THE POPE ON IRISH AFFAIRS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1270, 13 July 1883, Page 2

THE POPE ON IRISH AFFAIRS.

The Pope's letter to the Irish Bishops, disapproving of the Parnell • testimonial fund, was the subject of many interviews by lash reporters of the Irish World with prominent Irishmen of New York. The general expression was to the effect tliat tho circular would do a good deal of harm in alienating the affectionß of Irish Catholics from the Church. The great fear appeared to be that the circular would stop the flow of contributions from America, and the Citizen, the Irish organ of Chicago advised thatthe Pope be ' c boycotted/* in oiher »w^*^4fe^Pet«r t ft pence Bubscriptaoft BhouldJfre stopped. MiTO'Donnell, M.P, f or Dungar vonv writes to the Dublin Freeman's Journal of May 17th that the Vatican " had I been misled by a species of mendacity which has availed itself of the movy strous, ignorance of Irish affairs Jfrevailing at Rome." He characterises Errington, who was the medium of communicatiau between Great Britain and the Vatican as a sneak and a renegade, and says the " attention of England should be called to> the crime fosiered by the enforcement of an in famous land code. " While Germany as a whole approves of the circular, the Berlin Vossichiki Zietung says it has come to late. Mr John Dillion, in a letter to the Freeman's Journal, advises the Irish people to make the Parnell'fund such a success that the Pope will realise howgreat he has been deceived by the English Government and the miserable pauper landlords who infest Eome, Davitt, Healey and Quinn have been forbidden to receive visitors, in consequence of letters written by them condemning money to the Parnell fund at the same time. The Loudon Daily News of May 22nd says— '• There is an impression among Irish Members of Parliament* that the Government is looking for an opportunity to remit the remaindei of the term to which Messrs Healey, Davitt and Quinn were sentenced." ~ The Pope's letter, which has created Siuch an excitement, insists, in effeofr, that while it is lawful for the Irish to seek redress for their grievances and strive for their rights, they should at the same time seek Grod's justice, and remember the wickedness of illegal means in furthering even a just cause. It also strongly disapproves of the Parnell fund, and says, "No clergyman should recommend subscriptions thereto or promote it." In regard to. this circular a bitter meeting of the National Land League was held in Dublin on 16th May, when positive language was used. Mr Watson, M.P. r said the Irish people took theology, not politics, from Home, while MrKennedy, M.P. for Ennis, described the circular as a shameful insult to the priests and the people of Ireland. At a meeting of the Land League at Dungaunou, County Wexford, Mr Carey, M.P. for Wafcerford, denounced Emngtou, through whose diplornaoy, it is said, the issuing of the circular was procured, as a " sneaking scented . popinjay." He is credited with every English movement in the Vatican, resuit of conduct of certain classes of Irish clergy for taking a notorious stand in political agitation, and that he caused the order prohibiting the elevation to the episcopate of any priest who interfered in political affairs. Errington at one time very nearly succeeded in persuading the Pope to pronounce a bull forbidding the- Irish clergy from interfering in any way with politics, Mr Sexton, M.P, for Sligo, at a Parnell testimonial meeting in Dublin on the 16th, said the Papal circijfisr apt plied to the clergy alone,' and not to> the laity at all. He thought it might bp desirable to send a deputation toEome to explain to the Pope the condition of affairs in Ireland. The Irish people, he said, were sorry to have lost the valuable services of the clergy, but, with or without these allies, the movement must go on. The Freeman s Journal's comment on the circular is that the Popo must have been misled, if not entirely deceived, by emissaries of the British Government, who know that if the Parnell party remain unbroken, they will hold the balance of power nextParliament. A meeting of Parnellite members of. Parliament was held in Dublin on May 20th, Mr Justin McCarthy in the chair. The Chairman said he was bound in the duty as an Irishmen td contribute to the testimonial for Parnell. Referring directly to the papal circular, Mr ' McCarthy said he had. only to repudiate the fraudulent statement which had been made to the College of Cardinals. He shouldregret to sco priests divided from Irish polities, for hi tini/.-s past they had been tlu\ only frit -i ids of the people Mr Bi^ar, jj.p. for Cavon, spoke iv cimtVnuuition of die circular.

lii the Houso of Commons on June 7th Lord H. Churchill called atteution to Mr Errington's mission to the Vatican, and argued there could be no doubt the Government had recommended him, the recent Papal manifesto' in regard to Irish affairs being the result. Mr Gladstone replied that Mr Errington had gone to Rome at his own suggestion. Mr Errington informed Lord Granville he was going to Home, and as he was a Papist, greatly interested in Irish affairs, it was only natural that his intercourse with the Pope would be interesting to His Majesty's Government. Mr Errington received no pay and no instructions were given him by the Government. "Bnt/'-said the Premier, "As Mr Eirington's visit to Rome would tend to alter his position, a record would be made of this proceeding, and kept for trans mission, to the successor of Earl GranVille as Foreign Secretary." Mr Gladstone added the Government had given Mr Errington information on the.;real sta;te of. Ireland in the interests of .peace and order. . A despatch to the Dublin Mail of Ji^ne. 2nd, says the Pope will, if necessary, 1 follow, up %is receg# circular to Irish Bishops in relation to the agita-. tion- in" Ireland : and the Parnelt fund by a suspension from then* function^ of- all. eocleaiiHsjjraß' who disobey the oomniands of^^o^. circular. . • Gobged Ltvers, — Bilious conditions, constipation,, piles, dyspepsia, headache, cured by "Wells' May Apple Pills." " sd. and Is. boxes at druggists. Moses,' Moss & Co., Sydney, General Agents for Australasia. .