BISHOP MORAN ON THE ATTITUDE

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 14

BISHOP MORAN ON THE ATTITUDE

OF CATHOLICS DURING THE COMING ELECTION.

(New Zealand Tablet, October 13.)

It seems that plain as were the words of the Bishop of Dunedin contained in the leading article published in the New Zealand Tablet a few weeks ago, an attempt has been invidiously made in certain quarters to make use of some general statements to lead, if possible, unwary Catholics to break away from their fellows, and at the general election vote for those who if they could, would empty thoir churches as well as close their schools. We have been requested by esteemed correspondents from different pats of the country to respectfully request Bishop Moran to supplement what he has recently eaid, and to give his views on several points more fully and explicitly. His Lordship, who every day becomes stronger, very gracefully consented to answer a few questions on which information has been asked.

N.Z. Tablet : All through the colony from Auckland to your own diocese the Catholics of New Zealand are taking steps to secure full registration, and are actively preparing for the coming election. This united spirit of bishops, priests, and people has no doubt given your lordship much pleasure ?

Bishop Moran ; " Yes, it has given me much pleasure — the greatest pleasure. Unity is strength. A bundle of twigs cannot be broken, but a single twig can, and if Catholics really desire to obtain justice for their schools they must move as one man on this question. The Catholic body cannot tolerate the least disunion or dissension, and hops to obtain justice. All Catholics loyal to their faith and principles must uuite or they can never hope to defeat thf.ir watchful and vigilant enemies. All qnestions except tbe education question — that is, justice to their own schools — must be thrown behind their backs and out of sight by Catholics, aud all their energies must be concentrated in securing a block vote in favour of their schools and against their euemies. For them this is the paramount question. Every other question is of comparatively no importance at present. I rejoice, therefore, to learn that there are such strong grounds for believing that not a single Catholic worthy the name will be found to vote for any candidate, no matter who he may be, who refuses to pledge himself to vote for aid from the public funds to our schools."

N.Z. Tablet : Your Lordship from long residence as Bishop in South Africa and New Zealand, and your previous career in Ireland, has necessarily had much experience as to the manner in which Catholics should act in view of the approaching elections. What in general should be the policy of Catholic electors ?

Bishop Moran: "In my opinion Catholics should act as intelligent and determined men, who, having a cruel grievance, know how wisely to utilise the means within their reach towards the redressing of this grievance. They should quietly confer together, try to understand one another, keep in mind the obligations of justice aud loyalty which are the paramount obligations of this moment, carefully keep away from the meetings — committee or others — of their enemies, be guided by their natural leaders, who are both wise and wary, aud move as one man from the North Cape to Stewart Island, and thus strike, a blow for justice which must be felt.

N.Z. Tablet: For what candidate should Catholic electors cast their vote ?

Bishop Morau: " Catholic electors should vote for those candidates exclusively who pledge themselves, if returned, to vote for equitable aid for Catholic schools. I would further advise that if in any electorate there be any candidate not thus pledged, the Catholic voters of fcuch electorate should stay at home and abstain from voting for anyone — except, indeed, there should be a candidate specially odious to them, against whom, of course, they will vote."

N.Z. Tablet : It is found that Catholics are strongly urged in certain districts to work for determined secularists because these are personally kind to Catholic people, or entertain strong views on the Home Rule question. What do you think of these artifices to catch stray votes ?

Bishop Moran : " I think these artifices are paltry, and should not be regarded for a moment. For us the education question is the question of questions — the paramount consideration at present. We should not be justified in failing in our duty to the faith and irorala of our own children even for tho promotion of so desirable a measure as Homo Rule. Our faith and our children's interest must be our first care, and every other consideration must come a long way after."

NZ. Tablet : It is said by astute journalists that Catholics do not vote together — that the block vote is a myth, that the labour question and other questions divide them ? In replying kindly say what your Lordship thinks we are to expect from the Labour party as far as the general good of the colony and justice to our schools is concerned.

