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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 18, 24 August 1888, Page 18

The Quid-nuncseeem to be justified in their previsions as to the course of eventß in Germany. They had foretold that Count Von Waldereee would, through hia wife, become all-powerful there, and this see ms to be taking place. A slight deviation occurs, however, in the Count's successful rivalry having for ita object,not Prince Bismarck as supposed, but General Von Moltke, whose place he takes. But as a military man this seems the more congenial movement for him. The confirmation given to the belief that the Count's American wife nee Mary Esther Laa, and through her the Count himself, would be the power behind the throne is very striking. Its more serious pom is that it does not seem to make for pease. Von Waldersee has been always regarded as a leader of the war party, and, coming now as he does, to replace at the head cf the army a man renowned for his great victories, nrhile he himself has to boast of lesser distinction only his position is most ominous. We have an Emperor, who claims to be a soldier, before all things, but who has never seen a shot fired, filling the thronejof soldiers distinguished on many battle-fields. We have » commander at the bead of the army identified with no conquests, but taking the place of a great conqueror. How Jong is it likely that these men will be able to refrain from seeking that which alone can set them on a level with their predecessors ? The answer dependi on the degree in which each is a philosopher and a humanitarian, rather than a soldier and a man of ordinary feelings, in these circumstances exposed to temptations of no ordinary kind. But no great good was looked fo* by those who predicted the pre-eminence of Von Waldersee and no grett good seems likely to come of it now it has begun.

A report repeated two or three time, to the effect that the Princess Helena, third daughter of her Majesty the Queen, and wife of Prince Cbmtian of Schleswig-Holstein, had become a convert to the Catholic faith, has been contradicted, as we felt convincel it would be. The Princess Helena is, it is true, an excellent lady, much engaged in works of charity and beloved by the poor, but what we know of her pursuits otherwise doc 9 not encourage ub to believe that she has any Catholic leanings. She has, for example lately published translations of certain German books that would hardly eeem to have occupied tbe attention of a mind engaged upon vital questions of religion. Besidei, the circumstances under which her marriage took place were completely at variance with the requirements of the Catholic Church, and conversion for her Boyal Highnc 38 would involve serious matrimonial difficulties. The report, on the whole, has evidently, like many others, originated in ill-direcled zeal, or something less creditable, if not in mere idle gOSBip.

The Emperor William, then, shows his teeth. His declaration on unveiling the statue cf the late Prince Frederick Charles, that 18 army corps and 42,000,000 of people would rather die on the battletald than surrender Alsace-Lorraine, can only be taken as a wanton provocation offered to France. The man must be blind, indeed, who does not now see the value of tbe Emperor's professions of a regard for peace, and an infinite hope only caa look forward to any very lengthened postponement of war.

Svpposb a riddle were to be proposed— Why are women like money I and suppose an answer were to be given— Because they are the root of all evil, it would be dreadfully impolite no doubt, but that might be the worst f eatnre about it. At any rate, they say a woman has been the cause of the whole attack made by the Times on th« Parnellites, and that this woman is suspected of herself forging the letters published.— This report adds a sharper interest to the matter.

The Times, contrary to every precedent, seems to be publishing all kinds of comments on the libel actions commenced against it by Messrs. Parnell, O'Connor, and Bedmend. The offending paper, in ftct, appears to be in a panic, and frightened out of all its proprieties

It is again state I that two members of the Irish party are to viait these colonies in aid of the cause. Mr. John Dillon and Mr T. D. Sullivan are named as the gentlemen chosen, and two better men could not be found. We bid them a hearty welcome in advance.

One of our daily contemporaries publishes a paragraph, where obtained we know not, to the effect that terrible results have followed on a general strike of ecclesiastics in the Argentine Republic. The priests it seeme, according to the paragraph, have struck against the price placed by the Government on their ministrations and the consequences are virtually those of an interdict. Somebody's invention has evidently been at work, though, as we have said, we do not exactly know where. What seems a likely foundation for such a tale is that probably a Government, consisting like many in South America of Freemasons and members of the Secret Societies, ba_ been interfering unjustifiably with the Church, and that the Bishops hare resisted.— Any kind of a " yarn " could be spun out of this by sufficient powers of invention.

The election for the Isle of Thanet, although won by Jimmy Lowther, has been a victory for the Home Rulers. King-Harman's majority of 2088 has been reduced to 658. This is more than could have been expected in one of the strongest Conservative centres in England.

