PARNELLISM CONDEMNED AT ROME.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4445, 22 July 1887, Page 3

PARNELLISM CONDEMNED AT ROME.

The Rome correspondent of tin- L >i don Daily Chronicle writes as follows under the heading “Parnellism Condemned at Rome” :—“ 1 have been favoured to-day with an advance proof of the noemior on ‘lreland as it is Now,’ which has hi eo drawn up by the Irish College here for presentation to the Vatican. It beyios by pointing out that in the Parnell or Fenian movement, interests far higher and holier than the national advantages sought are at stake. Genuine Irish grievances are no longer heard of, the cry for total sep aration having replaced all otheis. What was the reason of the revolt of 1886, condemned by Pius IX., is no* regarded as a mere matter of prac tical politics. * But,’ says the memior, acta against morality and religion, or the peace of society, cannot like the chameleon of Mr Gladstone, change their hue,’ and the acts of Mr Parnell and his followers are still under Papal condemnation. It is not necessary, therefore, for Pope Leo to condemn them, although to quote the memoir— 1 This their leader, being a free thinker, and outside the pale of the church, is exempt from. But

that will not exempt his followers who profess to be Catholics,’ After condemning Mr Parnell for the association with the apostles of violence it declares that to accomplish his self assumed task of breaking the link that united Ireland and England, he has made traitors of the masses of the Irish people. The means by which it is sought to dissolve the union are denounced in the most unmeasured terms, and the tools employed to apply terrorism in Ireland are held up to public execration. The memoir then continues :— * The acts of the Fenian party are the surest witnesses we can have—first, of what their rule is, and, second, what it will be if they get the supreme power they now lay claim to. . . The Catholics of Rome and

others favourable to the Paruelite movement can have no notion of the horrible terrorism of which the Parnellite rule, wherever it has prevailed, has been the cause. It is that terrorism which has from the first been the source and strength of Mr Parnell’s power ’ In support ; of this view, gives a long catalogue of agrarian crime committed between January Ist, 1886, and March 31st, 1886, derived from the last report of the Inspectar-General of the Irish Constabulary, and declares that the perpetrators of these atrocious outrages must be brought up to punishment, if the loyal section of the population is not to be exterminated. It insists that anyone who has any sympathy 'with the sufferings of mankind should hail with joy the passing of the Crimes Act, and adds ;— ‘ But incredible as it might seem, there is a party opposed to it in the House of Commons, on whom the appalling sufferings of that defenceless class who are being mercilessly hacked down and butchered as if they were wild beasts go for nothing—a party led by the very man, who only 10 years ago. passed a Coercion Bill tliai Nero or Draco would hardly have dared to pass. The bill is opposed by them on the plea that it is a Coercion Bill, and not what the House of Commons calls it—a Crimes Bill. That is their plea for the conspiracy now entered into by Mr Gladstone and Mr Parnell to impede its passing and becoming speedily law. They hope by this inhuman process to prolong the reign of terrorismwhich now obtains in Ireland, because they see that in its extension the reign of Parnellism and crime will come to an end. ”