THE POPE'S DECREE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 6

THE POPE'S DECREE.

FULL TEXT. . OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. The following is the full text of tho Pope's decree against the Irish National League : — "On several occasions the Apostolic See has given the people of Ireland, whom it has always regarded with special benovolence, suitable admonition and advice, when circumstances required, as to how they might defend their rights without injury to justice or public peace. Our Holy Father, "Leo XIII., fearing lest in the warfare that has been introduced among the Irish in contest between landlords and tenants, and which is commonly called the ' Plan of Campaign,'and in a kind of social interdict callecl ' boycotting,' arising from tho same contest, the true sense of justice and charity might be perverted, ordered the Supreme Congregation of the Inquisition to subject the matter to serious and careful examination. Hence the following was proposed to their Eminences, the Cardinals of that congregation : 'Is it permissible in disputes between landlords and their tenants in Ireland to iise the means known as the ' Plan of Campaign' and ' boyAfter long and mature deliberation, their eminences unanimously answered in the negative, and their decision was confirmed by the Holy Father on Wednesday, tho 19th of the present month. " The justice of the decision will be readily seen by anyone who applies his mind to consider that the rent agreed upon by mutual consent cannot, without violation of the contract, be diminished at the mere will of the tenant. especially when there are tribunals appointed for settling such controversies and reducing unjust rents within the bounds of equity, after taking into account the causes which diminish the value of land. Neither can it be considered permissible that rents should be extorted from tenants and deposited in the hands of unknown persons to the detriment of the landowners. " Finally, it is contrary to justice and charity to persecute by social interdict those who are satisfied to pay the rents they have agreed to pay, or those who, in the exercise of their rights, take vacant farms. It will, therefore, be Your Lordship's duty prudently but effectually to advise and exhort the clergy and laity not to transgress the bounds of Christian charity and justice while they arc striving for a remedy for their distressed condition.— " R. Cardinal Monaco. "Rome, April2o."

The Pall Mall Gazette is amazed at the

Pope's "blunder." The St. Jumes' Gazette asks what Gladstone thinks of hie position now ? " What the Vatican declared to be a damning sin, Gladstone," it says, "considers exclusive dealing."' "It is possible," the Daily News intimates, "that the Pope has been threatened with something like a schism. The decree means law and order, which were menaced by the junction of a strong British party with the' Parnellites." The Star denounces the decree as cruel, perilous, and wanton. It says, "Ireland, fighting with her back to the wall, will never, perhaps, discover the means l»y which the decree was instigated." The Standard argues thattho effect of the decree will be disastrous to the National League by lessening its contributions.

A Dublin dispatch of April 30th says the irritation caused by the Pope's decree against the Plan of Campaign is manifesting itself in strong antipathy to Monsignor Peisico, on whose report the decree is based. In the neighbourhood of the convent where the Papal emissary resides the people who formerly saluted him with respect refuse to recognise him, and the local bakery refuses to furnish bread to the convent while the Monsignor resides there. A meeting composed of Englishmen and Irishmen, held at Aldorshot on April :50th, defied the decree. They resolved to form a branch of the Home Rule organisation, and to cease contributing Peter's pence. In accordance with the orders of the Pope, a special commission of cardinals is examining Irish affairs, and especially the agitation now going on, with the object of taking further steps and perhaps revising what lias already been done. Gladstone thinks that the decree will strengthen the cause of Home Rule. Archbishop Walsh, now in Rome, declares his readiness to submit to the Pope's order, but will resign his diocese rather than act in opposition to his conscience. Should he resign it is reported that ho would be created a cardinal.

In a speech at Kilmany, County Limerick, on May 4, Dillon advised the people to adopt a Plan of Compaign, and boycott all persons who evicted farmers. Though the people, he said, were bound to obey the commands of Rome in matters of Church discipline, they would not have their politics dictated to them by Italians. The Irish leaders, to counteract the effect of the Pope's edict, arc preparing a circular calling on the members of the National League to stand firm, and arranging for 20 simultaneous League meetings. A banquet is to be given in honour of Parnell in London by eighty clubs on Monday, May 6. An important statement in regard to the Papal rescript is expected from Pariioll on that occasion.

The statement that the Pope had issued a decree condemning the " Plan of Campaign " in Ireland is confirmed. The Pontiff says he does so because he is convinced that the plan is illegal. He says he is convinced that the Land Courts will reduce all unfair rents. He believes funds are extorted from contributors to the plan. The Popo also condemns boycotting as a practice contrary t<> justice and charity. He makes no mention of the National League. The Nationalists have determined to continue the " plan " in spite of the Papal decree. Dillon spoke at Hcrbertstown on the 27th April, and said the Pope had only an imperfect knowledge of the facts, and that justice, nature, and necessity combined to condemn the interpretation of the Holy Father. The common sense of mankind would be found superior to the instigation of the Propaganda. The " decree has caused an extremely bitter feeling among the Nationalists, who indignantly resent the Government's intrigues with the Vatican; while the Conservatives and Orangemen are uneasy, fearing that in return for the Pope's action the Government will make concessions in connection with the educational question, which concessions they are determined to oppose. A later dispatch from Rome, April 20, says the College of the Holy Office was charged to examine Monsignor Persico's reports, and decide whether Catholics who belong to the National League are guilty of sin and debarred from absolution. The Congregation, ■the Pope presiding, replied in the affirmative, and drew uj> a decree to that effect. Cardinal Simeoni forwarded it to Ireland, with special instructions to Monsignor Persico and tho Irish Kpiscopacy, when instructing the clergy to enforce it, to inform them that they must refuse absolution to anyone declining to renounce membership in the League.