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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 15, 3 August 1888, Page 17

Vain are the self ' Congratulations of tho3e who assert it as proved that Ireland is not coerced because of her Catholic faith. 'What otherwise is it that has moved the Irish Methodists to memorialise the Wesleyan Conference against Home Rule. Is it not that the/ oppose the admission of Catholics to equality with them ? What again, has induced Mr. Chamberlain speaking a day or two ago at Birmingham to bring forward onca more the old argument of the civil war to be caused by the rising of Ulster. These are anti-Catholic movements and an ti- Catholic movements only, and they give the lie direct to those interested Protestants and anti-Catholic Catholics who declare that the Catholicism of the country has nothing to do with th 8 matter. That Mr. Chamberlain's argument shows a weakness and a want of any valid plea is nothing to the purpose. Beyond a few Orange riots, of complete insignificance if they did occur of which there is some doubt, there would be no rising of Ulster. But the readiness to make use of the anti-Catholic argument proves the point*

Tt is to be feared that the patience of the Irish people is begin* ning at last to fail, and that coercion, which has in everything else proved a failure, has succeeded at length in driving them, or some of them, to desperation. A fierce resistance to eviction is reported from the Wray estate at Rathkeale, in Limerick, and two boycotted men have been murdered —one at Listowel, and another at Kanturk,— the crimes being committed in the broad daylight by masked men, who immediately escaped. Can it be that the fate of these unhappy victims was accelerated by any fear lest the boycott was about to be relaxed ? It has been looked upon , we know, as a preventive again It the commission of murder. In any case, it is conclusively proved that, if it were the disposition of tbe people to commit crime, coercion has no terrors to restrain them. Murder that stalks abroad at mid< day is not an apparition seen in well-governed countries.

A report has been made, by a special committee, to the PanAnglican Conference, sitting at Lambeth, which, if it be acted npon by the Conference, should prove as decieiva for many Anglicaas as did the matter of the Jerusalem Bishopric for Dr. Newman. It is a report in favour of the Church's recognising the orders of nonEpiscopal ministers as valid though irregular. This is simply a recommendation that the Anglican Church nhould renounce all her claims to an Apostolical succession, and pronounce the laying on of hands an empty form. If validity may be obtained without such things, regularity is a question of very secondary importance. It is a little inconsistent with such a state of affaire, at the same time, that the Archbishop of Canterbury should have sent a message of congratulation to the Russo-Greek Caurch on the centenary of Russia's conversion to Christianity. Under the circumstances, the Patriarch of Moscow might hardly care to receive such a fraternal greeting. But it is vain to look for consistency in bodies that are separated from the Church.

With lespect to the inquiry into the charges against Mr. Parnell we know little more than w3w 3 knew last week. We have, however, more definite information that the design of the Government is to bold a protracted inquiry with the object of bring the League generally into suspicion, as connected witn crime. But no great movement that has as yet taken place, not that immaculate one under Washington himself, has been free from the association of some one or more of its individual partisans with outrage and violence, and even were so much proved of the Irish National League, it would have no significance. Wiat Mr. Parnell insists on is a prompt inquiry into definite charges, more especially as to the authenticity of the letters produced by the Times, and as we know the man, we may be convinced that, in one way or another, whether by a direct action against the Times, as mentioned, or by such an official inquiry as he desires, he will have his object carried out. His enemies have certainly caught a Tartar, and will find they have to do with one who will not be deterred by any such folly, as, for example, the Home Secretary's talk of suspicious unwillingness, or stuff of that kind. When Mr. Parnell moves, he knows in what direction he is going and has made up his mind to persevere in his course. His followers may be fully persuaded, meantime that he will lead them into no quagmire, We await the developement and results of the matter in question, with the utmost confidence.

It now seems quite on the cards that a result of the Emperor William's visit to the Czar may be the restoration of Prince Alexander, married to the Emperor's sister after all, to the throne of Bulgaria. If this takes place, it will create a terrible flurry among European gossips generally, who have condemned both match and restoration as not to be tolerated by any means. But if the Emperor William is turning out more amiable than was expected, the disappointment of the gossips may go for what it is worth. For our own part we have constantly declared in favour of Priuce Alexander who has always seemed to us a fine, manly fellow, and one who played a difficult part with great self-denial and digaity. As to the want of royal blood, the only definite charge brought by the gossips against him, it may be overlooked by less exalted people, and, for the matter of that, now that the operation of transfusion is well established, can it not easily be supplied 1 If the Princess Victoria values her lover a straw, ahe will gladly submit for his sake to an operation that can remove from him the reproach, if it be one, of having no royal blood in his veins. With the aid of a skilful surgeon the matter may be mended in a few minutes. Long live science, and may the course of true love by its means run a little smoother.

