Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 38, 21 January 1898, Page 9

Irish News.

BELFAST.— Belfast Municipal Elections —The results of the Belfast Municipal Elections, which caused such intense excitement in the northern capital, are now to hand in our latest Irish exchanges. Attempts were made to divide the Catholic vote in the Falls, Dock, and Pottinger Wards, but, owing to the strenuous efforts of Bishop Henry and the Catholic Association, the attempt has ended in disastrous failure. The Catholio Association candidates have won all along the line. The first news came from the Dock Ward, and, as was to be expected, the result was a win for the Association candidates. This was at 20 minutes past 11 o'clock. Less than 10 minutes later came the announcement from the Falls Ward, showing that the Catholic Association candidates had won by nearly two to one. The result of the polling in Smithfield Ward came shortly after, and was also most gratifying, the party of faction having there sustained an equally crushing defeat. The result of the polling in these two Wards were received with cheers by the Catholio sympathisers outside the Town Hall, but beyond this no further demonstration was indulged in. Before and. during the struggle, an extraordinary Orange manifesto was posted upon the dead- walls of the contested wards, calling in hysterical tones upon the opponents of Catholic rights to remember " their forefathers who had shed their blood at Aughrim, Derry, and the Boyne," to rally to the support of the outsiders who had opposed the Association, " remembering that all the spiritual powers and intolerance of Rome are arrayed against them in this desperate struggle." For practically the first time since the Reformation Catholics — who, at the last census were over 26 per cent, of the population of Belfast, are allowed a very small and inadequate modicum of representation in the city where hitherto they have only been permitted the barest toleration. Let us hope that one result of this great moral victory over ancient bigotry will be the complete absence in future of those unfortunate dissentions among the local Catholic body, which deeply aggravated a situation that had already become well-nigh intolerable.

CORK.— Absolute Want in G-lengariffe. —On Sunday, November 14, Father Quill visited the Glengariffe district. He stated that in some cases the pinch of hunger was being already felt, and that ere Christmas at least one- third of the population would be in a state of absolute want. The potato crop was almost exhausted at the present time, but a few might be able to run them up until Christmas. Money — the people had none. Unless the unfortunate people receive some pecuniary or other support their fate before the harvest of '98 came round would be deplorable in the extreme.

DUBLIN. — Steps are being taken to hold in Dublin this year an exhibition of Irish manufactures and raw materials. Acting on a very influentially signed requisition, a meeting was called by the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House on the 24th of November. The Earl of Mayo presided, and there was a large attendance. The movement was very cordially taken up, and a strong committee was formed. The exhibition of 1882, which was got up in the face of great obstacles, was, so to speak, an artistic success, but a financial failure. With a view to setting the whole affair from the first on a sound financial basis, it was decided to form a limited liability company with a nominal capital of £30,000, in shares of £1 each, of which no more than 5s be called at any one time. By this means there would be no risk attached to the project as if the capital was not fully subscribed, a preliminary fund for expenses would be raised, and if the project was not getting the support which would warrant them in going on, then the committee would drop the project and return the money. In the meantime, it was decided " that no expenditure or liability be incurred beyond the necessary preliminary expenses till a capital be subscribed which, in their judgment, will warrant them in proceeding with the undertaking, and if the necessary subscription be not made up the project will be dropped and the money returned." On the motion of Professor Fitzgerald, of Trinity College, a guarantee fund for preliminary expenses was there and then opened. It was, moreover, decided that the newly-formed company should have authority to establish a permanent depot for the exhibition of Irish manufactures, raw materials, and products in Dublin. The success which attended the recent exhibition of the Countess Cadogan's holds out strong hopes that the proposed exhibition will be a great success. Even if it did not attract a single customer from outside the shores of the country, but served simply to direct the attention of the people at home to the excellence and variety of Irish manufactured articles, much good would be thereby effected. Happily this is one of the questions on which all Irishmen can and ought to stand together. It is therefore pleasing to note that leading men from every Irish political camp are coming

