLICS TREATED UN-
FAIRLY BY PARTITION ACT
DETERMINATIONS WHICH 1T
MAKES AGAINST THEM GIVEN
IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ARE
PLACED ABOVE LAW

An extraordinary legislative anon
ally is developing in Ireland. In 1914
measure commonly called the Home
Rule Act was passed "for the better
government" of the country. 1t new
er became operative. sas..
It has been repealed by the Act
passed few weeks ago, generally
known as the Partition Act. Four
fifths of the Irish people are deter
mined not to work this statute. The
position in which it would place Cath.
olics is an acute point in the situa-
ton.
Provisions Of Partition Act
The Partition Act establishes two
Parliaments in Ireland, one for the
North and the other for the South.
For this purpose the North comprises
the six counties of Antrim, Armagh,
Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and
Tyrone, as we'll as the cities of Belfast
and Derry.
In the counties of Fermanagh and
Tyrone Catholics are in a majority.
They object to severance from the
rest of ireland and resent being forced
into Parliament where they will be
dominated by Orangemen.
Within the Northern part which the
Partition Act creates there are almost
half million Catholics. On their
behalf Cardinal Logue, Bishop Nc
Hugh, Bishop MacRory and Bishop
O'Donnell have strongly protested
against the scheme which puts them
under the Orange. yoke.
They have also condemned the
| manipulation of constituencies to the
detriment of Catholics. For instance
Derry City has Catholic majority
and at present elects Catholic rep
resentative. Under Partition it is to
be electorally merged with the county
SO that the rural Protestant vote may
| outweigh the city's Catholic prepon
| derance.
Plans for North and South
Each of the new Parliaments, NORTH
and South, is to consist of House
of Commons and Senate. In tht
Northern Parliament the Senate is tt
be elected by the House of Commons
In the Southern Parliament total,
different arrangement is to prevail
The Southern Senate is to be made VI
of representatives of various classes
and interests. This is designed to Sc
cure an appreciate Protestant ele
ment in its personnel.
The plan for electing the Northern
Senate effectively debars Catholic
from enjoying like advantage. Il
word the actions of the Orange Pal
! |liament will not be subject to an
Catholic check. The fact explain
why the Orangemen in the North ar
very eager to set up their Parlis
|, ment. In the remaining twenty-si
counties of Ireland the people will nc
recognize or accept the Partition Ac
Favors Freemasons
81 One of the most striking provision
in the Act is clause putting tn
5 Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Irelan
! above the law. 1t is expressly lai
j. down that enactments relative to III
3 lawful oaths or unlawful assemblin
a shall not apply to "the Grand Lodg
e Of Free and Accepted Masons In Ir,
|, land"
IL Neither of the new Parliaments ca
l. assail any privilege or exemption ths
o Masonry possesses.
n Another provision of the Partitio
/ Act ensures that no law shall alte
S the constitution or divert the prope
i, sty of, or in any way diminish the e
listing benefits enjoyed by the Unive