ARCHBISHOP O'SHEA AND CROMWELL

Evening Post, Volume xciv, Issue 73, 24 September 1917, Page 8

ARCHBISHOP O'SHEA AND CROMWELL

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—Despite Father Hurley's French motto, I see nothing audacious in calling public attention to an Archbishop's literary misdemeanour, especially when the misdemeanour ia co rank as: the one under consideration, and has bearings on public policy so mischievous (in my poor judgment) as the policy of the Eoman Catholic Church in demanding preferential treatment for their sectarian school teachem. Father Hurley continues to make mysterious hints about fresh.light which modem scholarship has thrown on Cromwell's career. I repeat that those remarks in this connection are poor bluff, such ac Father Hurley should disdain to use. No fresh light has been thrown on Cromwell's conversation with John Hampden. No conceivable light could make Cromwell, seven years before he 6a\v the Ireland he never admired, hold Catholic Irishmen up as models of soldierly spirit. Moreover, the year before thi* conversation thevlrish massacres broke out in the Ulster plantation, and the feeling of Cromwell, and of the average Englishman of the day, toward the Catholic Irish was (unfortunately) similar to the feelings Englishmen in 1856 entertained toward the Indian Sepoys. Bat if Father Hurley in his zeal for his Archbishop's infallibility, and in his enthusiasm for fresh historical light, wants a settlement, I issue to him this challenge: The Professor of History in Chrietchurch is of the, Roman faith. Let the Father or the Archbishop submit the amazing quotation made in the Wellington Town Hall, on the authority of a Major who gives no reference to show Whence he drew hie little joke, to Dr. Hight's judgment. If he pronounces in the Archbishop's favour I will offer him the humblest of apologies for disturbing hie peace. If he, on the other hand, pronounces the garble to be a garble (and, of course he will), then let the Archbishop take the ordinary course and explain to the public of Wellington that he was jewed by an English Major. He might not have been jewed, however, and it will remain an amazement that he should have bean. Since Father Hurley favours me with a quotation from Cromwell I will return the compliment with one, the appositeness of which I hope he may perceive. To cocksure' Scotcli Presbyters ' the General wrote: "I beseech you, In the tender mercies of Jesus Christ, beiieve that it is possible that you may be mistaken."— I am, etc., J. J. NORTH. Christehurch, 21st September.