Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 46, 13 November 1902, Page 9

Irish News.

CAVAN.— Death of a Priest.

The death is announced of the Rev. Bernard McCabe, P.P., Killinkere, near Vireinia, County Cavan. Tho deceased was 64 years of ago, and for close on 40 years he had ministered as a priest in the diocese of Kilmore.

CLARIi. — A Wise decision.

The County Clare magistrates have passed a resolution recognisiing that the number of licenses in Ireland is in excess of public needs, and suspending the granting of any new licenses for five \eais.

CORK.— The Exhibition.

The total number that have passed tho turnstiles of the Cork International Exhibition up to Thursday, September 18, was 1,025,804.

DUBLIN. — Drowning Accident.

Mr. R. E. Jameson, son of Major Eustace Jameson, M.P., was drowned about the middle of September, while bathiing at Blackrock. Ho went for a bathe, and nothing more was seen of him.

Newspaper Prosecution.

The prosecution of the editor of the ' Irish People,' Mr. T. McCarthy, and his colleagues, Messrs. O'Dwyer and Holland, was resumed in Dublin on September 22. Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien, with Mr. Swift MacNeill and Michael Davitto, were pnesent m the Court. Mr. Bodkin, for the defendants, applied for ' a subpoenas to compel the attendance as witnesses of Mr. Wyndham and of Lord Barrymore and the leading members of the Landlords' Combino. The magistrate refused, saying that all the witnesses, unless Mr. Wyndham. were outside the jurisdiction of that Court, and in Mr. Wyndham's caso the evidence outlined would be admissable. Certain passages from tho files of the ' Irish People ' were then read and argued by the Crown to be intimidatorv One or two (interesting passages followed. An expert in handwriting was asked where he got his expertness, and admitted that ho was formerly a graphologist on a Nationalist newspaper in Dublin, but now a clerk in a Dublin Castle office. 'At first, hko most people, he started defending prisoners and then he was taken up by tho Crown.' Another witness cited was a man named'Finlay, who had been employed by the detectives to purchase copies) of the paper. Finlay refused to give evidence for the Crown at tho risk of imprisonment, which, howover, was not inflicted. After that incident the Court adjourned. (The cable dnformed us that Mr. McCarthy, editor, and Mr. Thomas O'Dwyer, manager, were sentenced to two months' imprisonment for intimidation, and Mr. Holland, the publisher, to one day's vmprisonment for. the same offence )

GALWAY.- Making a Case.

A case of alleged ' moonlighting ' came up for trial at the Loughrca Potty Sessions about the middle of September. A man named Forde swore that his house had been fired into. A policeman swore that two men whom he arrested had wet boots, as if they had walked through grass. Even the Removable magistrate, who presided at the trial, declared that j.t was ' wasting the time of tho Court ' to try the case if there was no better evidence to offer. There wasn't, and tho prisoners were discharged.

KING'S COUNTY.— Coercion Protscutions.

Besides imprisoning Mr. Reddy, M.P., and summoning Mr Farrcll, M.P., the Coercionists .of King's County have extended their operations to include a Catholic clergyman and a Nationalist lady in the sweep of thennet. Mrs. Powell, the proprietrix of the ' Midland Tribune ' — whose husband fought gallantly during his lifetime for the Trish cause — is one of a batch of defendants cited to appear on a charge of intimidation. Another defendant in the same case is tho Rev. Father Houlihan.

LlMEßlCK.— Obituary.

The death is announced of Father T. J. Burke, 0.F.M., Limerick. Father Burke was a Galwav man, and a school-fellow of his namesake, the famous Dominican, lie was a Roman student, and on returning to Ireland in 1856 he was engaged in mission work successively in Galwav, Dublin, Athlone, and Limerick. In the City of the Broken Treaty he had been zvesident since 1867.

Work for the Insane.

At a recent meeting of the Limerick Asylum committee, the Very Rev. A Muiphy presiding, Dr O'Neill, R.M.S., suggested that wetuing should be carried on by the inmates, so that they might make their own tweeds He found that employment was the sheet anchor m the treatment of tho insane The Mayor (Mr. J. F. P.arr\ ) said the committee ought to be \cry grateful to the doctor for the interest he had shown nn tho patients. The Mayor then proposed, and Mr. dubbins seconded, a motion authorising Dr. O'Neill to get two looms of the pattern invented by the Hon Mr. Flowers, and other appliances, at a cost of £50. This was agreed to.

MONAGHAN.- Statistics.

