The Plan of Campaign.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 204, 30 August 1888, Page 2

The Plan of Campaign.

A LETTER FRQM THE POPE.

The R.M.S.. Oceana, which arrived at Albany, bringathe following news:—*.

London, July 2Q.-^The following letter from the Pope to the bishops of Ireland was read, at all the masses, in Ireland on

Sunday :—

"We have frequently directed your solicitude and thoughts to our Catholic people, and our feelings have, been more than once recorded in published documents from which they may clearly learn our dispositions towards Ireland,, "They are sutticiently attested by the provisions. whion; under, our direction, the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda made in former, years respecting Ireland, and also by letters which on more than one occasioni. we addressed to our venerable brother, Cardinal McCabo, Archbishop of Dublin. Once again they have been! arrested by the address which we recently delivered to a not inconsiderable number of Catholics belonging to your nation, from whom. we. recefved not only congratulations and heartfelt •wishes for o«r preservation, but also expressions of gratitude, on account ox our benevolent dispositions., clearly discerned by them, toward the Irish people.' Furthermore, within these past few months, when it was resolved to build a church in this city in honour ot «t. Patrick, the great apostle of the Irish, we most warmly encouraged the undertaking, and we shall substantially aid it within the limits of our resources. Now, this, our paternal affection, remaining as it does unaltered, we cannot disguise, tuafe the tidings which have recently come to us from Ireland have deeply pained and grieved us,. We have learned that an untoward excitement has suddenly arisen, because the Sacred Congregation, whose office it is to vindicate the authority of the Church against thoso who resent it, has decreed that those methods of warfare known as 'boycbiting' and the 'J^lan of Campaign,' which had begun to be employed by many, triay not lawfully b| used, and the whole more to bft deplored, as there are not a tew who have come forward and summoned people to. excited, meetings, where inconsiderate and dangerous opinions are sot in circulation, the authority of the decree not being spared; for not only i» the real scope of this decree grievously perverted by means of forood interpretations, b«t, furthermore, it is even denied the obeyance that is due to the decree, a?, if it were nob the true proper office of the Church to decide what is right and wrong in human actions. Such manner of acting is but^little in harmony with the prafession'of Christian religion, which assuredly; brings;, in its train the virtues oi moderation, reepecc and obedience to legitimate authority. Besides, in a good ca.use it. w not fitting to soem in some sense to imitate those whose pursuits are unlawful, and eeek to attain it. by disorderly efforts. Such a line of action, also is more painful to us as we. had carefully inquired into your, case, so.that we might obtain a full and reliable knowledge of the state of your affairs and of the causes of the popular discontent. Our sources of information are trustworthy. We investigated the matter in a personal interview with, yourselves. Further, last year we sent to you as a delegate a man of tried prudence and discretion, with a commission to use the greatest diligence i\\ ascertaining the truth, to make a faithful report to us. For thia very act of watchful cave the thanks of the Irish people had been/publicly given to. ua. Can it, therefore, be asserted without rashness that we have given judgment in a case with which we are hot aafficiently acquainted, more so, as we have condemned things which fair-minded m,en, not mixed in your BtEugglej and thus bringing a calmer judgment to the consideration of the case, writ© condemning? There is also a suspicion not lees unjuet, to us—namely, that the cause ot Ireland appeals but feebly to us, arid that the ppesetife condition of her people!* gives ua little care. Now, oh the contrary, we yield to 116 one in the intensity of our, feelings for the condition of the Irish people, and we have no more earnest desire than to see them at length in the enjoyment of that peace »od prosperity which they have bo well deserved. We have never opposed them, in struggling for a; better state of thingel but can it be regarded as admissible that in the carrying on of that struggle a; way should be thrown 1 open which might lead to evil deeds? Rather, indeed, for the' very r^agqn that under the influence of passion in political partisanship things lawful and unlawful are to be found mingled in some, it has been our constant effort,to mark off whafc was right from what was wrong and withhold Catholics from everything not sanctioned by Christian rule of morals. On this account we*gave to the Irish people timely counsels--to be mindful of their obligations as Catholics and tp take? part'in; nothing at v&rianCQ with natural right ov fotsbidden by Divine lawy Our recent decree oucbt wot to have come upon them unexpectedly, all; the mona as you, yourselves,|venerable brethren, as* sembled in Dublin in the year 1881, bade the clergy and people beware of everything contrary to publicI,order o£ to charity, such as refusing tb discharge just obligations, preventing, other* from dischargmgtheivs, inflicting injury ph,anyone either in petsoiv ov property, violently resisting the law of those engaged in the discharge of public duties,! joining secret societies aud the like. Theae injunctions, most just in themselves and given most seasonably, were praised and approved by ua. Never fcheless, as the people were being carried away by ever increasing Vehemence in the pursuit of the objects they desired, and as these were, not; wanting, and were being daily fanned into a flame, we perceived that sbmefcliing more definite was needed than the general precepts of justice and charity previously given. Our duty forbade Hus to .guffei: that bo many Catholics, Whose salvation must be our first care, should pursue a hazardous and unsafe course,; leading rather to disorder than to relief of distress. Let matters then be viewed intheir true light, and let Ireland redd in thia decree our love for herself and our desire to promot© a ; prosperity V she hopes for; Since nothing is so hard to accuse, however just, these instructions which we address to you, venerable brethren, j?ou will convey to tlie Irish people. W c feel confident that, united in due conformity of view and of purposes and sustained not only by your own, but also- by our authority, you will accomplish .much;.: and chiefly this:. that the. true estimate of. things' shall not continue to be Obscured by passion, and most especially that those who have urged on the people to excitement, may have cause to regret the rashness with which they; have acted. Since there are many ,who geem to seek every means of. escaping from even the plainest obligations, take all necessary steps that no room ;be left for doubt as to the force of this decree. Let it be understood by all that the entire method of acbion whose employment we have forbidden is forbidden as altogother unlawful. Let your people seek to advance their lawful interests by lawful means, and moat especially as becoming in Christians, without prejudice,to justice or to obedience to the Apostolic See/ virtues in which Ireland has, at all'timea found comfort and strength."' -' . , .■;' - ■:.'■' ; ;*■