Current Topics.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 12, 13 July 1888, Page 1

Current Topics.

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Mb. Thomas Mooney, better known to as as " Trans- ▲ BKMABrABLE Atlantic," the European correspondent of the Irish OABBEB, World, who has just died at Dieppe, in the 80th year of his age, was a man who had run a re" markable career, and whose long life had been full of notable experiences. It enables us to realise vividly the sad story of Ireland to find that a man, even though his life was of more than the general length, and his powfrs of much more than common strength, who in his youth had heard his elders relate the events which as eyewitnesses they had seen under the penal laws in all their rigsur, still survived to lend the Parnell agitatiou the support of hiß pen. We learn from the Irish World, which gives a biographical sketch of Mr Mooney, that the first impressions oE his life were those be had received from the fireside tales told by his grandfather of the days when the celebration of Mass had been a work of danger, and when his father, as a boy, had been posted on some neighbouring ditch to give warning should the approach of the officers of the law threaten the officiating priest with capture and death, and the daiing farmer who permitted the divine sacrifice to be offered in his house with transportation. It was natural that one so nurtured ehould devote his life to the service of his country— and this Thomas Mooney did with the utmost vigour and constancy. He took an active part in the agitation against the tithes, practically commenced, he tells us, by Peter Lawlcr, nf Tinskill, Queen's County, who refused to pay the obnoxious tax, and which , after a struggle of five years, terminated successfully. He was prominent in the fight under O'Connell for repeal, and personally got up the first meeting on the subject that ever took place in England— that held at Manchester on St. Patrick's Day, 1833. At this meeting he had a petition adopted, to which he succeeded in obtaining 27,000 signatuies, and which was presented to Parliament by Feargus O'Connor on April 22, 1834. That night, he adds, O'Connell spoke for four hours, recounting the Bufferings of Ireland to the House ; but the result waß a grievous defeat, the motion for the repeal of the union being rejected by 623 to 38. O'Connell then undertook the task of agitating for further reform and the reconstruction of the House of Lords, avenging himself on the Whigs who had betrayed him, and becoming the idol of the English democracy. The time-honoured game of bribery, however, was played once more. An advanced Whig Ministry came into office under Lord Melbourne, and terms of justice to Ireland were offered. O'Connell's friends were promoted to various high offices, and even members of his own family were similarly favoured. He himself was offered a judgeship of the Court of Queeu's Bench, with a salary of £4000 a year, which he refused. But Mooney, with a band of companions, eeeing the terrible condition of the country, where two-and-sixpence a week was the average yearly wages of the labourers and where, during thirty weeks of the year, 585,000 people, representing a population of 2,385,000, were out of work and dependent on chanty, drew up an address to O'Connell, calling upon him to relinquish both Whigs and Tories, and to lift once more and for ever the standard of repeal. Of this he approved, and recommended the men who addressed him to continue the agitation, and to look everywhere for support. Mooney, then, on bis own responsibility, and paying out of his own pocket a quarter's rent in advance took the Adelphi Theatre in Brunswick street, Dublin, where the discussion of the queetion waa carried on, aud where reports were regularly preeented on the grievances of the country. The association which was known as the « Trades Political Union," was afterwaids developed into that known as the "Loyal National Repeal Association of Ireland. In an address, drawn up by Mooney, an J presented by one of the trades bodies on joining this association the following passage occurred-declaring principles identical with those of the present National League :-" The people of every nation have|a primary right to the produce of their native soil, conferred upon them by the mighty Creator of all," Another step undertaken and carried out by Mooney was the establishment of a Board of Irish Manufactures for the promotion of the production and wear of Irish cloth, and of which he acted as honorary secretary until he left Dublin for America, when he