Thb " grand art-union " in aid of the building fund of the new Catholic church in Napier is to be post-poned to give sufficient time to those who hare been entrusted with the disposal of the books to return all the blocks. As the prizes are valuable and numerous the committee think it absolutely necessary that all those interested ■hould havo sufficient and due notice of the drawing. They will therefore, f^el grateful if all those who have blocks in hand for die! posal will try to send in blocks of same as soon as they can.

We are requested to acknowledge the receipt cf blocks and remittances in connection with the Dominican Nun's arl-union from Mr. P. White, Lawrence ; Mr. J. Fleming, Kawarau Gorge ; and Mr. J. M'Caw, per Eev. Father Vereker.

We sent away by last week's mail to the Lord Mayor of Dublin for conveyance to the Secretary of the Irißh National League the sum of £168 18a 6d, entrusted to us for the purpose as acknowledged in our columns.

On Wedaesday 15th inst., the Feast of the Assump'ion, Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph's cathedral, Dunedin, by the Most Rev; Dr. Moran, at 11 a.m., the Rev. Father Purtoa 0.5.8. acting as deacon and the Rev. Father Vereker as sub-deacon. The music of the Mass was very sweetly rendered by tha choir of the Dominican nuns. The sermon was preached by the Bishop. In the evening there were Vespers and Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament. At St. Patrick's South Dunedin on Sunday a Missa cantata was celebrated by the Rev. Father Purton O.S 8., pastor of the church. The music was very effectively performed by the choir, the •' Salve Regina" being sung at tba offertory by Miss Rose Blaney with violin obbligato by Mr Parker and organ accompaniment by Miss Parker.

IN an Encyclical to the Irish Bishops, read in the Dublin churches on Sunday, July 15, his Holiness the Pope, while regretting the action that had been taken with respect to the decree on boycotting and the Plan of Campaign, declares himself strongly in favour of the National cause. " There is also," says his Holiness, •• a suspicion not les9 unjust to up, namely, that the cause of Ireland appeals but feebly to us and that the present condition of her people eives U9 little careNow, oa the cont-ary, we yield to no one in the intensity of our feeling for the condition of the Irish people, and we have no inoie earnest desire than to tee them at length in the enjoyment of that peace and prosperity which they have so well decerved. We have never opposed their struggling for a better etate of things, but can it be regarded as admissible that in the carrying on cf that struggle a way should le thrown open which might lead to evil deeds ?" This is an effectual blow to the party, represented for example by the London Tablet,

whose object is not to repress boycotting and the Plan of Campaign but the main movement itself, in whoso favour the Pope has now nude an emphatic declaration. The triumph of the Irish party, where Borne is concerned, is complete.

The inquest on the body of the unfortunate Dr. Ridley has given a" ghastly explanation of Mr. Balfour's obstinate refusal to have anj inquiry made into the death of Mr. Mandeville— starved and maltreated in prison into a mortal illness. It has been brought out on the inquest that Dr. Ridley had been driven mad by remorse in con* sequence of the treatment he was obliged by official directions to inflict upon the prisoner, and which was an outrage to his own humane feelings. He was evidently a weak man, but, nevertheless, deserves our pity. As to Bloody Balfour, he has two additional murders on his soul. But that probably, will not much affect him. He is more callous even than Oastlereagb.

We have received a pamphlet entitled "Highchurcbmen and their Rights," and also the " Otago University Review," to both of which publications we shall refer^more at length next week.

Mb. Hennelly who has been for the last ten years connected with the telegraph office in Dunedin has been presented with a gold watch on the eve of nis removal to Auckland. During his stay in this city Mr. Hennelly has made many friends who will regret his departure.

General Boulagneb is as elastic as a ball of Indian-rubber. Nothing can crush him out. Notwithstanding his humiliating resignation of his seat in the Chamber and his compromising duel, he has been returned with large majorities by three constituencies — the Nord Charente Inferieure, and Somme. It is not improbable that the' attitude of the Emperor William has had something to do with the matter. But with the war-party in both countries gaining the ascendant the prospects are not cheerful.

Myers and Co., Dentists, Octagon, corner of George street. They guarantee highest.class work at moderate fees. Their artificial teeth gives general satisfaction, and the fact of them supplying a tern porary denture while the gums are healing does away witb the inconvenience of being months without teeth. They manufacture a single artificial tooth for Ten Shillings, and sets equally moderate The administration of nitrous oxide gas is also a great boon to those needing the extraction of a tooth. Read— [Advt.] This is the last week of the Continental Boot Depot's sale. Only a few days more of boots and shoes almost given away.