Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-07
LEGISLATURE TO HEAR BAXTER'S VIEWS
GURNEY uN0PP0SED AS SENATES HEAD
BUSY week IN PROSPECT FOR LAW. MAKERS
Lenten Pastoral
Letters Dwell on
Irish Situation

Belfast, Feb. 6-The Lenten pasto-
raj letters read today by all the Ulster
Roman Catholic bishops were devoted
to the serious situation existing in
Ireland. That of Cardinal Logue, the
primate, dealt at great length with
the situation. The cardinal declared
that he never had written under feel
lngs of deeper anxiety or with a more
vivid sense of his responsibility in the
dark prospects for the country's fu-
ture.
The cry Of suffering Ireland" he
said, despite the efforts to smother
It by propaganda will reach through
centuries, marking out a sorry place
III history for the present rulers. There
has been no word of Cancellation, but
repression pure and simple such as
mas been unknown in Ireland since
the days of Cromwell and such as
ioutstrips any example except that of
perhaps Turkey and the Bolsheviki."
Cardinal Logue proceeded in scath-
ing terms to denounce the policy of
the government. which, he said, had
robbed 1t of all sense of sacredness of
human life and extinguished the in
stinctive horror of bloodshed. He de-
clared that the so-called official re-
prisals We're acts of wanton and injus-
tice; that men guiltless Of any overt
act against law and order were
dragged out at dead of night and shot
under the eyes of their families; that
prisoners were shot in lorries under
the plea of attempting to escape
though they were surrounded by
armed men easily able to restrain
them.
Poor people who instinctively run
to cover when they see the formidable
lorries approaching are shot at sight
such is the value set on life by those
commissioned as guardians of the
peace and of tho security of the peo-
pie" he said. "LatterIy even religion
has not been spared. Sacristies Of
churches have been raided. and some
times little reverence has been shown
for sacred vessels and Vestmcnts
Churches have been surrounded by
armed men while people attending
mass were held UP and searched as
they left church. Of course, nothing
was found except prayer books and
rosaries. Catholics do not go armed
to hear mass, or prepared to commit
crime
The cardinal protested in equally Wig
, orous terms against raids on converts
and the throwing Of the sisters into
CONSERVATION.
1T must not be inferred" the cardi-
nails pastoral continued, that 1 over
, look or condone extremist crimes. The
lying in wait and shooting of police
men or soldiers is not an act of war
fare. but is plain murder and will entail
punishment hereafter. No reason adj
| duced nor any end, however noble,
could justify it,
Referring to the Intellectual peace ne
gotiations. the cardinal said that they
left the suspicion that they were mere
device INTENDED to mark time and
amuse the public until the country is
beaten fat and is despairing and pre-
pared to submit to any terms the rul-
ers may dictate, and even to swallow
the nauseous pill Of partition
The pastorals of the bishops attacked
Iawlessness. condemning the govern
ment forces and the "gunmen'' alike.
The bishop of Cork favored the accept
ance Of the partition act as the stepping
stone to obtain other concessions.
WAS the proclamation Of an Irish
republic by the Sim Fem members of
parliament after the last election sufIi-
cient to constitute Ireland as a repub-
lie, according to church teachings?''
asks Bishop Cohalan. bishop of Cork,
and he answers his own question in the
negative.