(Éirigh, February 1968, p.32)
A little over two hundred years ago, on June 20, 1763, Theobald Wolfe Tone was born in Dublin. For anyone who wishes to understand the background to recent Irish history, particularly the Rising of 1916, an examination of his life is a worthwhile study. To Pearse, Tone was ‘the intellectual ancestor of the whole modern movement of Irish Nationalisation.’ Among many aspects of his life which are of interest, let us examine Tone’s attitude to religion. Was Tone a really religious man, or was religion for him merely one element among many in the social order?
A Man of Action
Of his youth, Tone tells us that, ‘I always failed in two subjects at school – handwriting and Christian doctrine. I could never bring myself to study the latter of these two.’ This statement should not lead us to conclude that Tone was irreligious in character, as it must be admitted that many good Christians feel an aversion for Christian doctrine, not because of any inherent fault in the doctrine itself but because of a lifeless and uninspiring presentation. By temperament, Tone was a man of action for whom “classroom religion” would have had little appeal.
Interpretation?
As he grew up, Tone’s thoughts turned to the political situation in Ireland, and he came to be convinced that it was his mission to ‘break the connection’ and to assert the independence of his country. The means to achieve this were, in his own words, ‘To unite the whole people of Ireland, to abolish the memory of all past dissensions, and to substitute the common name of Irishman in place of the denomination of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter.’ Very much depends on how this last phrase is interpreted. It can be taken as an appeal for an end to quarrelling between the different bodies or it could be taken to imply a rejection of the supernatural character of religion, in the name of nationalism.
Only a United Ireland
Tone recognised that only a united Ireland could break the connection with England; he also recognised that religious differences were a decisive element in Irish political life. The question involved here is whether Tone was so preoccupied with political considerations that he was, in effect, calling on Irishmen to abandon their religious beliefs in the interests of national unity.
Influenced by the French Revolution
There may be some evidence to suggest this in the fact that Tone was very much influenced by the spirit of the French Revolution. In France, due largely to the association of ecclesiastical leaders with the aristocracy, religion had lost much of its value for the people. Intellectual leaders of the time had also rejected it. Would Tone have acquiesced if a similar change were to take place in Ireland if the United Irishmen succeed in their aim of reproducing in Ireland the events of 1789?
Sought Justice for Catholics
It seems unlikely that Tone had a merely political interest in religion, for, though he cannot have failed to see the political significance of religious harmony, his efforts at securing equal rights for Catholics went beyond the limits of mere expediency. For a man in his position he took extraordinary pains to secure justice for Catholics. Tone was a Protestant, but by allying himself to the Catholic cause he won the enmity of many of his co-religionists. He stated his position, saying, ‘It could not be consistent with God’s impartial love to all His creatures that a monopolising aristocracy should succeed in wresting their inalienable rights from their oppressors at the moment when they were acting the oppressors themselves to millions of their fellow-subjects.’
His pamphlet defending Catholics
Tone struggled for the Catholics principally because of the natural justice of their claim. When the United Irishmen in Belfast rejected a motion in favour of Catholics, Tone declared his intention to become ‘a red-hot Catholic.’ He proved his sincerity by publishing an eloquent and forceful pamphlet entitled An Argument on behalf of the Catholics of Ireland. He was on good terms with the Catholic bishops of the time, whom he describes as ‘All very pleasant, sensible men.’ He was subsequently appointed assistant secretary to the Catholic Committee.
Taking these factors into account it must be concluded that to impute to Tone the charge of having a merely political interest in Catholics is quite unjust. His constant efforts on their behalf were inspired by his love for the Christian virtue of justice.