One hundred years ago
A telegram from Rome announces that the Pope is about to bestow a cardinal's hat on Dr MacCabe, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, in recognition of the efforts he has made ,to uphold the principles of his Church, in reference to order and the fulfilment of contract. Formerly, such an announcement would have had a great effect in Ireland, and it may still influence the priesthood, but for the moment, as a recent French traveller has pointed out, Ireland has ceased to be Catholic. The priesthood are powerless upon all agrarian ques- tions, and are liable, if they defend the Eighth Commandment too stoutly, to be boycotted, like their neighbours. They were always in difficulty upon this ques- tion, but now they have lost all power, and we have this unprecedented state of affairs in Ireland. The priesthood are so powerless that they cannot control their flocks. The result is the one so constant- ly desired by English bigots. The people and the priesthood are separated.
Spectator, 11 March 1882
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