livelihood, the people of Bundoran object to Protestantism, and the
intensity of their antipathy to the Black-mouths has impelled them to
quarrel with their bread-and-butter. Of late the question of tolerance
has been much discussed. Sapient persons whose assumption is equal to
their ignorance of the subject, affect to despise the fears of the
scattered Protestant population whose alarm is based on the experience
of a lifetime. English Home Rulers who wish to create effect
unblushingly affirm that the Protestants are the only intolerants, and
that the Papists are as distinguished for affectionate toleration as
for industry and honesty. In direct opposition to daily experience and
the evidence of history, they assert that the Papists are the
persecuted party, and that they only practise their religion with fear
and trembling. Notwithstanding the well-known doctrine of the Roman
Church, which preserves heaven exclusively for those within its own
pale, these eccentric politicians aver that under a Roman Catholic
Parliament, elected by the clergy alone, the isolated Protestants of
Catholic Ireland, known in the Papist vernacular as Black-faces,
Black-mouths, Heretics, Soupers, and Jumpers, would be treated with
perfect consideration, would enjoy the fullest freedom, the most
indulgent toleration, would, in short, be placed in a position of
equality with the predestined inhabitants of Paradise, or, to quote
Catechism, the inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven. The persons most
nearly concerned know better. The shrewd farmers of Ulster, like the
Puritan brethren of Leinster, Munster, and Connaught, are entirely
devoid of faith in the promised Papist toleration. Protestant equality
under a Home Rule Parliament! You might as well tell them to plant
potatoes and expect therefrom a crop of oats. Men do not gather grapes
off thorns nor figs off thistles.

The Bundoran Protestants have evidence to offer. The date is recent.
Not two hundred years ago, but in the year of grace
eighteen-hundred-and-ninety-three. Seeing that the little seaside
resort was full of holiday-makers from the Protestant counties of
Fermanagh and Tyrone, two young Protestant clergymen determined to hold
Gospel services in a tent which was pitched in a field the property of
Mr. James A. Hamilton, J.P. For about a week beforehand handbills
announcing the services for July 21 had been distributed in the town
and suburbs, but no controversial topic was mentioned, n