CARDINAL MORAN AND THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10378, 1 March 1897, Page 4

CARDINAL MORAN AND THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

Theee Ims been an extraordinary outbreak of sectarian bitterness in New Soyth Wales over the announcement of Cardinal Moran's intended candidature for the Federal Convention. Large public meetings have been hold, at which ministers of religion and others have denounced Hie aftair in language that reminds one of the rancorous spirit of religious hate that was so characteristic of the days of our fathers; and the people have been appealed to to use, if necessary, ".the weapons of the devil," whatever they may be. to "block the election of the Cardinal." It is just to say that a large number of the best and most eminent Protestant clergymen have refused to be a party to this proceeding, and not a few of .them liava gone theiengtli of denouncing in good set terms the outbreak of religious bigotry. But the inflammatory language used has resulted in a movement to block the election of every Roman Catholic that may stand in nomination for the forthcoming Federal Convention, and even such candidates us may in any way work in concert with other candidate.?' of that-religious faith, and an endeavour W-beipß iimde to have a rally iii support; of "a Protestant ten,' 1 That the revival of suck a spirit; will give pain

to all right-thinking ttien goes without saying, and it may confidently be expected that the sound sense of the colony will assert itself over such an irrational movement. As to whether the Cardinal has noted wisely incoming forward, there may be a difference of opinion. It would have probably been better if, in his high position us an ecclesiastic, he had confined his energies to the great and important sphere of ecclesiastical administration in which he is so conspicuous. But that is a question entirely for the Cardinal himself to consider, for as the citizen of a country in which religious testa lire unrecognised, either jn the constitution or in public life and private citizenship, he, is fully entitled to exercise all his rights as a citizen without the ghost of religious intolerance being invoked against him. Cardinal Moran lias for many years been known as an ardent federationist, and his enthusiastic loyalty to the Crown, his attachment to the unity of the Empire, and his desire for the expansion of British power, have frequently prompted him to take a prominent part in movements having these objects in view, arid it is known that his words and actions in this respect have exercised a profound influence, more particularly perhaps on the minds of the members of Ills own faith throughout Australia. That with sucli a record he should on tins occasion bo met by such an outburst of sectarian fanaticism, cannot fail to give piin to every mind imbued with a sense of justice, and to everyone that iias been accustomed to feel proud of the boasted liberal spirit of Protestantism. The Federation Convention in which the Cardinal desires to trtke a part is merely called for tho framing of a federal constitution, to be afterwards submitted to the Parliaments and the electors for ratification, and as everything affecting religion or religious parties is altogether out of the range of its purview, any idea of religious interests being offended is grotesquely absurd. The movement is simply the outbreak of an evil spirit of religious bigotry that we had fondly but perhaps foolishly supposed to have been dead and buried in tiio colonies, but winch it would seem is as ready as ever it was to fly to "the weapons of tho devil" in the cause of holiness and for the love of God. As said by our contemporary the Sydney Morning Herald, "it tills the mind of every patriot with shame and humiliation. It is deplorable to be forced to recognisethatthe latentforces of hatred, jealousy, and injustice, which form part of the spirit of sectarianism, are as ready to be let loose by a casual spark as in the old days of religions intolerance. This is the standard of religious liberty and tolerance attained in the closing days of the Nineteenth Century."