forward to assist in the new movement, which we in New Zealand hope may bring the rainbow of peace back again to the distracted councils of the old land. Centenary Of Edmund Burke-— The centenary of .Edmund Burke was celebrated on November 23 at the University Buildings, Earlsfort terrace, Dublin. The Marquis of Dufferin and Alva presided, and in an opening address paid a glowing tribute to Burke,

as " not only a great Irishman, but one of the greatest men that had

ever been born within the British Empire." He called upon the , Rev. Dr. Barry to render to the long-departed patriot " that homage 'i which was best paid to a great man by one who was of a similar

calibre to himself." In the course of an eloquent discourse the reverend orator said he had not the heart to disobey their summons. Burke represented the " greater Ireland." What was he to his generation 1 What was he to them 1 The supreme Irish genius ; in majesty of style resembling Milton, in application of the inductive method to politics, a disciple of the Baconian school ; in

philanthropy as earnest as Clarkson or Father Mathew ; in service to Ireland, not less than Swift or Grattan. He was founder of the new order of things, inasmuch as he helped to realise the aspirations of Ireland and America, and to deliver India from oppression. Not a " mere conservative," but an enemy of excess both on the side of privilege (the Parliament) and prerogative (the king). He was a reformer of abuses, but cautious in change. Therefore he was zealous in his protest against penal laws and trade restrictions Burke shares the glory with Grattan of the Parliament of 1782 acd the Catholic enfranchisement of 1793. In all the "Spirit of Laws" was his guide. When Burke took up his residence in London his tastes and his sympathies threw him into the company of Reynolds, Garrick, Goldsmith. He was the friend of Dr. Johnson and admired by him. When he reached the special sphere of his labours Burkes qualities as a speaker in the House of Commons were weight, splendour, abundance. His powers were astonishing in their variety. They marvelled at the golden balance of his American speeches, which were poetic creations. He had no personal interests ; he allowed himself at all times to be put in the second place ; he sacrificed the emoluments of office. Yet look at the number of his reforms undertaken or accomplished. They covered the Statute Book ; and were suggested by his warm humanity. Such he was to his century. There he was standing between two eras. Our distance from him was measured by the French Revolution. German philosophy, the re-action, the whole 19th century. But he foreboded a mighty change, even in 1765. What is left of him ? Some imperishable literature. Aye and more. Burke represents the entrance of Irish genius into European literature. He was one in a great succession from Swift onwards. His qualities were essentially Celtic. He would unite his fellowcountrymen in the grand thought of " Ireland, which is our mother." All sections of Irishmen were indebted to him, for his philosophy and his example might be summed up in the word " Conciliation." " I regard Burke," said Mr. Gladstone, "as to Ireland and America, with fervent and unstinted admiration ; as to France and the revolutionary war with grief ; but throughout with the reverence due to that noble combination of character and genius. As regards Ireland, it is indeed painful to me to see her bleeding from wounds inflicted by her children ; but neither my faith in her eventual destinies, nor my anxiety for their accomplishment are in the smallest degree abated." The Most Rev. Dr. Healy, Bishop of Clonfert, moved, " that a public effort should be made to perpetuate the memory of Edmund Burke, and that the committee be authorised to determine the proper course to carry out this object." In the course of an able speech he said that Mr. John Morley had told them that Burkes feeling was one of pity and sympathy for his native land. There they had the keynote of his character. From those two fountains — hatred of oppression and pity and sympathy for his native land — he got his pathos and his power, and he got that fierce and fiery eloquence (hear, hear). He had destroyed oppression in every country in Europe, from Ireland to India. Burke was elevated far beyond the greatest of his contemporaries. Dr. Healy went on to refer at length to Burkes tolerance in religious and civil matters. Burke, and Burke alone, was the first man in the British senate who had laid the foundation of civil and religious liberty, and laid open the temples for their fellow-countrymen to worship at the sacred shrine. Through his instrumentality the Government of the day were induced to make some provision for the education of the Irish Catholic priesthood. Maynooth College was founded in 1795. But Burkes interest in the infant institute went farther. He told the Irish bishops through their agent that they should not allow the representatives of the Government in Dublin to have any meddling with the discipline and teaching of that college, and that if they did the project would be mischievous ; and said also in very strong language that if they (the bishops) allowed Government control over their clerical education or over any other part of their education, then they would have sold their religion for their (the Government's) money. They had not forgotten that saying of the wisest, the greatest and the best man of the time. They would never forget it. The Government at that time acted on Burkes advice as to the College of Maynooth, and, to do them justice, they did not want to interfere with the teaching or discipline of Maynooth and Maynooth was a success. Elmund Burke was an honour to his country. Everyone present could join in doing honour to Edmund Burke because he was a benefactor to every Irishman throughout the world. He therefore hoped that the meeting would receive with acclamation, and afterwards put into practise the resolution whioh he proposed. Dr. Healey's motion was seconded by the Earl of Mayo. Among those who took part in the centenary celebration were the Most Rev. Dr.Peacocke, Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, the Right Hon. 0. T. Redington. Professors Tyrrell and Armstrong and many others. Foley's beautitul statue of Burke stands just within the railings of Trinity College, opposite to that of Goldsmith. The movement is, however, now fairly afloat which will give a further visible and lasting expression to the gratitude which Irish Catholics feel for his noble and life-long efforts in the cause of religious liberty and to the unstinted admiration which fair-minded people of all creeds share in common for the genius and nobility of his character. Our readers will be interested to learn that this distinguished patriot and orator probably died in the religion of his mother. Such was the opinion of Thomas D ( Arcy McGee, who thus wrote in the Dublin Nation. 12th of July, 1851 :—"ln: — "In his last illness Edmund Burke was attended by Rev. Father Hussey, afterwards Bishop of Waterford, by whom, it is believed, he was received into the Catholio faith."

