"A BRITISH LAY CATHOLIC" AND J. CRISPE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3353, 15 April 1868, Page 3

"A BRITISH LAY CATHOLIC" AND J. CRISPE.

To the Editor of the Daily Southmut Choss. Sir,— According to Charles Lamb, a friend of bis held that a man cannot have a pure mind who refoaes-apple-dumplings. Now, I hold that a man muit have a weak mind -who takes any notice of J. Crispe's letters to the newspapers. A letter signed " A British Lay Catholic," which was published in your issue of the 9th inst., testifies to the truth of my proposition. This fact is of itself sufficient to render that letter interesting. Besides this, the letter proves that, while its authovis a weak-minded man, nevertheless he is, in many respects, a remarkable one, possessing « vast amount of information. For although "A British Lay Catholic"— whom, for convenience s»ke, I shall call " Briton"— appears not t© have known what he was writing about, yet, in his own modest, half-uncoDacioua way, he makes us feel that he is familiar with subjects which moit of us aie ignorant of. Fenianism, its origin and came, are by no means secrets to "Briton ;" but, unfortnnately for us, he seems to imagine that we are as wise as himself, for he has not thought proper to enlighten us on these subjects. He even supposes that that troublesome scribbler, J. Crispe, "of course" knows all about them ! " Briton" does, indeed, inform us, in figurative language (whioh is much affected by weakminded people), that Fenianism is "one baneful fruit" produced by centuries of "grinding oppression," and that, although it is detestable and criminal, still, strange to say, it is not a religious combination. It seems also, that the Fenians, being tired of "grinding oppression," have been learning lessons from Garibaldi, and have rebelled; and for this they are denounced by a certain Church. Moreover, " Briton" tells us plainly, though he M very ambiguous at times, that he "can have no communion with Fenians or Garibaldians or other traitors and assassins." Now, I would just hint to ' ' Briton that, if he will persist in classing Garibaldi with "Fenians, traitors, and assassins," then I mutt insist on classing our friend with idiots and lunatics. Again, my admiration for " Briton" does not prevent me from seeing that he is slightly inconsistent; for it seems that lie does not consider himself under any obligation to submit to some kinds of "gross and protracted cruelty." He seems undecided as to how many centurieß of it he would endure before using forcible resistance," c ' Briton" is obligingly communicative about Magna Charta and some obscure parts of English history j and he confirms the popular notion that_ we are under obligations to the patriotic Archbishop Langton, Our friend states that " the spirit of loyalty" which animated Langton and the barons of England in King John's days still survives in the breasts of true English and Irish Catholics. Now I submit that this statement is somewhat startling, if only it be true. And if it were loyalty which animated men who levied war upon their king, then I ■hould like to be informed what treason is. "Briton" becomes very pathetic and mournful towards the conclusion of his letter— and quite unintelligible. If you expect me to divulge the reason you are quite mistaken j all I can say about it is, that I am not a teetotaller— neither is my friend Trusting that, if "Briton" should think it advisable to answer "Irishman," he will, previously to doing so, furnish himself with a little oommon sense, — lam, &c, °*