in
England.

Here was, in a word, the key to the new policy. Every act of Irish
officials was to be defended. No constable could be capable of excess. No
magistrate could err. No prison rule was over harsh. Every severity
technically in order must be politic.

VI

Among other remarkable incidents, the Pope came to the rescue, and sent an
emissary to inquire into Irish affairs. The government had lively hopes of
the emissary, and while they beat the Orange drum in Ulster with one hand,
with the other they stealthily twitched the sleeve of Monsignor Persico.
It came to little. The Congregation at Rome were directed by the Pope to
examine whether it was lawful to resort to the plan of campaign. They
answered that it was contrary both to natural justice and Christian
charity. The papal rescript, embodying this conclusion, was received in
Ireland with little docility. Unwisely the cardinals had given reasons,
and the reasons, instead of springing in the mystic region of faith and
morals, turned upon issues of fact as to fair rents. But then the Irish
tenant thought himself a far better judge of a fair rent, than all the
cardinals that ever wore red hats. If he had heard of such a thing as
Jansenism, he would have known that he was in his own rude way taking up a
position not unlike that of the famous teachers of Port Royal two hundred
and thirty years before, that the authority of the Holy See is final as to
doctrine, but may make a mistake as to fact.

Mr. Parnell spoke tranquilly of "a document from a distant country," and
publicly left the matter to his catholic countrymen.(240) Forty catholic
members of parliament met at the Mansion House in Dublin, and signed a
document in which they flatly denied every one of the allegations and
implications about fair rents, free contract, the land commission and all
the rest, and roundly declared the Vatican circular to be an instrument of
the unscrupulous foes both of the Holy See and of the people of Ireland.
They told the Pope, that while recognising unreservedly as catholics the
spiritual jurisdiction of the Holy See, they were bound solemnly to affirm
that Irish catholics recognise no rights in Rome to interfere in their
political affairs. A great meeting in the Phoenix Park ratified the same
position by acclamation. At Cork, under the presidency of the mayor, and
jealously watched by forces of horse and foot, a great gathering in a
scene of indescribable excitement p