Whether it is a question of
custom, office, public contracts, or positions on Public Boards,
Molly Maguires are pledged always to support a Catholic as against
a Protestant. If Protestants are to be robbed of their business, if
they are to be deprived of public contracts, if they are to be shut
out of every office of honour or emolument, what is this but
extermination? The domination of such a society would make this
country a hell. It would light the flame of civil war in our midst,
and blight every hope of its future prosperity."
And now we reach the core of the question. It is perfectly clear that
Home Rule would create a Roman Catholic ascendency in Ireland, but
still it might be said that the Church of Rome would be tolerant. On
that point we had best consult the Church of Rome herself. Has she ever
said that she would practise toleration towards Protestants when she was
in power? Never; on the contrary, she declares most clearly that
toleration of error is a deadly sin. In this respect the Church of Rome
claims to differ _toto coelo_ from the churches of the Reformation.
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