Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 17 March 1910, Page 427

Irish News

ANTRIM A Hopeful Sign At the meeting of the Carrickfergus Urban Council, held on January. 24 for the purpose of electing a chairman , and vice-chairman, and also the members of various committees, Mr. Walter Carruth, J.P., was unanimously elected chairman for the year 1910, and Mr. J. Patterson . as vice-chairman for the same period. Mr. Carruth is the father of the present Rector of Ardoyne, Rev. Father Hubert, and as Carrickfergus is a very Protestant town, the action of the, councillors manifests a recognition of the rights of Catholics which is not often met with at the town boards of the North of Ireland, also a tribute to Mr. Carruth’s great popularity amongst all classes. Mr. Patterson is a Protestant gentleman; who two years ago was returned at the top of the list in a very exhaustive poll of the urban electors. It may be added that there are four Catholic members of the Carrickfergus Urban Council out of eighteen members. The Contest in West Belfast The most pleasant surprise of all the election returns was the result of the three-cornered contest in West Belfast. A factionist, posing as a Nationalist, put up with the avowed intention of defeating Mr. Devlin and returning the Unionist candidate. Seeing that Mr. Devlin only won by sixteen of a majority at the last election, his chance seemed hopeless. Yet he as returned by a majority of 587 over both Unionist and factionist combined. A few short years ago (says the Cork Examiner) West Belfast was quite hopeless. In 1903 the Orange majority was 241, in 1895 and 1900 the late Mr. Arnold-Forster was returned unopposed, while in 1892 Mr. Forster defeated Mr. Thomas Sexton by 839. Four years ago it was considered a signal triumph for Mr. Devlin to have won by 16. Now, even with the fatuous Factionist candidate in the field, the majority is increased to the safe and comfortable figure of 587. It is not too much to say that the eyes of all Nationalist Irishmen the world over were turned towards Belfast on this occasion. The latest object-lesson of what the policy of Factionism means has sunk deep indeed into the hearts of most patriotic Irishmen, and the mere possibility that the Catholic fortress should be in deadly peril by a candidate standing under the banner of the Factionist campaign at once disgusted and dismayed every Nationalist Irishman worthy of the name. The peril has passed, the attempt has failed miserably. It has worse than failed. Immediately taroused an intensity of patriotism in West Belfast that nothing could check, and Mr. Devlin is member for thedivision by a majority such as has never been recorded in. the capital of the North on any previous occasion. CARLOW—White Gloves At Carlow Quarter Sessions Judge Brereton Barry, K.C., was presented with white gloves in consequence of there being no criminal indictment for disposal. The presentation, in the absence of the High Sheriff, Mr. Hans Sirce Hamilton, was made by Mr. Robert W. F. Thorp, Sub-Sheriff. His Honor acknowledged the compliment, saying that such a presentation had become of frequent occurrence in County Carlow. DERRY—A Close Contest In his speech after the declaration of the poll in Derry City (says the Freeman’s Journal), Father McGettigan said that the Nationalist vote had sounded the death-knell of the Hamilton interest. The Marquis of Hamilton’s majority was only 57, and this at a time when the state of the Register was much more favorable to his side than it was in 1900, when his majority was 67. It now appears that many young Nationalists in the city have neglected to claim a vote, and a strong appeal is made to them to perform this duty, so that in the next contest the full force of Nationalism will be arrayed against the Unionist. Both parties polled exhaustively the other day. Exclusive of eleven spoiled votes, the total poll was 4813, out of a possible 4996. Orange Rowdyism There was considerable rowdyism in Derry before and. after the election. The stone-throwing began on the night preceding the polling, when the crowd coming from, the meeting of Lord Hamilton made a hostile demonstration at the residence of Mr. Rutile, a Protestant Radical, who had spoken in favor of Mr. Leslie, This generated a bad feeling, intensified * on the following night, when it became known that the Convent windows were smashed by a crowd of rowdies gathered on the Wall. Next aFountain street crowd opened fire with porter bottles. Catholic houses and individuals suffered. Mr. Leslie’s hotel (Roddy’s) was attacked during the progress of the Hamilton band and crowd with torches. The police were stoned from the upper end of the Fountain, and several constables got nasty wounds. The trouble then spread, and a Nationalist crowd scattered the band, and the procession broke up in disorder. The shops of respectable