Tho census of two Ulster counties, Monaghan and Derrv, have one thing in common. Although the emigration from both has been very large durinp- tho docadc. the proportionate Catholic population in both districts has more than held its own. In 1891 the population of Monaghan was 86,206, whil- in 1901 it was 74,611, tho

decrease being 11,595, or 13.5 per cent. In 1891 the proportion of Catholics in Monaghan was 73.3 per cent ■I1I 1 ?u m 1901 ifc was 7SA P er cent. In the former period the proportion of Protestant Episcopalians was 13.0 £r er ,, ce ," t ; ; ii n.n .u 9Oi Jt was onl y J 2 - 8 Per cent. The Methodists of the county have decreased from 0.6 per cent, to 0.5 per cent ; while the Presbyterians have increased from 12.6 per cent, to 12.8 per cent. The decrease in the population of County Berry was not so largo during the 10 years as that of Monaghan, being only (including Derrv city. which showed a large increase) {,605. or 5 per cent. Tho stability of the Catholic population was even more marked in this case than in that of Monaghan. In 1891 the Cathobics of County lorry were 44J3 per cent of the population; in 1901 the.v were 4o J per cent. In 1891 the Protestant Episcopalians or the county were 19.6 per cent. : to-day they aro only 19.3 In 1891 the Presbyterians were 32.2 ! per cent. ; now- they are only 31.6 per cent. It is good to know that the Church, under the most adverse circumstances, us holding its own in the North

TIPPERARY.— Technical Education.

The Christian Bnothers have founded a technical school m Clonmel. It was opened by the Most Rev. Dr. Shcehan, Bishop of Waterford. In the course of an able address his Lordship dealt with the parsimonious conduct of the lreasury iin connection with technical education in Ireland. While England receives more than a million a year out of the public funds for that purpose Imland only receives £55,000 '

WATERFORD.— Census Returns.

The census of Waterford city and county, although it shows an increase of 566 in the population of the former during the decade, marks an aggregate decrease in the whole community of 8515, or B.y per cent. This is not ((into as bad as the record of some of the other southern and western counties, but it is sufficiently depressing o! ie ™o creas £ in the Population of Waterford city, from 26,203 to 26,769, or 2.2 per cent., compares very poorly with the great jump made by Derry of over 20 per cent. Dungarven, again, has fallen in population from 4331 in 1891 to 404-3 in 1901 ; while Lismore, which had 1632 inhabitants in 1891, had, on census night, 1901, only 1583. The only town of standing in county Waterford, therefore, that has turned the cornen is Uaterford City (itself, and even hero the progress made is very small. Catholics more than hold their own proportionally m the county and city. In 3 891 their percentage of the total population was 94.6 per cent • today it is 94.7 per cent. The Protestant Episcopalians, on tho other hand, ha%c fallen from 4.3 per cent, to 4 2 per cent Tho Presbyterians have in creased from 0 3 per cent, to o_4 . tUuIo the Methodists are stationary at 03 It is certainly, all told, not a very big community, this rnolnstant community of AVateiford. considering the fuss that the Protestant Bishop, Dr. O'Bara, recently madeabout it.

WESTMHATH.— Licensing Laws.

The Irish magistrates are takiing up the licensing question with a good deal of energy, and apparently some fervor. At a meeting of the Wcstmeath magistrates, called by Lord Castlemaine, which was held in Mulhngar, Resolutions were passed agreeing that all convictions for breach of certificate be endorsed on the licenses ; that no certificate of renewal be issued to any publican who has not properly conducted his premises during the previous year, and that a standing committee bo appointed to act for the magistrates of the county in looking after the licenses generally.

GENERAL.

Then and Now.

The reported serious illness of Lord Salisbury so soon after resigning th e rremiorship will perhaps recall to Irishmen (says the ' Freeman's Journal ') wlio remember his entry into politics his fu&t speech" in the House of Commons It was deluered on the 24th February, 1865. on the occasion of the late Sir John Pope ITennessv, directing attention to the increasing 1 emigration; and it is well worth recalling now, for the benefit of Mr. Wvndham and the other gentlemen who think they can govern the country in direct opposition to the wishes of its inhabitants — ' What is the reason,,' asked Lord Robert Cecil (as he was then called), ' that a people with so bountiful a soil, with such enormous resources, lag so far behind the English in the race ? Some say that it is to be found in the character of the Celtic race, but T look to France, and I see a Celtic race there goif forward in the path of prosperity with most rapid strides— l bclie\o at the present moment more ramdly than v nglaml hr>rFOlf. Some people say lhat it is' to be found in the Catholic religion ; but I look to Belgium, and there I sen a people second to none in Europe except the English for industry, singularly prosperous, considering the small space of country that they occupy, having improAed to thio utmost the natural resources' of that country, but distineruished among all the peoples of Furope for the earnestness and intensity of their Roman Catholic belief Therefore, I cannot say that 1 lie cause of the Irish distress is to be found in the Catholic rolioion An honorable friend near me sajs that it arises from the Trish profile listening to the demarodiiea i ha\e as much dn-li'p to demagogues as bo has but when i look to the northern states of Amer, a T see t'nene people "-| 10 lis-ton to demagogues, but who undoubtedly ha\e not been wanting in material pnosperii v. Tt cannot lie demagogues, Romanism, or the Celtic race. What then. is fit ? lam afraid that the one thing which has been peculiar to Ireland has been the Government of England ' And it is the one thing peculiar to it still.