Bishop Moran: "What astute journalists state may have been the case to a limited extent in the past — not to any appreciable extent. I feel quite certain it will be so to even a less extent in the future. There may perhaps be half a dozen unworthy Catholics in. New Zealand prepared to abandon their principles for foolish ambition and faucied interests, but no more. What are these ? They can neither make nor mar us As to the Labour party in New Zealand, I am convinced that the Labour party in this colony is its own greatest enemy, and I am certain it is our greatest enemy. The Labour parly in this colony has not yet benefited b3 r its best and wisest inembere. Its policy has killed enterpi'ise here, and is mainly responsible for the present dearth of employment. Money is abundant in New Zealand — so abundant that il is being constantly sent to Australia, and even to America, instead of being employed here iii the development or the country. And this is to be attributed mainly to the Labour parby. Therefore, I say, it is its own worst eaemy. There is another point of view in Yv'hich it is its own worst enemy also. Ib advocates free, godless education from bottom to top — from the primary school to the university — not having brains am! intelligence enough lo see that by tbis advocicyit is injuring itsslf, and providing rich endowments for the weli-fco-do class. In the second place ib is our greatest enemy. Whilst loudly demanding even more than justice for itself, it pledges itself to continue to plurder Catholics, and r,o trample on their conucieucou <usd thoir principles. My advice,

therefore, to all Catholics is to have nothing whatever to do with the Labour party in New Zealand. It ii the uncompromising advocate of the plundering godless system of education in this country which inflicts upon us_ such terrible injustice. I advise such Catholics as may be found in its ranks to come forth from them at once, and to be no longer responsible for the mischief ib is doing the colony, and the wrong it is doing themselves." N.Z. Tablet : What is the greatest difficulty with which Catholics have to contend in their efforts to obtain justice ? What are really, ia jour opiuioj, our most determined and dangerous opponents ? Bishop Moran : "Our most determined and dangerous opponents aro the faddists, and, of course, the king of faddists hold 3 the first place. These coin phrases and epithets, in which there is really no meaning, and send them abroad amongst the working men, who repeat them parrot-like and think thereby they are showing themselves wise politicians and even great statesmen. Such are the phrases — ' Aid to Catholic schools means the destruction of our national system of education ' ; ' Free and secular education from the primary school to the university ' ; and many other equally absurd shibboleths which remind one forcibly of the senseless cry amongst the French revolutionists of "Liberty, equality, fraternity, which mean, in reality, the tyranny of one class exercised over all others — the most grinding inequality, and the bitterest hatred between man and man and class and class. So our faddists and their dupes think that to be an excellent and almost god-sent system of education which plunders one-seventh of the community and practically condemns their children, so far as it can, to perpetual ignorance, and proposes, in a most amazing stupidity, to better the condition of labour, in an educational point of view, by establishing a system of education which, from top to bottom, places all the advantages and all the prizes almost exclusively in the hands of well-to-do people, who alone would have sufficient means to enable their children to take full advantage of such a system of education. These faddists are the pest of the community, and all who wish well to the country should discountenance them at once and for ever. It is not necessary to mention their name 3. Everyone will understand whom we mean."

We once more commend fco our Catholic readers the thoughtful and fearless words of the Bishop of Dunedin. There can be but little doubt that if the Catholic body follow the advice of their devoted bishops, they will present to the enemy a powerful and invincible phalanx. United effort is surely, though slowly, telling. The persistence of Catholics ia clinging to their religious schools is daily winning over numbers of admirers to their side. The increasing unbelief of colonial youth is causing universal alarm, and disposing those who have a glimmer of Christian faith to wish for some system of religious education which will serve to stern the prevailing torrent of " godlessness," " paganism," and real " heathenism " which they witness and deplore. We have only to keep up the fight like brave men, and victory will soon be ours. Catholic Emancipation was not won in a day. The remnant of old tyranny which has taken root on these shores will not readily yield, but yield eventually it must, to the necessity of giving justice to determined Catholic colonists.