Bishop Moorhouse.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5987, 23 July 1887, Page 1

Bishop Moorhouse.

. *— — . Many persons have thought (remarks the London correspondent of the Argv.s) that Dr Moorhouse had the instincts of a statesman, and he ia justifying their belief. Twice lately he has given utterance to opinions which not a few desire he possessed the power to enforcewith action as well as eloquence. Addressing a mixed meeting of clergy and laity at Blackburn, the Bishop of Manchester referred to the perils which beset the British Empire. He foresaw, he said, that the future rested with the great powers of the world, and in different parts of her dominion England was confronted with three of these— Germany, Kussia, and the United States. Australia, India, and Canada were all interested in the rapidly-increasing strength of those powers. The pusillanimous folly of a British Secretary of State for the Colonies in actually inviting Germany to lay hold of a portion of New Guinea had fairly surprised Australians. Then, again, Kussia was stealing with cat-like tread across tho steppes of Central Asia, and was within a short march of Herat, while the United States Btretohed right across tho southern boundary of Canada. Some suggested the perils he had touched on should be met by Colonial Federation, but that was difficult of attainment, but the real safety lay in making every Englishman a match bodily, and moro than a match mentally and morally, for each foreigner. Dr Moorhouse also expressed himself vigorously in regard to the interminable Irish problem. Ib was time, he thought, that the wants of England received some attention. These remarks have excited the ire of Sir Geqrgo Campbell, who intends to call the attention of the House of Commons to Dr Moorhouse's "extraordinary utterances," as containing incitements to hostility against other nations. ■ Sir Charles Campbell, who is apparently not acting in a jocular spirit, intends to move — " That a humble addreas be presented praying Her Majesty to inquire into the facts, and, if necessary, restrain a dignitary of the establishment from propagating such unChristian and anti-Christian doctrines while the connection between Church and State continued." Of course, this vigorous action was greeted with ironical cheera.