wae replaced in the position by the late Dr. (afterwards Sir John) Gray.— Hiß Toy age was suggested by addresses received, of rapport and sympathy, accompanied by contributions in money, from the friends of Ireland In Boston and Philadelphia. He proposed a< flrtt that the Repeal Committee should send Tom Steele with at address of thanks, but the proposal was considered premature, ■ i consequently he resolved to go himself, but as a private emigrai lest he should compromise O'Oonnell legally by any of tht upeeckee iebf him. Mooney's tour in the United States and Canada piov 'ghly successful. He was everywhere accorded a iympathetic beai , and, while receiving no pay, was the means of having hundreds of tl .sands of dollars sent from America in aid of repeal. While he vas engaged in this work the Nation was established in Dublin by Gavan Duffy, and at that gentleman's request be became the American correspoa. dent of the newspaper to which, under the nom\dt plume of "Kxile,' 1 he contributed for seven years. —At this point the biographical sketch published by our contemporary in his issue of May 26, the last received by us, terminates. But we know from Trans-Atlantic's correspondence how consistent to the end waa the man who had derived his insptra* tions directly from the penal days, who had taken part in the tithe agitation and laboured under O'Connell in the repeal movement, in supporting the struggle of the National League. His life, moreover gives us fresh hope, for it enables us to realise how much has been done towards working out the freedom of Ireland ev«n in the life-time of an individual— a period which, prolonged though it may be, falls infinitely short of the life of a nation. It appears, then, that the Irish people are not the mobe only Hottentots with whom Lord Salisbury and his Hottentots. Government are called upon to deal. The London Daily News tells us that a fair proportion of the population of England herself is in a somewhat similar condition Commenting on a query made lately by a prominent writer as to what was to be the destiny of the numbers of children bsing brought up all ovr r th 6 country in want, and sin, aul ignorance, our coate mpor* ary says:—" As a matter of fact, we suppose the future of the children will be pretty much the same as the present co»dition of their parental and that is not appreciably better than that of the Hottentots or Patagonianß." But Lord Salisbury and hii Government are too much occupied in endeavouring to perpetuate and aggravate Ihe Hottentot condition of Irolaod to find time or thought for the amelioration of the worse condition of things existing in their on country for degradation among the English masses is infinitely worse than Irish poverty and iuSering. Probably, however,the continued existence of ths Hotteutot or Patagonian element ia necessary to the privileges of the classes whese support is Lord Salisbury's first object. At any rate, he is consistent in tolerating that in England of whose existence in Ireland he greatly approves.— Let us always give the devil his doe as the old saying has it. Mb Isbabl Kohn, now of Santa Fe, New If exico.bat an IBIBH formerly of Valparaiso, has given to a reporter o* ■mpibe. the St. Louis Post Dispatch an account of the success of Irish immigrants in Chili, which ha represents as extreme. New York, he says, although it is spoken of as under the control of Irishmen, cannot bj compared in this respeo to Valparaiso, where Irishmen rule, not by force of numbers but by that of character. As, moreover, Valparaiso rules Chili, Irishmen ar the rulers of the country, where they occupy much the same position as that held by the English in India, with sb beneficial results. Their first arrival in the country took place under the command of Lord Dundonald, who chiefly freed South America from the Spanish yoke» and, who, though himself an Englishman, had for bis companion and fellow-adventurers Irishmen almost exclusively. When he lef the country they remained there, and they and their descendant have since governed if Another Irish immigration, however, occurred on the termination of the civil war in the States, when a arge number of Clebuir's brigade were the immigrants. They organised the army, as some of Ljrd Dundonald'u old sailor* had already done by the navy, and when the war with Peru broke out the results were soon made apparent. Everyone expected that Peru would be the victor :— " But the first battle showed the Irish blood and training. Although far outnumbered, the Chilian troops, by

•keer desperation of valour, swept the Peruvians from their front, one small regiment, formed exclusively of Trish-Americans, conquering more than Ive times their number. The Peruvians, led by half-breed oncers, ran like fbeep before the furious Irish onslaught, and the country was overrun within a few months. To empbasiee the cause of the astonishing victory of the Chilinos, several engagements took place between forces commanded by native officers on both sides, and the result in every instance was that the Peruvians won. But when, Irish officers commanded the Southern Republic was always vi«toriouß> and as to the Irißh regiment, the Peruvians, after the second combat never dared wait its attack, but fled precipitately as soon as the drums beat the charge. Even on the ocean, where the brave German Admiral Grau had command, the ight went against the Peruvians, «nd they were goon reduced to a condition of helplessness, entirely owing to the Iridi in the Chilian service." The consequence has naturally been an immense increase of the Irish influence and populirity, and men of Irish name *re the best beloved aud most honoured among the Spanish-Indian population— who regard every Irish visitor Man aristocrat. Mr. Kohn, in f «ct, affirms that Chili must be looked upon as an Irish Empire— and promises Irish immigrants a cordial reception there, and a certain success.

" The Reign of Grace " has brought it* rev. author ".FBOWOlors." into dangerons places. The Presbyterian Synod is aghast with horror and indignation, and bent, at the re least on making the learned professor say he wishes he had lot done it. What is to happen If he proves obstinate and will not Bay bo, we cannot tell, bat no donbt, to our edification and enlightenment, we shall know all in good time. It could not but be an edifying sight to sea an ex-theologian and actual philosopher taking «p a dignified though hnmble position on the " cuttie-stool." And ye want a little edification to revive us. To think, for example, of an outburst of hilarity in the middle of a grave and reverend assent ly engaged with solemn considerations, and an outburst of Hilarity all about the devil too, is a little overcoming to the weaker mind. To what, for instance of sufficient elevation shall we compare the sentences spoken by the rev. Mr. Ryley, and the laughter they e«XjMioned, unless it be to the jesting of a fool injone of Shakespeare's tragedies among tremendous surroundings. But whether the tragic •lement was present with Mr. Ryley or not, the foolish certainly was, and therein, perhaps, we may see a point to justify our comparison. The thought that some one or more ef the sons and daughters of Adam is Bure to be damned, i B , it would seem, so pleasant atbougbtto thepev. Mr. Ryley, that it makes him quite frisky Vith regard to the devil, and inclined to call him by a pet name. But to leave Mr. Ryley and the foolish and to come to Mr. Gibb and the profound. What are we to think of a Church, that, as this gentleman says, " is looking out for more light than she at preoent has," aChnreh, too, whose fundamental pinciple is that all light is to be fonad by the unaided individual in Holy Scripture 1 Where is she to turn for additional light, and what aie her chances of finding it T Those, perhaps, that exiit of her lending an attentive ear to the imaginations of men that may lead her even further from the ligh 4 than John Knox has led her. No wonder poor Mr. Ryley de&cribed himself as theologically fed by Mr, Gibb on a " jumbled hash." But It was a pity the rev. gentleman was obliged also to describe himself as, "just as wise ai when he (Mr. Gibb) began," considering tbe greab n«ed he had of an increase of wisdom. '■ The Reign of Grace '• then, has brought its writer into thorny places, more thorny, perhaps, than any benefits to be produced by its publication could atone for.