MAYO. — The Outlook for the Winter.— Speaking at a meeting in Belmullet for the purpose of directing attention to the distress in the Barony of Erris, and suggesting the Bteps necessary to afford employment in order to mitigate the severity of the crisis, the Right Rev. Mgr. Hewson, P.P., V.G., pointed out that the people of Erris were now almost face to face with the great crisis. They were met to ask the Government to come to their assistance in a

period of dire distress that was fast approaching. It was nearly twelve months since they had met there and made an appeal to the Government, an appeal to which they had turned a deaf ear. Now, after their experience of the disastrous harvest following the partial failure of last year, they were in a position to bring 1 prominently to the notice of the Government the pitiable state of that district. The potato crop, if not a total failure, was almost a total failure. Was not that true ? Was it not also the fact that this was the second season in which that failure had proved to be greater than it was in 1896 ? If in 18% they had a remnant of a blighted potato they had a potato that was eatable. Their experience this year was that even a remnant was not left of fit food, for not only human beings, but for the cattle or the hens. This being the state of things it was their duty to make known to the Government the pitiable condition of the people. They asked not for charity, but employment, and employment at work that would be of permanent utility to the district after this crisis had passed away. Yes, a railway to Belmullet, no matter from where or by what route, but a railway that would be of use to the district, and open up the country. Mr. Balfour had replied to a recent request to him to receive a deputation, that he had full knowledge of the facts, and there was no use in his meeting a deputation except they had some additional facts, not mentioned before, to bring forward. The steamer communication up to the present had been of no use or benefit whatever. MONAGHAN.— Address by John Dillon —On Sunday, November 14, Mr. John Dillon addressed a splendid gathering of the Nationalists of Monaghan and Cavan. The enthusiasm which characterised the demonstration shows that discord has no foothold among the patriotic people of the North. Mr. Diilon enforced the necessity of thorough organisation in order that the tenant farmers of Ireland might be enabled to live and thrive in their own land. The lesson of the past told them plainly that in combination lay their main hope of fighting the twin forces of the evictor and the grabber. It is an irristible weapon in the hands of a united people ; and let but Irish Nationalists from one end of the country to the other determine to re-organise their strength, so that they may reap the full benefit of its effective use, and ere long Irish landlordism will be lopped of its iniquities.

