American Notes.
New Zealand Tablet, Rōrahi XV, Putanga 45, 2 Poutūterangi 1888, Page 5
Mō tēnei niupepa
American Notes.
The Irish National Delegates, Sir Thomas Eemonde and Mr. O Connor, M.P.'s, who for some months have been travelling through the States, meeting everywhere with a cordial welcome and warm support of the cause they advocate, had what may be regarded as their culminating reception at Washington on December 14. Th« chair at their meeting was taken by Senator Sherman, and on the platform were Senators Palmer, Hawley, and Ingalls, and a very large number of the members of Congress. The Chairman testified eloquently aa to the sympathy felt by the American people generally for the cause of Ireland, wnich, he said, was based on the right of the Irish people to hold the privileges of freemen. Senator Ingalls asserted that the cause of Ireland was not only that of America but that as well of humanity itself. He recalled the reasons the American people had to distrust the governing classes of Great Britain— whose degraded soldiery, wl:hin the memory of men in all probability present, had sacked and burned the Capital, and who had done everything short of actual hostilities in the late war to secure the downfall of the American Unien. " I shall never cease to remember that awful period," he said. " There was not a battleneld for American liberty which was not illustrated by Irish valour and consecrated by Irish blood." Senator Hawley also alluded to the bias of England in the war— when a great many Englishmen exulted in what was apparently the downfall of the Bepublic. Several resolutions were passed pledging support and expressing ardent sympathy with the National cause. What gave a greater significance to the demonstration was the presence of Mr. Chamberlain in the Federal capital. On returning to New York, whence the delegates will sail for England, Mr. O'Connor, in replying to the assertion made by the London Times that their mission had baen a failnre spoke as follows :— " It is scarcely necessary to lose time in refuting shnders by the Time*, for it never opens its mouth upon the Irish question without libelling the Irish people, or telling some of the most barefared lies. The one in question is a barefaced lie. We were greeted with crowded houses everywhere we went, and large receipts were the result. I think the coming Parliament will witness some great changes, possibly a dissolution ; and, if a dissolution, the return of a majority of Liberals pledged to Home Rule for Ireland. A hitch has occurred in the Fisheries Commission, and an adjournment for a week or two has taken place, The point of disagreement is said to be the reciprocity treaty with Canada, on which the Dominion lays great weigkt, and which, indeed, is affirmed bysome authorities to be necessary to the continuance of the union with England. But to this it is well known the Senate, with whom it will rest to ratify the arrangement made, would never agree. Tha quee» tion of the fisheries is, in fact, a question of protection, and, a* such, tke whole population of the States, and not merely those fiahinff communities immediately engaged, are interested. Besides this, th« recruitment of the navy in events of war is inrolved in the matter, for, even if it be true that the crews who man the fishing schoonen are drawn from British settlements, in becoming American fishermen they are obliged by law to become also naturalised citizens of the Republic, and, as such, in case of war they would be called npon to give it their services, as, of course, they understand when they seek for naturalisation. With the recovery, besides, of extended right 9 and the removal of the difficulties now standing in the way, it may be concluded that the fisherman's calling would become more popular among the residents on the American coasts. But as to reciprocity, concerning which the hitch has occurred, the chiaf set-off offered by Canada— that is, the inshore fishing— it looked apon as completely inadequate, and but little value is placed upon it by the People who are more immediately interested. The Commission reassembles on January 4, and no doubt the final result will be made known without much further delay. The nature of the anti- Catholic controversialist has received a fresh exposure in the refusal of the well-known publishing houje in Boston of Rand, Avery and Co. to bave anything to do wibi a bock sent them for publication by a certain Rev. Justim D. Fultoa, who has for some time been lecturing, after the usual faehioa, on toeanti-Catholic platform. The heads of tha firm in quartern rotund point-blank to disgrace their establishment by undertaking so foul a task. The women compositors it was who draw the attentioa of the. manager to the character of the copy placed in theit hands, and complained that they were outraged in the matter. Considering theanti-Catholic publications that have been made without demur, w» may conclude either that publishers are growing more decent, or that controversialists find the tastes of their public growing more depraved, and are therefore, very probably with all good-will, suiting their composition to the requirements of the day, • i. Tlie Jubilee of the Hol y Father has been generally celebrated with great rejoicing throughout the States, The chief celebration, however, took place at Baltimore, where Cardinal Qibbons alee delivered a splendid panegyric of the Papacy as illustrated especially in the career of its present glorious occupant. The testimony borna to the greatness of the Pope, nevertheless, was not limited to Catholio speakers and writers only. The Press generally throughout tfce States has bean most generous in its expressions, and even from non- Catholic pulpits eloquent praiaei of the Pope were in Borne iastamee* proclaimed. The Rev. Dr. Bettelueim, a well-known Jewish Rabbi, particularly distinguished himself in this way. Jubilee honours have been conferred by His Holiness on Mr. John Goode, of Brooklyn, N.T who, having come to the States a poor little boy from Galway, be* attained to distinction and realised a large fortune as an inventor ol machinery. His merits as a Catholic have now been recognised by the Pope in the title of Roman Count conferred upon him. Mr. Charles L, Webster, the New York publisher, has also been honoured