As a conclusive defence from the charge now 6 'KCLtISITE brought by the revolutionists of France against the PBOOF. Church 11 hiving been hostile to Joan of Arc, tbe

Univers publish s citain prayers;that were offered by the priest during the celebration of Mass for th* deliverance of th c Maid when she bad fallen into the h ids of her enemies. The prayers, in Latin of course, speak of h< r as ! avii j» been sent by God for the elevation and preservation r>l J>r.»nco and the overthrow and destruction of tbe country's enrmit*. i"d implore Almighty God, through the intercession of the Bles'ed Yujmi and all tbe saints, to free her from tbe bonds in which Ho Kjs piicn ud her to be bound by the hands of her enemiep. Another graver, offered on behalf of King Charles VII, also speaks vt her as divinely commissioned in the woik •he had done. The prayers are quite conclusive as to the view taken by the Church in France of the nature of Joan's mips ; on, and show,|beyond •11 power of dispute, that she was regarded by it with'veneration and U the chosen servant of God, even in the hoar of h r fall. It would be hard for revolutionists to overcome this evidence, if boldness in fateefcood w«re not one cf thfir mosttfloient weapons.

THB following ngly FTurr and coarse insult occur in an introductiou pln'-e : by thf» Lonion Tablet

AN TTOLT AFFAIR.

before the account «f afLms in Chili given by Mr Kohn to a St. Louis rej orter, and of which we Bye already spoken, taking our quotations from an Ameiican paper

and not from the Tablet : — " If the account. ... be accurate, then there would appear to be every hope of a bright future for the Irish race in a land where they can pnjoy Home Rule to the fullest extent, and where there is plenty of room for the nation to expand unchecked by the circumambient ocean or the too near contiguity of Great Britain." — We need not comment on this gross paragraph. There is, indeed, only one consideration that induces us to quote it. it can be of little consequence to Irish Catholics as to the spite or insoleace with which the editor of the Tablet or his newspaper, or any member of the Norfolk Catholics whosa scribe and obsequious servant our editor is, insults them. They recognise these people as their bitter and unscrupulous enemies and are on their guard against themBut the spirit of the Tablet is that also of its proprietor Dr. Vaagham Bishop of Salford, a prelate who essays to take a special lead in the missionary world, and who is exerting himself particularly in trying to stop the leakage of the Church in England. We may pass by any elaborate inquiry into how far it is consistent with the true missionary spirit to rejoice in effect as does the Tablet, in the passage quoted by us, at the prospect of an Ireland emptied of its Catholic population and left desert in the hands of Protestant proprietors, or repeopled by Protestant Englishmen and Scotchmen. But what we affirm is that an ecclesiastic of the disposition here revealed is not only the last man in the world to undertake with success a stoppage in tbe loss occasioned for th» most part by the falling away of the children of Irish settlers from the Church in England, but himself must actually contribute in no small degree to that leakage. The knowledge that their bishop, perhaps unconsciously but none the less surely, loathes and despises them must tend to make many Catholic homes more or lets those of people carele3B about their religiona,nd homes in^ which the Catholic instruction of the children will be neglected, or their attendance at school and church lightly regarded. Irish men and Irish women, and even Irish children themselves, are not one whit Blower in discerning the secret loathing that exists towards them, than, for example, was Topsy in reading in the mind of Miss Ophelia the feelings of dislike and contempt which the excellent lady unconsciously entertained towards her — and Catholics such as those we allude to might take a wholesome lesson from the humility with which Mies Ophelia acknowledged the truth. But Dr. Vaughan, who n accountable for the open hatred and undisguised loathing published in his newspaper, the Tablet, can hardly claim the excuse of unconsciousness, and seems quite willing to make his sentiments known to all the world. Under the circumstances it is to be feared that, while something of the Borrioboola-gha element may enter into his Lordship's missionary enterprisejgenerally, where the leakage of the Church in England is concerned he scatters far more with one "hand than he gathers with the other. This is the only matter of importance connected with such passages as that we have quoted from the Tablet. But it is of vast importance, as bearing on tha position and prospect? of the Church in England, and, perhaps, also as bearing on the account of |their stewardship to be hereafter demanded from the bishops who rule that Church, and from the priesthood they control.