CAVAN WEEKLY NEWS, Friday, March 2, 1877 JOHN O. MAHONEY. John O'MAHONEY, celebrated or notorious, as the Head Centre of Fenianism, lately departed this life, in New York, the city of his exile. It was immediately resolved by his compatriots there that his remains should be removed to Ireland for interment; and that he should have a public funeral such as Fenian sympathy could give. It is well known that the Fenian movement was efficiently initiated in this country on the occasion of the M'MANUS funeral; and probably it was thought that a similar disloyal display in connection with O'Mahoney's interment might fan into fresh life the smouldering embers of that disloyal conspiracy and probably help to replenish the exhausted Fenian treasury. For so far the results have not afforded much justification for these anticipations. In one respect the Fenians resemble the Young Ireland party; and we suppose they may be regarded as their legitimate political descendants. All through his life, O'CONNELL was the obedient son of Mother Church; to her was always true in his allegiance; and he seems to have been a Roman Catholic first and a patriot second, so far as he was a patriot at all. His agitation was constantly smiled upon by the Church, and used to obtain such political concessions as she desired and approved and no others; and the Church helped to collect the "Repeal rent;" just as in some places she is now helping to collect the "Butt testimonial." The Young Irelanders became weary of this obsequious serfdom to ecclesiastical power and disgusted with the doctrine of moral force. They proclaimed themselves patriots first; and, while inviting all creeds of their countrymen to unite with them for a common object, appealed to the sword to secure the triumph of their cause. We need hardly say that the result was most disastrous to themselves and to the country; but unwarned by their miserable failure, the Fenians attempted to play the same game only to entail upon themselves a similar fate. Discountenanced by the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church, avoided and repudiated by Protestants of all classes, and opposed by the strong arm of British power they could not but fail, though the ramifications of the conspiracy were extensive, the plans skillfully laid, and the preparations very formidable of their kind. Had the Fenians been content to serve the Church like O'Connell, the Church would have smiled upon them; but as they were bold enough to raise the cry, "no priest in politics," the Church cursed them. It was part of the plan of the O'MAHONEY funeral, that the remains of the renowned Head Centre should lie in state in one of the Roman Catholic churches, first in Cork and then in Dublin. It is evident that the deputation who accompanied the coffin from America were confident in this anticipation; but they were doomed to bitter disappointment. The Cardinal Archbishop might overlook or forgive disloyalty to the British government, but disloyalty to the authority of the Church is a different matter. Hence when he received an application from the O'Mahony Funeral Committee to allow the deceased Fenian Head Centre to lie in state in the Pro-Cathedral, or some other Roman Catholic Church, before the public funeral, he refused the request; and accompanied the refusal by a very wholesome lecture. The Cardinal states that he was not aware that O'Mahony had ever contributed any great or signal service to his country; that on the contrary he had rather provoked hostile legislation, and by word and example brought unsuspecting young men into breaches of the law and serious trouble; that he was a very lukewarm Christian, and from time to time had written papers in a hostile spirit against the Church or her ministers; that he was a Head Centre of the Fenians and that he had collected large sums to promote their absurd movements in Ireland; and that he had continued to be Head Centre of that body even after it had been condemned by the Church. There are few impartial minds that will not consider the Cardinal's refusal to allow O'Mahoney's remains to lie in state in a Roman Catholic Church, to be perfectly reasonable and the grounds upon which it was based amply sufficient. We are glad that in this instance the Roman Catholic Church is so publicly and authoritatively dissociated from this disloyal and dangerous political conspiracy. On Friday last, the Fenian deputation from America, with the coffin of the Head Centre in charge, arrived in Queenstown; and they seemed to have been greatly disappointed and mortified that the Roman Catholic Churches were closed against them. One of their number, Mr. Denis DOWLING MULCAHY, stated that if they had anticipated such a proceeding, they would have buried O'Mahony in America; and he seemed to think that the Church was ungrateful to the memory of one who because of his patriotism had died in poverty in a New York garret. We shall leave the Cardinal and Mr. Mulcahy to settle the question of ingratitude as best they can for the satisfaction of all concerned; but we deem the statement that O'Mahony died in poverty and in a garret worthy of some special notice. It will at once occur to most people of common sense, that it would have been far better if the money wasted in bringing his remains from America, in paying the expenses of the deputation, and in a public funeral, had been applied to his support while living, then he need not have died either in poverty or in a garret. But it is the old story repeated - "Seven wealthy towns content for Homer dead, Through which the living Homer begged his bread." But apart from this, is it not a fact that for many years large sums of money were raised in Ireland by the Irish throughout the world, for Fenian purposes? No satisfactory account of the amount thus received and of the disbursements, has so far as we know ever been given; but it is well known that by means of the funds thus provided, John O'Mahoney and other prominent Fenians lived in splendid style and fared sumptuously every day for a long time. It is also well known that money is still being raised for Fenian purposes; and lately there was quite enough forthcoming to provide for the escape and rescue of certain Fenian prisoners in Australia. How, then, was John O'Mahony allowed to die in poverty in a New York garret? We are persuaded if a correct account could be obtained and published of all the money contributed to promote political agitation and conspiracy in Ireland from the beginning of O'Connell's career until the present moment, and of its appropriation or disbursement, it would be the most effectual remedy ever discovered for the political discontent of this country. Denied admission to the Roman Catholic churches of Queenstown and Cork, the remains of the Head Centre were removed to the Mechanics' Institute of the latter place. On Sunday there was a funeral demonstration through the principal streets of Cork; and on Monday the remains were brought by rail to Dublin. Their removal from the King's Bridge terminus was delayed until nightfall; and, then accompanied by a torchlight procession, they were brought along the northern quays, through Sackville-street and Lower Abbey street, to the Mechanics' Institute, in the theatre of which they are to lie in state until next Sunday when Dublin is to be favoured with another grand funeral demonstration in honour of the deceased Head Centre, who was allowed to die in poverty in a New York garret. We cannot tell what sort the procession of next Sunday will be; but it is stated that for so far the O'Mahony demonstration, compared with other affairs of the same kind, must be pronounced a failure. We think it is not prudent of the authorities to permit these seditions displays; but we suppose a strong and liberty-loving Government can afford to do what a weak and despotic one dare not venture on. (County Cavan Newspaper Transcription Project)