Protestant Unionist citizens had mirrors and ' windows smashed, a circumstance - that is deeply deplored' by Cathohc people generally, and these latter are using every possible influence for peace. A very ugly display of party animosity was made at the residence r of Mr; Ruttle A number of young men—and not of the ordinary - rowdy class marched past, groaning, and singing ‘ We’ll hang Had. Puttie on a sour apple tree,’ then discharging revolvers. • Ihe shooting caused alarm, and passers-by fled into any available area, space, or open doors. The Orange hostility was very strong towards Protestant Home Rulers Liberals, and such as abstained from voting. These are marked men, but, fortunately, for the most part they are in a position to set their persecutors at defiance. DUBLINA Sign of the Times--n n r hil V? S , in Dublin criminal circles (says the Catholic Herald) that the authorities felt obliged- to close up a gaol for lack of business. Kilmainham, the historic bastiie wmcn has been crowded in times past with political prisoners guilty of the crime of patriotism, is thus put out of commission. The fact is significant of two things; the law-abiding character of the Dublin populace and the decline of coercive tactics by the Government. -Scene in a Protestant Church T> An extraoi dinary scene took place in the Sandymount Protestant Parish Church, Dublin, on Sunday, January o. if or many weeks past a good deal of dissatisfaction has been expressed by a section of the parishioners, the more particularly by members of the Protestant Church belonging to other Dublin parishes, at the High Church character of the observances. There have been several organised protests against the action of the vicar,- Rev. Mr. Lefanu, who is a relative of the late Sheridan Lefanu, Ail 1 ?! 1 novelist. A petition was sent to the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, but no action was taken. As a result of the proceedings in the church at service on Sunday, when murmurs of disapproval were kept up constantly during the service, the police were called in, and fourteen of the dissentients, most of them young men and several or them members of the Orange Order, were arrested. An Uphill Fight _ _ Mr. Patrick Brady, who won Stephen’s Green : for the National cause, had an uphill fight. Since the death of Mr. Edmond Dwyer Grey it has not been represented by an avowed Home Ruler. Mr. Dickson, Mr. McCann, and Mr. Waldron were excellent men in their way, but were elected owing to the fact that they were nominal Home leis, who had friends on both sides in consequence of their business connections. To his credit be it said, Mr. Brady, although he could rely on similar help, stood as a pledge-bound supporter of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He won by a majority of nearly 700. There was great rejoicing at the result, hot only in Stephen’s Green, but all through the city and even in the county, for Mr. Brady is well known to be a strong supporter of popular rights. —Sudden Death of a Priest The excitement associated with the polling for East Kerry Division was sadly overshadowed when the death of the Rev. Father McCarthy, of Brosna, became known to the people there and in Knocknagoshel. The shock was all the greater because the rev. gentleman’s death was sudden. When he was being called in the morning it was found that he had passed to his reward during the night. LlMEßlCKTechnical Education The citizens of Limerick (remarks the Freeman’s Journal) can be congratulated on the initiation of an undertaking fraught with the greatest importance for the future of their old city. The first sod of the site of the new Technical Institute has been turned by the Mayor Aiderman Thomas Donnellan, and the work is to be commenced at once. At one time the promoters of this project were faced by very great difficulties, but the need for housing the technical classes in a suitable building was so pressing that it over-rode all other considerations. Much-required employment will be afforded by the work. LOUTH—The Parliamentary Election For a very long time no Parliamentary election in Ireland excited such widespread interest in the keenly contested election in North Louth, which resulted in the return of Mr. T. M. Healy by a majority of 99 over his opponent, Mr. Hazleton. Mr, Healy has the knack of making sturdy friends and determined opponents. During the recent contest clergy and laity were about evenly divided and fought vigorously, but on the whole good-humor-edly, He had the support of his Eminence Cardinal Logue, who gave entire freedom to his clergy to act as they thought best. It is most probable that he owed his majority to the Cardinal’s influence. GENERAL The Irish Priesthood Ap Irish anti-clerical, named Kenny, unbosomed himself to the readers of the Nineteenth Century recently. The columns of the same magazine contain a reply from a non*

