The Felon's Track; Or, History of the Attempted Outbreak in Ireland: Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle From the Year 1843 to the Close of 1848Doheny, Michael
History
The Felon's Track; Or, History of the Attempted Outbreak in Ireland: Embracing the Leading Events in the Irish Struggle From the Year 1843 to the Close of 1848
Doheny, Michael
Ireland -- History -- Rising of 1848; Young Ireland Party -- History; Young Ireland movement
The Reverend John Kenyon, then little known, rose to protest against the
course pursued by Mr. J. O'Connell, which he characterised as not only
uncatholic but unchristian. Mr. J. O'Connell, in the blandest tones,
deprecated any discussion tending to division, which induced Mr. Kenyon
to sit down. Having spread with dexterous industry the most baleful
elements of discord, he begged they should not be disturbed.
I will be pardoned for transcribing here a few observations of my own on
that occasion.
"I am exceedingly anxious, having the misfortune to differ most
widely from my honourable friend the member for Kilkenny, on the
subject of academical education, to express my cordial
concurrence with him in reference to the subject of this
petition. I shall not say one word about our difference of
opinion. I shall enter into no disturbing or dividing
discussion, and the more so because any difference we may
express could not fail to impair the efficiency of our action
where we are thoroughly agreed. I condemn this clause as
strongly as the hon. member can. Nay, I will go a step further,
and say that if there be no provision made by the bill for
religious instruction and moral culture, Protestant and Catholic
ought to unite in struggling for its rejection. No matter how
splendid may be the accommodations provided by these
academies--no matter how richly they may be endowed--if there be
no provision made for the religious education of the pupils, I
trust they will remain silent, unattended Halls."
Numerous other proofs to the same facts are accessible, but these are
abundantly conclusive. The history of the struggle itself, the slow and
evidently reluctant change in Mr. O'Connell's opinions, and the
intolerant spirit with which the enemies of the bill pursued the name
and character of those who, although they approved of the mixed system,
were as inveterately inimical to the dangerous provisions of the bill as
they were themselves, sufficiently attest that faction swayed the
troubled movement of clerical and popular passion alike. The vulgar and
virulent anathemas of some tongues and pens not only swept unsparingly
over the unhappy crowd, but aimed at the lofty sphere of Episcopal
authority, even where most identical with purity and piety. A malignant
charity extended to the errors of the Primate that palliation which
perverted reason otherwise refused to admit. Too lofty to be accused of
treachery, he was not too sacred to be pronounced mad.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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