An Irish exhibition has been opened in London. Among the exhibits is an Irißh village street where natives of Donegal are engaged as in their cottages at home, working at the industries taught them by Mrs. Hart. There are also several picturesque erections representing the ruins of the country, among the rest a round tower, which utterly astonishes the Cockneys. One citizen of a scientific tnrn was heard to explain the construction as having at one time been a draw-well from which a series of geological denudations had caused the earth to retire. A jaunting-car is also to be seen, and in short everything except the reality to persuade tne wandering Paddy that he is in his native land. It is hoped that the result will be to make the English people better acquainted with Ireland and more disposed to take an enlightened interest in her. Mr. Sexton made a fine speech at the opening, in his capacity of Lord Mayor of Dublin which has been compared, very much to the advantage of the speaker! with th«t made by the Lord Mayor of London, the celebrated Mr Polydore de Keyser from Belgium.

At the last meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society, Mr. George Sullivan read an instructive paper on Botany which waa rendered interesting also by the easy and graceful style in which it wai written, and Mr, Falknw read a paper on « The Chine*," which

for a first attempt was highly praised by the critics, who mustered in unusual force. Mr. R. A. Dunne recited T. D. Sullivan's " Poo l Little Jimmy," and received the thanks of the meeting for his excel. lent selection.

Thb committee of the House of Commons have approve! of Sir James Hannen, Sir Charles Day, and Sir Archibald Levin Smith, as the commissioners to conduct the Parnell inquiry. One of these, at least, that is Sir Charles Day, a Catholic, is furiously anti-Irish. Mr. O'DonnelJ, meantime, has protested to the speaker of the House against the commission as interfering with his legal righto, his intention being to move for a new trial against the Times. Mr. O'Donnell, however, as we have already remarked ia not a very trustworthy person.

A litter has been received in Dunedin, duriog the week, from the Rev. Father Lynch. The rev. gentleman, who wrote from Maltland, N.S.W., reports of himself as improving in health. This will be welcome news to many of our renders.

The Dominican nuns request us to acknowledge the receipt o* blocks and remittances in connection with their art-union, from the Rev. Father Fox, Auckland; Miss Carson, Dunedin ; Miss Colehan* Waitati ; and Mr. David Fitzgerald, Wakanui.

The return by the coroner's jury of a verdict ascribing Mr. Mandeville* death to the brutal and unjustifiable treatment he had received in Tullamore Gaol confirms all that rumour had spread abroad concerning that abominable stronghold. It, moreover, makes certain the handing down of Balfour's memory as that of a tyrant and man of blood, even if nothing more happens before his career is closed to make his memory excel still more fully in infamy.

GEBKEAii Boulanger in his book on the Franco-German war, deals very severely with England for her desertion of her ally in the hoar of trial. French blood and French money, ho says, had been lavishly used in fighting her quarrels and furthering her interests. But, he adds, a fool only can reckon on British gratitude and chivalry. England saw in the war the means of increasing her commerce, and Bhe made use of it to that end. The General is also severe on Italy, and in both instances we must admit that the severity wai well deserved. But perhaps, the day cf reckoning is yet to come. England indeed may already see its dawn in the omnipotence in the East given to Russia by the German alliance.

A whiter who reviews in the Dunedin Eveniny Star a pamphlet published by Mr. Ashcroft on Ritualism, says, among the rest, " the days of ignorance are gone." The writer, however, in his review, Batly contradicts himself, for it would be difficult to find, within bo small a compass, a greater display of ignorance than he himself makes in his review. " Many a boy of twelve years old," he tells us, speaking of the present as contrasted with the pa3t, " can comprehend an abstract truth more readily than a Father of the Churoh of the Dark Ages." And yet the •' Dark Ages " were those that, for example, produced Dante, whose chief wisdom was that of the theologians of the times. They were those that produced St. Thomas and other great intellects of whom also our reviewer seems never to have heard. Again he mocks the idea that the Almighty can be pleased with what he calls, with indirect reference to the ritual of the Catholic Church, " ehildiih mummeries." But we -would send our reviewer to the Old Testament where he will find a ritual much more childish in appearance tha» anything to be found in Christianity. Had ritual in itself been displeasing to the Almighty would He have commanded the observance of a very minute and elaborate one? Want of thought and want of knowledge are in many instances the chief qualifications of those who, like this writer in the Star, set themselves up as authorities in religious matters.

A very successful concert was given in the Choral Hall, Dunedin, on Friday evening by the pupils of Mr. G. H. Schaeht's violin school, whose performance reflected most creditably on the instruction received by them. Mies Wooldridge and Messrs. H. B. Smith and Jones also gave their assistance as vocalists, and Herr Schweere contributed much to the success of the evening by his masterly playing on the piano.