Catholic pen to this anti-clericalfrom the pen, viz., of Colonel - Pilkington, C.B. Colonel Pilkington says:— ‘(lt would .bo impossible for anyone ignorant of Ireland to read his (Kenny’s) article without being driven to the conclusion , that the religion of ‘ the Irish peasantry is one of gloom and bitterness and fear; whereas Mr. Kenny must be well /aware that probably there are not on earth any people . more supremely happy in their religion, or any whose reli- ■ gious outlook is brighter. Then as to the priests themselves. Mr. /Kenny, dwelling only on their faults, and illustrating these, only by the worst examples, causes them to appear as monsters of insincerity and greed, propagating superstitious terror; though he would probably admit that, on the whole, it would be hard to find a more earnest clerical body, or one more efficient in maintaining a spirit of beautiful and unaffected devotion and a high standard of practical morality among their flocks.’ Catholic Tolerance We Catholic Herald) have frequently noted the nomination of Protestant members of Parliament by Irish priests in Irish constituencies overwhelmingly Catholic. The latest instance is North-east Cork, where the retiring Nationalist member, Mr. Abraham, Protestant Home Ruler, was opposed by Mr. William O’Brien. Mr. Abraham was nominated by Father Kennedy, and at a meeting held in his support in Fermoy the chair was taken by the Very Rev. Canon Rice, w r ho was supported by a number of other Catholic - clergy in the district. In South Fermanagh, again, whe.e the Nationalist nominee was Mr. Jeremiah Jordan (a Methodist- in religion) Father Duffy presided at a great meeting held in Mr. Jordan’s support in Enniskillen, Father McGinity, Newtownbutler, and Canon Keown, V.G., Enniskillen, also speaking in Mr. Jordan’s behalf. Election of Mayor meetings were held all over Ireland on January 18 for the : selection of chairmen of the local municipal councils, including three Lord Mayors and eight Mayors. The result was—Dublin, Councillor M. Doyle elected Lord Mayor; Belfast, Councillor R. J. McMordie (installed); Cork, Councillor Donovan. The new Mayors are as follow Derry, Mr. McFarland; Limerick, Councillor T. Ryan; Waterford, Councillor T. Hackett; Drogheda, Councillor J. J. Callan; Wexford, Alderman Sinnott; Sligo, Alderman Higgins; Kilkenny, Alderman Potter Clonmel, Mr. J. Meehan. Mr. T. P. O’Connor’s Majority One of the most astonishing returns of the whole campaign (says the Freeman’s Journal ) is that of the Scotland Division, where Mr. T. P. O’Connor’s opponent, Mr. Moy, only succeeded in polling 776 votes. This is only little more than half the figures polled by the Unionists in previous contests, and is all the more remarkable considering the fact that owing to Mr. O’Connor’s absence in America on behalf of the Irish Party he was only able to take a personal part in the campaign during the last fortnight. The Liverpool Irishmen seem to have been determined that their member’s interests should not suffer by his absence, and the result of their efforts and of the energy displayed by Mr. O’Connor since his return, is shown not only in the smallness of the Unionist vote, but also in the fact that Mr. O’Connor’s own poll showed an increase even over that of 1906. This is Mr. O’Connor’s seventh time of election for the Scotland Division, for which he has now sat close on twenty-five years. Help, from New Zealand We Irish Weekly of January 22) received the following interesting and important cablegram at an early hour on Tuesday morning from Napier, New Zealand: —Irish News, Belfast. Cabled Joseph Devlin £75 to-day, Party Fund. —J. Gleeson.’ Mr. Gleeson is a splendid young Irish-Australian, the son of a Munster exile who has prospered in New Zealand. He spent several months in Ireland during the year 1908, and addressed a number of Nationalist meetings in various parts of this country and Great Britain. Ireland’s sons abroad watch the fortunes of her struggle for liberty with a generous and abiding interest. The Comet The comet was visible to the naked eye in various parts of Ireland on January 21. A Queenstown message stated that the comet appeared in the western sky, and was a brilliant spectacle, while it lasted. The extreme clearness of the atmosphere gave people in all districts about Cork Harbor the fullest opportunity for seeing the heavenly luminant. To the naked eye it looked like a huge falling rocket. It remained visible for about thirty minutes.