TIPPERARY.— New Parish Priest.— We learn that his Lordship the Most Rev. Dr. Sheehan, Bishop of Waterford, has

appointed Rev. James Henneberry, C.C.. Clogheen, to the pastoral charge of Modelligo and Affane, near Dungarran. WESTMEATH.— RaiIway Employees' Troubles. — On Sunday night a mass meeting of the members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants engaged in Athlone and on the western branch of the railway, was held for the purpose of discussing their position, having regard to the refusal of the Midland Great Western Railway directors to meet them collectively or to recognise their association. As a result of the meeting, that a strike is threatened, and ballot papers have been directed to issue at once. The occurrence has occasioned considerable local excitement as well as among the railwaymen. Nearly all branches of servants were represented at the meeting, and the delegates from the outside stations were also very numerous. Mr. M. Kilkelly, chairman Athlone Town Commissioners, presided. Mullingan Annual Fair. — The great annual fair closed on Friday. From the opening day on Wednesday, November 17, the unfavourable climatic conditions which prevailed rendered business transactions of a decidedly unpleasant nature, the heavy downpour of rain which continued rendering it almost impossible to be out of doors. Taken all round the prices showed a downward tendency, and producers had a somewhat disappointing time. In the equine department horses were numerically smaller than on former occasions. The tone in this section in general was fairly good, and any animal of a presentable appearance sold freely and well, but in no way like previous years. Hunters were fairly numerous?, though few really high class animals of this type were on show. Medium quality was plentiful enough, and considering the times that are m it sold at prices satisfactory to vendors. Harness horses were scarce, as were cobs and ponies. For troopers there was a nice demand at usual figure. For hunters the average figures were from £45 to £ 100. The supply of horned stock was not as large as in previous years, which is to be accounted for by the largo quantity of stock purchased recently in and about the neighbourhood, and good cattle were scarce. All round selling was slow, and prices were much under those obtained at the September fair. The quotations were — Beef, 48s to 52s per cwt. ; three and four years old, £15 to £20 apiece ; two years old, £13 to £16 ; one and a half years old, £9 to £11 ; yearlings, £6 to £9 ; mutton, 6d to 7£d per lb. ; ewe mutton, 5d to 6d per lb. In the pig fair there was a lar,ge supply, and prices

/ruled — Light bacon, 39s to 41s per cwt. ; heavy do, 38s to 10s ; store pigs, 25s to 35s ; bonhams, 10s to 16s. WEXFORD.— Tom Cat and County Court Judge-— At the recent Quarter Sessions, presided over by County Court Judge Kane, an unusual and extremely diverting scene was witnessed. A splendid looking torn cat made its appearance in court, and being cuffed about by some persons jumped on to the witness table. Whilst lightly tripping over the lawyers' papers and black bags one of the legal gentlemen shied at it a heavy volume on the Lands Acts, but the cat was too quick for the lawyer, and sprang 1 instantly on to the bench beside the County Court Judge. With flaming eyes it made a spring for the wig on the judge's head. His honour, however, ducked in time, and the cat came a cropper. His Honour took the affair most good humouredly, whilst the Bar and the general public laughed heartily. The Land Commissioners in Wexford. —On Tuesday November 16, Mr. Justice Bewley, Commissioner the Hon. Gerald Fitzgerald, Q.C.,and Mr. Commissioner Lynch sat in the courthouse, Wexford, and commenced the hearing of a list of appeals from the decision of the Sub-Commissioners who have recently been sitting in the County Wexford. In all, 128 cases were for hearing, of which 122 were appeals by landlords and in six cases there were cross appeals by tenants. In no single case was there an appeal by the tenant alone. The Court Valuers valued in all cases higher than the judicial rent with four exceptiors, and for those four cases the total reductions from the judicial rent amounted to eleven shillings and one penny. Having disposed of thirteen cases in which no question but that of the fair rent arose the Court took up the cases on the Biddulph Colclough estate, which were a hundred and nine in number, all landlord appeals. Mr. Norris Goddard appeared for the landlord. Mr. Colfer, Mr. Browne and Evans Boyd appeared for the tenants. GENERAL. Irishmen in France.—" The Irish may not rule in Ireland, but an Irishman stands a good chance of rule in France," said Charles D. Connor, of Boston. "He comes of the old and honoured family of Kavanaughs, descendants of which are found everywhere. Although he spells his name differently, Mr Cavaignac is of the same family. He is descended from the Mac-Murrough Kavanaghs, who

