A POLISHED REPLY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 33, 10 December 1886, Page 17

A POLISHED REPLY.

The following reply to the Bißhop of Dunedin's letter, published by us last week, has appeared in the Evening Star:— TO THE MOST REVEREND BISHOP MOBAN. My Lord,— l observed in the Evening Star of laßt evening a letter from your Lordship complaining that a correspondent, writing under an assumed name, has dared to reiterate a statement which you affirm to be untrue; and you therefore conclude that I, personally am responsible for and sympathise with the writer. While quite willing to accept any responsibility to which I am fairly entitled, your Lordship should be fully aware that in the matter in question I am only answerable to the public, and not to yourself individually, in this matter. So far as the dispute between you and " Patriot " is concerned, I know nothing of the matter, and am in no way concerned about it. The correspondence columns of the Star are open to the public, and, except in cases where private reputation is involved, matters of public interest are intended to be freely discussed. The dispute between you and " Patriot " stands thus :— " Patriot" affirms that a certain journal states such and such words were used by a certain high functionary of your Church. You denied ifc. Sorely the writer had a perfect right to justify himself if he could, and accordingly he has been allowed to do so. To have denied him thafc right because your Lordship had denounced him would have been to have submitted to a dictation entirely subversive of that liberty of public discussion which this journal will continue to uphold. Then as to the anonymity of the writer, which seems to you so serious an aggravation of his guilt : your Lordship may afford to speak in your own name, as from your high position none can dare to make you afraid. But perhaps a little reflection will convince you that anonymity is the safeguard of liberty, as without such an »gis free discussion would be all but impossible. As a not uncommon occurrence, were not that preserved, the writer of very important letters might be placed under anathemas, or ostracism that would be equivalent to his ruin. In conclusion, notwithstanding the somewhat objectionable tone of your Lordship's letter, I must congratulate you on your evident perception of the advisability of concilatory language in the discussioa of religious questions ; and trust that htneeforth the characteristically coarse abuse of other sects by the journal said to be under your Lordship's inmediate control may be superseded by articles more consistent with its assumed Christian character. — I am, etc., The Editob. Dunedin, December 2.