The Bishop of Achonry (Dr. MacCormack), in sending a sub-
scription of 25 for the fund for the defence of Mr. Dillon and the other authors of the "Plan of Campaign," asks if they are not "noble knights in the true sense of the word, the protectors of the weak, the vindicators of just rights, and the faithful friends of struggling and suffering peasants ?" "They are now," he says, "in the dock,"—the letter was written before the jury had disagreed,—" but a grateful country shall crown them with laurels, and their names shall be handed down on the honour. roll of the nation amongst the best benefactors of our unhappy, misruled country." It is evident that this right reverend prelate either does not understand the "Plan of Campaign," or that Christian morality in his view distinguishes, as worthy of the highest praise, the deliberate breaking of engagements which it is possible or easy to keep, for the alleged purpose of protecting from eviction persons who have made engagements which they can only keep by giving up their homes. To what is the Catholic Church coming ?
Previous page