were kings of Leinster, and according to this authority the late Mr. Kavanagh of Borri*, long a member of the house of Commons, was a relative of M. Cavaignac. The similarity of pronounciation in the two names is interesting viewed in this light. Should M. Cavaignac attain the presidency of the republic, he will be the second man of Irish descent to hold that high honour. Marshal MacMahon was was always proud of his Iribh ancestry." — St. Louis Globe-Demo-crat. , The World's Oldest Women.— Mrs Emily Stevens, who h'aß just celebrated her 102 nd birthday at Kingston Workhouse, and Miss Mary Ann Crothers, who is living at Philadelphia, in her 104 th year, must both yield precedence on the ground of m niurity to three Irishwomen now living, who are respectively 117, 1 14, and 105 years old. Mrs. Annie Armstrong, who live 3at Spanish Point, near Miltown Malbay, County Clare, was born early in 1781, and is accordingly in her 117 th year. She remembers the period of the rebellion of 1798 very vividly, and can recall without difficulty the names of personal friends who lost their live?, some on the loyalist, and others on the rebel side. Again, a Miss Margaret Halloran, who was born in Coolock in the Queen's County in 1784, is living in the workhouse at Parsonstown, Queen's County, in her 114 th year, in full possession of all her faculties. She had a brother a year older than she, who enlisted in the army in 1800, and was killed at Waterloo. She spent the active part of her life in domestic service, but has been for the past 43 years an inmate of the Parsonstown woriihouse. A Mrs. Margaret Toohey, who is living in Parsonstown, was born on the 17th March, 1793, and is therefore aged 105. She has lost the use of her limbs, but her mental faculties are unimpaired. She res-ides with her daughter, who is advanced in years, but able to support her mother by her earnings. It is stated that these three centenarians have much in common. They are identical in having blue eyes, in being from three to five inches shorter than they were in their earlier years, and in not discarding a snuff or a smoke. Help from Irish Exiles.— A magnificent subscription of 5000 dollars is announced from Toronto to the funds of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and it is also announced that a committee has been formed to organise further subscriptions for the same object. The subscribers already number all the leading men of Toronto — , for the leading men are all Irishmen and Nationalists. The Archbishop of Toronto heads the list, and Mr. Edward Blake, v, hose

purse is always open for Nationalist purposes, gives a splendid contribution of 1,000 dollars. There are few men, indeed, who can refuse a tribute of admiration to Mr. Blake's devotion to the Irish cause. Mr. Blake threw up a great career in Canada to help Ireland. He was the leader of the Liberal Party there, and had he chosen to remain would now be at the head of his party, be Prime Minister of the greatest of the colonies — an honoured post which his successor fills. Mr. Blake's sacrifice was a great one, financially and otherwise. But he has not been content with that sacrifice. He has worked untiringly, crossing and recrossing the Atlantic at great expense, organising help, and contributing himself with a generous hand. To his exertions the starting of this new Canadian fund and the first subscription of over £1000 is due. It is gratifying to note that simultaneously with this news comes a letter from Mr. Winter, of the Melbourne Advocate, an old friend of Ireland, enclosing Mr. Michael Davitt a fine contribution of £52 for the Irish cause. These (the Dublin Freeman says) are strong proofs that our people abroad are still willing and anxious to aid in pushing on the cause of Home Rule. Had we unity at Home the financial aid which would be forthcoming would in all likelihood be fourfold. But even under present conditions many of the Irish exiles are apparently determined that in the fight of next session our representatives will not be left resourceless. This is another gratifying evidence of the awakening that is everywhere visible, and another of the signs that fie day is not far distant when the h\ r ht for the nation's liberties will again gather something like its old strength.