Ireland and the Pontifical Jubilee.

The pontifical jubilee of Leo XIII., which will bo Celebrated in every country of the world wherein the Catholic faith exists, uiill be the occasion of a nreat Pilgrimage from Ireland. The character of this religious demonstration will be unique, inasmuch as the pilgrims will include representatives of the Irish Parliamentary Party, members of the Dublin Corponation and the county councils, and Poor Law Guardians of Ireland. The pilgrimage has the approval of the Irish hierarchy and has been organised for the purpose of enabling Ireland ' to tako a distinguished place among the nations in honoring the Holy Father, and rejoicing in the marvellous incidents of his pontifical jubilee.' Extraordinary exeitions are being made to ensure- tho pilgrimage bcimg a success, which, it is pointed out will be a credit to Catholic Ireland.

Ireland and the Holy Father.

Sir Thomas Grattan Esmondo, M.P., representing tho Irish Parliamentary Party, left for Home on September 17, taking with him for presentation tho address of congratulation to his Holiness, voted him by the members' of the party on the attainment of the 25th year of his illustrious pontificate

An Australian Visitor.

Very Rev. Dems F. O'lTaran, TD I)., Dean of St Mary's, Sydney, private secretary to his Eminence Cardinal Moran, recently paid a visit to his old home at Drumaveel, Denrygonnellv . Rev Patrick OTlaran, Missouri, who is a first cousin of the distinguished Dean, has just completed a two months' stay in Ireland. lie is a son of Mr Francis O'Jlaivm, Drumquin.

Census of Connaught.

The detailed census of the province of Connaught contains some instructive figures The total population of the province, which coveis one-fifth of the area of Jieland, has deci cased 10 per cent in the last 10 years In tho present population of 640,i>;i2 people thereare 102 who are 100 years old and upwards, and there are 1160 who are upwards of DO years old.

The Result.

The special correspondent of the ' Pall Mall Gazette ' in Ireland, writes — ' There can be no doubt that the recent proclamations have had the effect of giving a fillip to recruiting for the League, but this was expected by tho Castle authorities. Within the past week there has been very considerable activity m various parts of the country. It is a significant fact that the police despatch cases now-a-dav s are bulged with repoi ts on political subjects from most parts of the South and West, whereas six months ago, the constabulary authorities m the places affected had few or no reports to make. While recognising the incieasc in the political tuimoil, consequent of the latest Government action, the Imperialists express satisfaction with the condition of auairs r J hen mow is that Mr Wvndham. having taken the initial step of spreading his proclamation, cannot now go 'back, and that the activity of the Leaguers will force him to Tiroclaim, the League as an institution. This, they hold is the only course that can possibly put an ond to the present state of thimjs '

Closing Prisons.

The Ii ish prisons repot t (snvi the ' Freeman's .Journal '! serves still further to accentuate 'the crimcless condition of Ireland There has been some increase, indeed, in burglaiy, and as the public will remember this record is chiefly connected with outnages upon Catholic churches most of the rufhans guilty of which have never been brought to justice. But all ordinary offences, and especially agrarian ci uncs, have steadily gone down year after year While the English are bwildintr new prisons and enlarging the old ones, prisons m Ireland aie being closed and sold On the .'H st of December last, six county prisons in (tioland were permanently closed, namely, Carrick-on-Shannon. Proehedn, Enniskillen, Mullingar, Oniauh, and Wicklow Tho ' piiisoners heretofore committed to them are,' the report tells us, ' distributed amongst tho .surrounding prisons, where there i^ ample room for them ' There could be no more significant comment on Mr Wyndham's proclamations than this latest bookj of his own department.

Signs of the Times.

Even "Ulster Oranpeism seems not quite impervious (o that widening of thought which accompanies- the piogtcss of tho world. Tho Cookstown Board of Gu.udians has passed a resolution congratulating the Pope on the attainment of his golden jubihe Cookstown, after I'ortfdown, might stand as an embodiment of ()i anueiMii. Tho majority of the Board arc Protestants, vet tho resolution was pa.sscd unanimously, one of the Pi*ote->t« nt Guardians saving that the Pope was a gentleman for whom ho had a p,veat respect Leo XIJT has surely a wnnning personality when he has disarmed the antipa.thies of Ulster Orangeism.