gress. _They_ are not only
law-abiding, but loyal, and unlike the ignorant clergy and their still
more ignorant dupes, are ever ready to join in singing "God Save the
Queen." From an English, even a Conservative point of view, the
educated Catholics of Ireland, like all classes of English Catholics,
are everything that can be desired. But what are they among so many?

The consequences of clerical domination, obtained by spiritual and
physical intimidation, are obvious enough. I have not space to show
how the system has been carried into the confessional, but numerous
examples are on record. Neither was it within the scope of this
article to prove, as could easily be done, that the clergy of Rome
claim to be above and outside the action of the statute law, and that
their action is calculated to make the position of Protestants
untenable. The moral degradation of the people, as exemplified by
their dread of the priest, who escorts them in hundreds to the
polling-booth, and by his persistent action and untiring vigilance
exploits their electoral power for his own aggrandisement, and for the
acquisition of Papal supremacy in Ireland, is to Englishmen of all
considerations the most important. Recent events have demonstrated the
fact that the politics of Ireland--and therefore the politics of
England--can be almost completely controlled for any purpose by the
thirty prelates who practically command the votes of an entire people.
A Roman Catholic barrister said to me:--"I do not blame the priests
for doing the best they can for themselves. They have the power, and
they use it for their own purposes. I say they use it unfairly, and
the Meath election petition has proved that they use it illegally.
They think otherwise, but without arguing this point, I say that
clerical domination will ruin the country. Irish election returns are
for the most part worthless as an expression of public opinion."
Another talented Irishman said:--"The glorious British Empire is now
bossed by a party of priests." And that this is unhappily true must be
conceded by every observant and impartial Englishman.

Yet some there are, blind followers of the blind, obtuse to every
argument, impregnable to incontrovertible facts, who have cast in
their lot with the avowed enemies of England. They have their
day--every dog has it--but their day is far spent, and their night is
at hand. For England will never again submit to Romish rule. Nor will
Ireland when