RANDOM NOTES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 6, 1 June 1883, Page 19

RANDOM NOTES.

The Irish question still continues to occupy unusual prominence among the colonial Press. Bone papers are, indeed, very outspoken in their denunciations of Fenians and Invincibles, as, e.g., the New Zealand Times. This heroic advocate of peace has lately expressed a desire that 150,000 unarmed Fenians would come forward (in Ireland of course) to be massacred in cold blood, simply for the pacification of Ireland. Whatever may be the social, moral, or political aspects of Fenianitm we can safely assure this sagacious pacificator that the members of that body are not snch downright asses as their moral assassins would take them for. Without endorsing the principles, the aims, or objects of Fenianism, we wish to draw the attention of thoughtful Englishmen, if many such can be found, to a particular phase of this Irish question. Let us take it for granted that in Ireland and America there are numbers of disaffected persons ; what does it prove? Let ns go back to first principles. When the organic body is ailing, the symptoms of the disease show themselves in the outer surface or through internal disease. In each case the affection gives pain. By these symptoms and pains the medical practitioner applies his intelligence to guide him in his diagnosis ; that made, he applies a remedy. Bnt our sapient, far-away critic says if the limb aches lop it off! In the body politic of Ireland there are pains and aches, and the moanings they cause give rite to discontent and chronic rebellion »- and it would be well, indeed, if the political doctor made a thorough investigation of the body and did not perform his diagnosis |in a perfunctory manner. Ireland has serious ills to be still remedied, and, as in the body, organic, good, careful nursing is as desirable as good prescriptions, so, too, a careful and just administration of the law is as necessary to the body political as the framing of wise enactments. History teems with proofs of this. We will take but one instance. Magna Charta, as signed at Bunnymeade 1215, laid the foundation of wise laws, but no sooner did the doctors disperse than the nurses began to administer the old cupping and blood-letting again. What happened in England during John's reign is going on in Ireland to-day. Fairly just laws are trampled under foot by Jeffreys, of the Clifford-Lloyd type, and the people groan with fines, exaction*, and imprisonments there, as the men of Cornwall did in Jeffreys' time. We think another lesson, too, might be learned from this chronic rebellion. It was a lesson which Sydney Smith tried to teach years ago — that, in the words of Holy Writ, " Where a house is divided against itself it must ultimately fall." If Great Britain is to maintain its position as a great power in the political world, it must reconcile the whole of its people by wise laws justly administered, otherwise the Napoleons of the future will, as in 1798, find in Irish disaffection a vulnerable point to attack England. No epithet is thought ridiculous or extravagant enough to hnrl at the Invincibles by our colonial journal, but if the writer made himself aware of the probable origin of that body (I say probable, for I doubt even still of their existence, but I fear their existence is too palpable for denial), had he but read the graphic account of Cluseret's mission in Ireland after the fall of Paris in 1871, he would see that much of the blame rests with the government of the late Earl Beaconsfield. We remember well how the burner of convents, the open horrid street murderer in Paris, was feted by political gentlemen and sedate ladies in London — all because he pillaged convents and warred against Roman Catholicism in France ; how he had an escort to guard him in Ireland while preaching Communism ; how his every step in the matter was known to the Government ; how the said Government winked at all and above all, how the then head of the Government despaired with Clnserel of any tangible result in Ireland, because the wretches were too devoted to their priests to ever become successful rebels. (See Lothair, en passim, ebapter 27.) Now, Communism, Invincibleism, or any other ism, was welcome in Ireland as long as it served to separate priests and people, and yet when it assumes proportions too large -for the Government machinery English statesmen and zealots, like Tom Sawyer, " hollar ' 'naff, 'nuff,' " and not only that, but invoke France and America to do their work of suppressing it. Verily, this is far from respectable in such a genteel nation. America is interceded with to stop the Fenians, France to stop the Land Leaguers. Pray, what was England's answer when manufacturing Oreini bombs for Internationalists ad libitum all the world over 1 It was a free country, carrying on free trade with all lands. And, although it was not said, it was naively implied that these rebellions were aimed at Catholicity as well as at the European sovereigns ; at least, as long as they were irreligious abroad they could be safely carried on. But religion and royalty apart, they brought money into English coffers, and that did much for a nation of shopkeepers. Yet it must be admitted that the Government occasionally did a little in the matter, for it has been stated, whether true or false I know not, that as soon as the Government knew the manufacturers were paid, they gave the .Powers interested warning of the cargoes about to be landed on their coasts. In this, however, as well as in their own case, the well-known lines Burns apply — '- " The best-laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft agley." We have thus shown the probable origin of the Invincibles. Cluseret failed in his mission, but did his mission fail ? Evidently it did not. Communism did not take a deep hold of the people, but evidently the spirit remained and a few were affected. A few— yes, a miserable few can evidently work a large amount of mischief even in a country crowded with soldiers and police. For years past, everything the Government and people of England could do was done with a view of separating priests and people. Unfortunately, many Irish ecclesiastics have come to the opinion that if priests took no part in politics they would be able to get more concessions from England. If the telegrams be true, the fiat

has gone forth to that effect. Whether it will hare the desired effect is, however, a question of the fritnre. t tear not. If priests are divorced from the people in politics, only one thing can happen c Their place will be filled with demagogues, who may or may not sympathise with the political needs ; bnt with the religions and moral, never. Even the Land League orators, good aud right enough when working side by side with their faithful guardians, will never be equally safe for the people when deprived of the wise counsels of men of peace, culture, refinement, and religion. Besides, it is a well* known fact that the great majority of them are imbued with the purely secular principles of the Queen's college*. On this score the outlook, from a religious point of view, is not very pleasant to meditate on. However, Mr. Gladstone, it must be admitted, is wiser in his generation than his gorgeous Ori>-n*al predecessor, for instead of a fruitless endeavour to separate priests and people, he ha* aided religious colleges and given a handsome endowment to a Catholic Normal Training College for Cathol'c teachers in charge of primary schools. This, it must be admitted, is a step in the right direction. When will our legislators see their way to granting a like indulgence to Catholics in New Zealand ? One feels tired and sick at the feeble attempt made every day at suppressing what is considered by all a growing evil in our midst. Day after day we read of the unmitigated nuisance of Btreet larrikinism in our mid*t. Sailway carriages broken, windows of public building* shattered to pieces, wharf chains broken and unhooked, and so on ad infinitum. The latest remedy is an offer of a bonus to the police to catch them. Would it not be far better if these poor children were taught the difference between right and wrong at school — that an ever watchful God was looking on them when no policeman's gaze was upon them f that to that God they should render an exact account of all their actions,— that He would one day reward the good and punish the wicked. But, no, religion could not be taught in a State school sup* ported by public funds, because, you see, if a State admitted that a child could be taught anything about God they should support Catholic schools, where those dreadful errors about the Pope's religious supremacy, etc., are inculcated, and so they have all to grow up in larrikinism, and when the children become demoralised and wicked through their neglect they give the policeman a bonus. Celt.