nationality may be delayed by untoward incidents. Its eventual triumph is assured, for it is the cause of justice and truth. The Irish people have waited for seven centuries for their deliverance. Through all the trials of that long period of gloom, their constancy, their faith in the destiny of their mother-land, has never wavered. They can wait still, assured that the time of their emancipation is not far off. But were any thing to occur which would cause them to view with distrust the advice of their spiritual guides, a calamity worse than any other which can be conceived would be precipitated. We dare scarcely speculate upon the consequences. Those who know the Irish character the best can best estimate the result. Suffice it to say that the man who had hand or part in bringing it about would render an ill service to religion, to Ireland, to humanity. In Catholic countries on the Continent, the doctrine of 'no priests in politics' has been vindicated, and with what effect? Let the Commune and the blood of the slaughtered Archbishop of Paris answer.

"We can only say that in our opinion the circular of his Holiness, written as it is with the best motives, indicates that in important particulars his confidence has been abused, and he has been misled, if not deliberately deceived. His Holiness recognizes the right of the Irish people to seek redress for their grievances, and to strive for their rights; but truly says that it is wicked to further any cause, no matter how just, by illegal means. This, we assert, is the guiding principle of that constitutional agitation of which Mr. Parnell is the leader. The denunciation of crime by his Holiness is not more eloquent or vigorous than that uttered by Mr. Parnell and Mr. Dillon on the morrow of the Phoenix Park assassinations. The Parnell fund was not initiated for the purpose of inflaming men's minds. As a matter of fact, the first suggestion of it came because of statements in the public press, that Mr. Parnell's estate was about to be sold in the court. It is true that Mr. Parnell then declined it, and only subsequently gave his tacit assent when it was sought to be used not as a method of inflaming men's passions, or as a means of leading

them into rebellion against the laws, but in order to show that the Irish people disbelieved and repudiated the foul calumnies of the English and anti-Irish press, which sought to identify Mr. Parnell and his friends with crimes which they detested, which they had denounced, and by which none suffered so severely as they themselves. Thus, far from being a stimulus to crime or illegality, the Parnell testimonial signified the reverse. It signified the adherence of the Irish people to the cause of legal constitutional agitation, of which Mr. Parnell is the representative, as against secret societies, crime, outrage, and illegality. It was in this sense that it has commanded the support of the Irish priests and people, that nine bishops and scores of priests joined the committee, and that we ourselves gave it our most earnest support. The idea of identifying Mr. Parnell with crime and rebellion will sound strange in the ears of Irishmen who know that Mr. Parnell's life was actually threatened, and that frequently he went himself in danger of assassination because of his opposition to the schemes of the revolutionists, and his denunciation of the crimes which disgraced the country, and marred the peaceful success of a policy otherwise irresistible.

"The simple fact, in our opinion, is this. His Holiness has acted upon erroneous information, and has pronounced a condemnation of a state of things which does not exist. He has been misinformed by the emissaries of the government, who dread Mr. Parnell, not as a revolutionist but as a politician, and who know that if by fair means or by foul his parliamentary party cannot be broken, it will be irresistible in the next Parliament. It is a wretched expedient, but governments before now have stooped to worse. Under these circumstances, the prelates concerned and the Irish people may calmly rely upon the future for their vindication. We know that his Holiness loves the Irish people, and desires to see their wrongs redressed. We know that he would not wilfully do them a harm. It appears to us, then, that it should be the duty of every good Irishman to be careful that he says nothing to magnify the injury already done, or

increase the difficulties of undoing it. Patience, calmness, moderation, circumspection, should be the watchwords of the hour. The popular cause is surrounded by watchful enemies, who think that they see approach the hour of their triumph. Were it achieved, it would recoil on themselves with fatal consequences. But it will not be achieved. The Irish priests and people will remain united, and remain faithful to the Holy See, and faithful to their native land, giving no cause for just complaint from either, and defying the machinations of the enemies of both."

