The Irish papers are full of stories of priestly interference
and priestly intimidation at the elections. The Independent reports a strange scene in a chapel. A priest, who was reported in the course of the late Meath petition to have advised his parishioners to bring blackthorns to a meeting to hew down the Parnellites as if they were noxious weeds, was advising his congregation to support the Anti-Parnellite candidate,—a Protestant Home-ruler. A Parnellite pro- tested. " I am after receiving our Lord at the rails. I would die in defence of my religion and my faith, but I decline to listen to you misleading the people." After a wrangling dialogue, the Parnellite protestor cried, " We will have no politics—give us the gospel of the day," and the con- gregation shouted, " Hurrah for Parnell !" " Take your Orangeman back to the North, we don't want him here." That must be painful reading for sincere Roman Catholics in Ireland, and indeed all the world over. In Mr. Healy's elec- tion contest, the priests took very strong action ; and in Roscommon, according to the Westmeath Independent, a priest, brandishing a blackthorn, headed a band of fifty bogmen armed with " sticks and other weapons." This priest is re- ported to have " been everywhere with his blackthorn." He threatened to clear the town, and called to his followers, "Boys, be at them !" when he saw a hostile crowd. Truly, the Church militant !
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