Above : Portrait Of Pope Leo XIII

It now struck the Government authorities that the power of Rome might be enlisted on their side. Negotiations were opened with the Pope (Leo XIII) through some secret agent, and as a result, a Papal Rescript appeared in April, 1888, condemning the methods of the ” Plan of Campaign ” and the practice of boycotting, as immoral, unjustifiable, and incompatible with the laws of Christian charity. This pronounce¬ment produced little effect. Now, as in the days of O’Connell, the Irish Catholics refused to accept Vatican dictates in affairs other than spiritual.