The following is the full text of the circular addressed by the Holy See to the Irish bishops, issued May 10, prohibiting the priesthood from further connection with the movement for raising a testimonial to Mr. Parnell:

"Whatever may be the case as regards Mr. Parnell himself and his object, it is, at all events, proved that many of his followers have on many occasions adopted a line of conduct in open contradiction to the rules laid down by the Supreme Pontiff in his letter to the Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin, and contained in the instructions sent to the Irish bishops by this Sacred Congregation, and unanimously accepted by them at their recent meeting at Dublin. It is true, that, according to those instructions, it is lawful for the Irish to seek redress for their grievances, and to strive for their rights; but always at the same time observing the Divine maxim, to seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and remembering also that it is wicked to further any cause, no matter how just, by illegal means.

"It is, therefore, the duty of all the clergy, and especially of the bishops, to curb the excited feelings of the multitude, and to take every opportunity with timely exhortations to recall them to the justice and moderation which are necessary in all things, that so they may not be led away by greed of gain to mistake evil for good or to

place their hopes of public prosperity in the shame of criminal acts. Hence it follows, that it is not permitted to any of the clergy to depart from these rules themselves, or to take part in, or in any way promote, movements inconsistent with prudence, and with the duty of calming men's minds. It is certainly not forbidden to collect for the relief of distress in Ireland; but at the same time the aforesaid apostolic mandates absolutely condemn such collections as are raised in order to inflame popular passions, and to be used as the means for leading men into rebellion against the laws. Above all things they (the clergy) must hold themselves aloof from such subscriptions when it is plain that hatred and dissensions are aroused by them, that distinguished persons are loaded with insults, that never in any way are censures pronounced against the crimes and murders with which wicked men stain themselves, and especially when it is asserted that the measure of true patriotism is in proportion to the amount of money given or refused, so as to bring the people under the pressure of intimidation.

"In these circumstances it must be evident to your lordships, that the collection called the 'Parnell Testimonial Fund' cannot be approved by this Sacred Congregation, and consequently it cannot be tolerated that any ecclesiastic, much less a bishop, should take any part whatever in recommending or promoting it. Meanwhile we pray God long to preserve your lordship."

During this year, the late Cardinal McCloskey received what was then said to be the only autographic letter ever sent to an American ecclesiastic by the Pope. It was written in Latin, and a correct translation of it is furnished below:

LEO XIII., POPE.

To our beloved son, JOHN MCCLOSKEY, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church, of the title of Sancta Maria supra Minervam, Archbishop of New York.

BELOVED SON, Health and apostolic benediction. It was a source of very great joy to us to receive a report of the Fourth Diocesan Synod of New York, held by you in your metropolitan church in November last, containing also the statutes of the preceding synods. We rejoice exceedingly, beloved son, to see that you have labored so successfully in the discharge of that duty of the pastoral office which the holy Council of Trent has so earnestly recommended to the attention of all the bishops; and we are filled with the firm trust that your zeal, and that of those who labor with you, for the spread of Catholic faith and worship, for the preservation of ecclesiastical discipline among clergy and laity, and for the salvation of souls, will be blessed with richest fruits throughout your diocese. But this is only one of the evidences of your sacerdotal zeal and pastoral vigilance, of which your life affords many shining examples; and we cannot permit this opportunity to pass without bestowing on some of them the well-merited testimony of our appreciation and our love. We are aware, beloved son, with what care you study to imbue the youth of your diocese, but especially those destined for the service of the altar, with the sound teaching of the Angelic Doctor, drawn from the fountain-head after the method recommended by us. We know, too, with what unceasing fidelity you, together with your clergy and faithful, have striven to aid this Apostolic See in the extremities to which it has been driven by the evil times and the malice of men. Wherefore we have longed to express to you our deep sense of gratitude and affection, and through you to make known our gratitude and love to all those devoted children of the Church, who, bound to us by the bonds of filial piety, fail not,