“FREEMAN” LIBELS ON A BISHOP

New Zealand Tablet, 2 August 1917, Page 37

“FREEMAN” LIBELS ON A BISHOP

SCATHING EXPOSURE BY MOST REV. DR. O'DWYER. - The following letter from the Most Rev. Dr. O'Dwyer appeared in the Cork Examiner recently. Sir, —It is hardly worth one's while to contradict anything that may be published in the Freeman's Journal. That newspaper has established its own reputation so thoroughly that there is, prima facie', a strono- presumption that any statement which it makes about a political opponent is a falsehood. In its issue of the 25th inst. it states roundly that I met Mr. Balfour at Lord Emly's residence at Tervoe, and there discussed Irish politics with him, and then goes on to enumerate a number of crimes committed by Mr. Balfour and his Government, suggesting that in some way or other I was responsible for them.

“Betrayal of Ireland.

“1. No need to inform the people of Limerick that that statement is a falsehood, and I believe that it is a lie. I never met Mr. Balfour in all my life, either at Tervoe or anywhere else. But that makes no difference to the Freeman's Journal. It thinks it necessary in support of its own and the Irish Party’s betrayal of Ireland to defame one who expresses his contempt and loathing for them, and does not stick at inventing a falsehood for this honorable purpose.

“ Throwing Dirt.

“2. This reputable journal says that I began ray career as a ‘Whig curate.’ That is another falsehood, and, as I believe, a deliberate lie. “I began my career in 1870, as a supporter of Isaac Butt, and as an illustration of the recklessness of the Freeman's libeller, I may mention that I was the only priest in the diocese of Limerick to stand on the hustings when the standard of Home Rule was raised by Isaac Butt, and, furthermore, that I was honored by the friendship of that great man up to his death. But all that makes no difference to the Freeman. It thinks that by throwing dirt it can injure a man’s character and destroy his influence. But it is mistaken. A lie, with a start of twenty-four hours, has an advantage, but, like the swindlers of the world, it is generally run to ground.

“Drivelling Bottle-Holder.

“3. It makes it an accusation against me that I opposed the Plan of Campaign and boycotting. So I did. But I was in good company. Leo XIII., by a formal decision of the Holy Office, confirmed my judgment on these methods, and although the Freeman’s Journal’s master, Mr. John Dillon, was not ashamed to denounce that great and illustrious Pontiff to the English House of Commons as a corrupt and dishonest Pope (God forgive me for writing it!). I think history will know how to judge between one of the greatest of the successors of the Fisherman and this poor drivelling bottle-holder of the English Liberals.”