THE IRISH CAUSE AT ROME.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 16, 7 August 1885, Page 21

THE IRISH CAUSE AT ROME.

r— ♦• • « • ,/•>." '' The following is the fifth letter of the remarkable series apuearine XT-K T -- c 81gaature " A Catholic and an Irishman," in the F^ff^S, TO THIS HDITOE. Sir,— As a Oatholio and aa Irishman I must, in the name of the Irish people, thank Uhita CaUolica for the manner, in which my letters have been received, and an opportunity afforded me for stating, as far as I can, the case of Ireland. Foreign opinion reeardine Ireland is ia a great measure formed from the English papers-a very' prejudiced and deadly source. It is a great pity that Irish journals are not consulted by foreigners when they wish to know the truth about Irish affairs. As well might a man outside the true faith, anxious to know the tenth about the Infallibility of the Pope, the Vatican Oouncil, or the Syllabus, consult, as an unerring guide, Mr. Gladstone's book, entitled « Vaticanism," or the Freemason' journals : or, if he desired to know the truth about the Temporal Power, take as his guide the most Freethiuking member of the Italian Parliament, as any foreigner take for his authority about Irish affairs the English journals, Mr. Errington, or the many English cliques in Rome (1 don't care how pious the individual 'members may 1 be> <Mr. Errinfc»ton— 67 M y question is asked labou}; Win, in ihe English 1 Parliament —•Mr. Gladstone repudiates him as an accredited Minister at Bbma Surely, if he had a spark of manhood he would not occupy such a doubtful position. However, I think I shall let him alone for some time, as really the creature is not worth it. He bas been untrue to the principles on which the Irish people elected'him to 'enter Parliament. Poor fellow, history will, if it speaks of him at all, Ukely chronicle him aa something, very small, very mean, and scarcely worth contempt. '" • ™' i> * What was the Land League? What really were its objects f Land League. The name of Land League is a million times worse than Freemason in the eyes of many Mnglish aristocratic Catholics to whom even Irish Catholicism is a thing to be admitted and spoken of, well, "as very good, you know," but, after all, Vulgar. With them anything Irish is, not chio. I have already spoken of Home Rale I have told, too, of Daniel O'Connell's long constitutional agitations for a native Parliament. Until the year 1870, the Irish people had to pay an enormous sum of money every year for the support of the Protestant Church in Ireland, although more than three-fourths of the population of Ireland was Catholic. An Act was also passed by Mr. Gladstone about the year 1860, to amend the Land Laws of Ireland. This Act gave in some measure a right to the land to the inhabitants of one province only in Ireland, and that was in Ulster, where by far the greatest number of Protestants lived. In the South, East, and West of Ireland the farmers got no benefit by this Land Act. The South, the East and the West were Catholic. "45 utio disceomnes." ' Manufactories had been discouraged in Ireland. In fact, in the Catholic parts of Ireland before the year 1800 the woollen trade had flourished. Special laws were passed to suppress it, while at the same time the linen trade was fostered by the Government in the so-called Protestant part of Ireland— viz., the North. In fact, in the Catholic parts ot Ireland nothing was left to them but to be mere tillers of the soil— "hewers of wood and drawers of water." When they bad tilled and fertilised the soil they were still at the mercy of the landlords, who could throw them out any day, no matter how long they or their forefathers had worked in that land. Or the landlord might come and raise the rent when he liked. Was this not a sad atate%f affairs ? Yet such was, and even is, Ireland. The diocese of Meath one of the most fertile spots in Ireland — richer fat in a way than the fertile plains of Lombardy— bad in 1846; 340,000 Catholics. J&ow it bas only one-half— viz., 170,000 (one hundred and seventy thousand) Catholics. The Most Bey. Dr. Nulty, Bishop of Meath, can bear me out in this, I think. I appeal to him, although I only know him from the public Press. Think of what he saw in Mountnugent when he was a curate only, when, as I said, 700 people were evicted in one day, as I stated in my last letter, and ask yourself, if he has, as he has, the heart of a good Catholic bishop, must he not feel sore-hearted over the state of his diocese. As he makes his visitation and sees the cattle grazing where ha Knew there were in olden times happy homes and firesides, must he not feel deeply the state of Ireland 1 I wonder he is so charitable. English papers have written strongly about bis last pastoral. Put yourself in his position, and you must admire as I take it, his charity and forbearance, "Ab uno disee omnes," as I have said.

The Land League was founded by Michael Davitt, a name dear to Ireland. In his youth himself and his family had been thrown on the roadside. He went to England, where he supported his mother and lost his arm in a factory. His mind was filled with the terrible scenes he had witnessed and experienced. A young man at the time of the abortive and foolish attempt at rebellion in 1866, he threw himself into the cause. He was wrong, but he was young aDd bia experience had been awful. I have often heard him since publicly state in meetings to young hot-blooded men, who cried out, " Let us appeal to the rifle or the sword 1 " that they were foolish and must be wise ; that he bad entertained those ideas, but that that was not the way to win the cause of Ireland. He has only one arm. 'I believe he would not only give it but his life for Ireland. What did he do 1 He sold arms in 1866, was condemned to fifteen years' penal servitude in 1870. In the prison be commenced to study, made him. self a master of languages, and, above all, of political economy, until the very Government which imprisoned him set him free to examine him about prison discipline and technical education. [do not agree perhaps with all his views ; neither do I agree with all the views ot the Parliamentary Party ; but I admire the men who are working so earnestly for a common cause, which must and will succeed, for the Irish aTe Catholic to the heart, and they pray for God's blessing on their work, and it must succeed. Catholics first, Irishmen afterwards. These are our watchwords. Michael Davitt was the founder of the Land League. I give now the objects of this League as

published in their rules. Ireland at once awoke to the call. These objects cut at the very root of Irish evil. Priests and people joined together, — the priests to keep the people from secret societies of whatever kind they might be, and to restrain the people from -violence. The Irish love their bishops and priests as they, love the Pope, and have never yet disregarded the command of Holy Church. Is ttore in the whole world a nation where priests and people are so united? Lord Cowper was then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Tbe Government taw that a great power was rising in Ireland, and they grevr afraid, for it was a Catholic power, and constitutional so far. Lord Cowper made a speech. He said he would drive this Land Leaga* under the surface. He did so. Seized an occasion to make it illegal. The meetings were public until he took this action, and then by one misguided stroke he drove the priests from the society, and consequently drove it under the surface and into tne hands of, perhaps, men who, driven to desperation, believed only in secret societies. Had Ireland not been as purely Catholic as she is the result might have been terrible. The Law of Saspecte was passed, and if only a policeman stated that he twpected a man he was at once put into prison . No trial, no redress, but to stay there at the Lord Lieutenant's will. Men were ruined and homes broken up. The time was terrible in Ireland, and but for the prudence and zeal of the Irish priesthood and episcopacy, Ireland might have been again bathed in a sea of blood. A garrison of above 30,000 soldiers and nearly 20,000 semi* military police filled Ireland to overawe the people. This was the result of Cowper's driving the agitation under the surface. It was a terrible time for Ireland. I shall speak of che No Bent Manifesto in my next letter, and then of the National League. I wish merely to state facts, and to put them quietly before your readers. lam not afraid of fair, unbiassed public opinion. I challenge denial. Looking calmly at these matters, does it not seem a wonder that Ireland is a o good and faithful as she ia 1 We love and respect our bishops and priests, we nave ever been faithful to them and to our holy religion ; we shall ever be so, please God, for Irishmen take as their motto. 11 Faith first, Fatherland after." A Catholic and An Irishman.