The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-09-24

ING ON IRELAND
which he took in his Pastoral of 1857,
when he claimed that these three
kingdoms are indissoluble," that they
have been consolidated by ages Of
time" and that "the onward march of
Divine Providence has accomplished
this fusion of races"
Right and Might.
Third: Whether he would or not
still hold as an English imperalist that
conquest gives right of sovereignty
against the will of the people, or, in
other words, might makes right, he
| could not certainly today impose that
as an obligation of conscience on the
Irish Catholics of London and have it
proclaimed, as so binding in con-
science, from the Catholic pulpit
| through the lips of Irish priests. For
if the assertion of Ireland's right to
independence is wrong in London, it
| is wrong in Ireland, and in America,
| and in Australia, and in Rome Yet
the assertion is made in all these
places, either with the appreciation or
| tacit consent of the Ordinaries, and
with the permission of the Holy See,
whose duty it would be to intervene if
it was resisting of the ordinance of
God.
Fourth: The revolutions of 1S48
were yet exerting their effects on the
| minds of men in 1867. The rights of
governments were exaggerated and
the rights of the people deprecated or
forgotten to considerable extent.
Origin of Civil Power.
Fifth: What is the origin of civil
power? On what does international law
ultimately rest? If one nation has the
right to enter the territory of another
and rule it's people against their will,
whence does this right come? When
does it come? These are questions of
Ethics. 1 do not intend here to an
swer them nor to examine them. But
this must be noted: The nations of
the world, and the governments of the
world through their ministers, for the
past seven years, have unanimously
proclaimed the "indefeasible right OF
every nation, great and small, to
choose the form of government under
which its people are to live
English statesmen proclaimed it
louder than any others. The Pope has
given it his blessing and approval. 1t
was at the basis of his Encyclical for
a peaceful settlement during the war;
1t was the chief and most widely &C.
copied and welcomed of President Will
sons fourteen points.
Even to this day, no government has
challenged it in principle. Cardinal
Bourne has challenged it, but not as
a principle. He, in fact, said that
Catholics should in some cases be pre-
pared to give up their right for the
good of others. He, therefore, &C.
knowledges the right of self-determi-
nation, but denies it's exercise in par
ticular cases-within the British EN-
pire. But it may be asked, what is
"for the good of others?' He in
stanced India and said that it would
there destroy all hope for the CONVEX.
sion of the country; whereupon The
Catholic Herald of India itself answer.
ed: 1--WE do not know about that"
Whatever be the answer Cardinal
Manning would give today, he certain
ly could not base his arguments on the
principles he laid down in 1867. ODE.
dience is indeed due to Legitimate
sovereigns," as he then said, and to
rightly constituted governments. But
who are Legitimate sovereigns?" And
how are governments legitimately con-
stituted? AS he then wrote: GAS the
world moves onward, the Providence
of God calls into existence new social
orders; and out of them arise right,
justice, and sovereignty" there is no
returning upon the past" The prin-
ciple universally proclaimed during
the past seven years, and universally
accepted today even by those who re-
fuse to apply it in particular cases but
do not dare to deny it, will stand. The
peoples of the world have gained this
much, and they will hold what they
have gained. We cannot return to
1867
Pope and Ireland.
Sixth: 1t is hardly necessary to add
that the highest moral authority in the
world, and the highest religious for
all Catholics, has recognized Ireland
as distinct nation with distinct ma
tional rights. This is plainly evident
in the Holy Fathers letter to Cardinal
Logue. He puts Ireland on the same
level with England, declares his neu-
trality between them, and recommends
that the question at issue be refer
red for discussion to some body of men
selected by the whole Irish nation"
AS a prelate, Cardinal Manning was
distinguished particularly for his def
erence and loyalty to the Holy See,
and it is impossible to see how in the
face of this letter he would attempt to
impose an obligation of conscience on
the Catholics under his charge, which
is clearly excluded by this letter of the
Holy Father.
EAMON DUFFY.