IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, 23 October 1919, Page 31

IRISH NEWS

V , * GENERAL. % Over 5000 people took part in the annual pilgrimage to the grave of Wolfe Tone at , Bodenstown Churchyard, Co. Kildare, on Sunday, June 22. The late Mr. J. H. Hale ,of Kingston, left £24,827. By will he leaves £SOOO to Beaumont College; £ISOO to the Benedictines of Malvern, and £SOO to the poor of Sligo. Although the Standing Committee appointed to enquire into University education is apparently to include Ireland as well as Great Britain in its purview, the Independent complains there is not a single Irish representative on its personnel. The executive committee of the Irish Unionist Alliance has passed a resolution stating that they view with amazement the concluding paragraph of Lord Northcliffe's letter of congratulation to Capt. Alcock on his successful flight across the Atlantic, in which he speaks of the future prosperous "Dominion of Ireland." Brother Thomas Kahilly, who, on charges made by Canadian officers, was detained on Ellis Island, has (says the New York America) received "the Dominion Government's apology for any annoyance caused through the inordinate and over-zealous activities of officers who did not represent the Government*, although wearing Canadian uniforms." In addition to this, the officials at Washington ordered the Brother's instant release, and apologised for the action of those who acted without evidence upon the orders of foreign officials. "A shake up is imminent," says the journal, "and will result in an investigation of American officials, who seem to think they are required to look for orders from Downing Street or Ottawa rather than from Washington." Brother Rahilly is a member of the Irish Order of Christian Brothers, who have many schools in America. CARSON'S BLUSTER. The political fireworks which Sir Edward Carson let off at Holy wood, near Belfast, on the occasion of the celebration of the Battle of the Boyne, went off with a loud noise and after that fell flat (says a Catholic News Service writer). The fact seems to be that the Ulster chieftain has made the mistake of thinking that what was possible in 1914 is also possible in 1919. The solemn warning uttered -by Cardinal Bourne at the Peace Thanksgiving service on the Sunday before, is an indication that the English Catholics will no longer tolerate the present conditions in Ireland, and that an immediate change is desirable. But if the Ulstcrman expected to find support in the English newspapers that might have encouraged him in 1914, he was grievously disoppointed. The Times, which since the signing of the Peace has been calling for a liberal and generous solution of the "Irish question, comments on Sir Edward Carson's threats as follows: j "Has he forgotten the immediate consequences of his former military preparations creation of the Nationalist Volunteers, the Irish Volunteers, the Citizen Army of Dublin, and, eventually, the Easter Rebellion? In those days he may not have been able to foresee the danger of playing at soldiers in Ireland. Ho has no such excuse today. . . "When Sir Edward Carson tells America to mind her own business he courts the retort that the wishes of the 15,000,000 Irish Americans in the United States are a part of her business, that their doings form one of her own questions at home ;'and that, had it not been for British mismanagement of Ireland in the past, there might to-day be fewer Irish Americans animated by ill-will towards this country." The Daily Express, which has not always been distinguished for a hearty advocacy of the Irish cause, says "The threat of rebellion if any sort of Home Rule is granted to Ireland is belated and out of date. The world is weary of wars and armed revolts. That sort of thing could be discussed in cold blood in 1914, but since then we have learned too much • of war. . . Great Britain will never forget the prowess of the Ulster regiments. Nor

s will she ever forget that Irishmen from the other-pro-vinces « rivalled their brothers . from the North in courage and devotion. . . At a time like this, when any spark may set things afire, Sir Edward Carson's threat of -. civil war is simply indefensible." The Daily Mail says:—"lt is an important 1 factor; on the good feeling* between this country and the United States, and, moreover, between this country and our "Dominions, that we should satisfy all these freedom-loving peoples that we are honestly desirous of burying this old feud and setting up a free National Government in Ireland. ' .'/ "Sir Edward Carson's sabre-rattling can only be intended to arouse passion against a quiet and just consideration of the Irish problem. The Government will make their path all the easier in Ireland and in this country if they let it be known that they intend to deal as firmly with Bolshevism among ex-Ministers as among Labor agitators." CROAGH-PATRICK PILGRIMAGE." The pilgrimage to Croaghpatrick on Sunday, July 31, was attended by fervent crowds. The Archbishop of Tuarn celebrated Mass in the Oratory, and a sermon was preached by Father Maguire, late of All ..Hallows, Dublin. The area of Westport has recently undergone the rigors of military law, and relaxations took place only a few weeks ago. . The pilgrims to the Mountain began to arrive in Westport as early as the previous Friday, and on Saturday there was an influx from places as far away as Dublin, Wexford, Kildare, Limerick, Cork, and Derry, while all the western counties were well represented. Several hundreds encamped in the vicinity of the Peak on Saturday night, and (limbed to the summit at daybreak to hear first Mass at six o'clock, and in many cases to approach the Blessed Sacrament. Masses were celebrated from six a.m. to twelve, and during that time there was a constant stream of pilgrims to the base of the mountain. Archbishop Giltnartin, who was accoiripanied by several priests, ascended to the summit. It was the first occasion an Archbishop of Tuam had been on the same spot since some 14 years ago, when the late Dr. Healy opened the Ovatery. Very Rev. E. "Maguire, D.D., late of All Hallows College, preaching from the Mount, thanked God the Faith was to-day deep-rooted and unshaken. The people had refused to touch any educational system which might in any shape or form endanger that Faith, and any attempt that might bo made to secularise primary education in Ireland would be as relentlessly opposed as it was by their people in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their pedple were virtuous beyond, and superior to, the people of other nations. Of course, their enemies would have it they had merely cast out one devil in order to make room for another, that they had merely exchanged the whisky bottle for the rifle, and that the last state was worse than the first. Of late instances of violence had come to light which, in *o far as they were criminal, everyone deplored; but when they considered the violent form of government under which they were trying to live, these instances had been surprisingly few— fewer than, he ventured to conjecture, in Catholic Belgium during the period of the German occupation. The cause of violence in such cases was not far to seek. Militarism invariably made trouble for itself as well as for its victims. The Irish Hierarchy recently on this subject in an historic sentence stated: "Wo have the evils of military rule, at our doors in this ancient civilised nation. The people are not permitted to rule themselves through men of their own choice; the work is done for them by some stranger-without any knowledge of the country. It is the rule of the sword, utterly tin suited to a civilised nation, and provocative of disorder and chronic rebellion. The acts of violence we have to deplore, and they are few, spring from this cause, and from this cause alone." The preacher also referred to - the great missionary spirit, of their countrymen, and said that this was the acid test of the vitality of their Christian faith. The Irish sermon was preached by Father Patrick O'Donnell, 8.D., Maynooth Mission to China. . ;-; ir