Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 9, 21 June 1889, Page 1

Current Topics

AT nOME AND ABROAD.

There is one particular strain that runs all through A cunning the arguments being brought just now against the attempt. mission of the Irish delegates to Australia. The Times and Spectator, and other coercionary papers, are repeating it in London, and in Melbourne the Press which sympathises with them is re-echoing it. It is possibly also in support of the ends sought for that one especial phase of the circumstances connected with tbe murder of Dr. Cronin in Chicago is apparently above all others of interest to the Cable Agency. We allude to tte funds subscribed in aid of the Irish cause in America and our own colonies. This is the particular point which evidently excite 3 the animosity ot the opponents of Ireland, and which they find it devolves upon them the most to combat. And, in fact, the subscriptions in question form the strong point of the Irish agitation. What, otherwise, could a people pov city-stricken and starved by plunder of centuries' duration have done towards holding out in a protracted struggle ? Money they had not even to preserve their lives, or appeasa the greed of the evictor and keep the roofs of their houses above their heads. But money, and large supplies of .money, were necessary if the fight was to be maintained with any hope of success. Fit men to represent tbe people and carry on the struggle in Parliament, but who, at the same time, could live on their private mean^ wero it not forthcoming. The victims of tho landlords, driven out not only with the timehonoured cruelty, but in insolent refusal of the popular demand, neecltd tbe means of existence, ani could not bj left to perish from hunger aid hardship. A thousan i requirements necessarily arising in connection with a prolonged agitation must be provided for. And, lo crown all. the Commission made needful by the forgeries pub'ifhed by the Times, and involving an immense expenditure by the Irish party was to be encountered. All these things, an 1 each of these th'n,'s c£ itself alone, would be enough 10 swamp the whole cause, and to make the agitation issue in fresh burdens imposed upon the piople, were they eftaloneto meetthecost. Ireland, however, did not, and does noN stand alone. Her boundaries. 3 > far as this matter is concerned, are not ti ose narrow onesiurroundei by tbe waters of the Atlantic ocean. All the. oceans wash shores on which her faithful people are to be found, anl far as her sons are separated from her, they are true in tne hour of need. Ireland's strength all through the battle has been sustainel by tbe generosity of her sons abroid. They have actei towarlsber within the limits of natur: the part played superaaturally of old by the great leader of tho Children of Israel, who held up hi* nan is af.ir off in order that his people might conquer in their conflict with the enemy. While the Irish peop'e and their children in America and these colonies are constant in the aid given by them, the Irish cause must prosper and approach nearer every day to the final victory. But this is well known t> the opponents of the Irish causj. They know that could they only succeed in cutting off the supplies so far poured with generosity into Ihe national coffers, the cry of victory might almost be openly raised by tl cm, It has, tharefore, excited their anger additionally to find that the appeal now being made to the Australian colonip.3 was likely to result in a brilliant pucccss. Need we wonder, th'n, thit an attempt has been undertaken to prevent the formidable issue ? It is certainly for this end that tbe hostile Press of London and Melbourne, aided by thi hostile Cable Agency, is attacking the funds of the Laague. Their design is certainly to arouse suspicion in the minds of the friends of the Irish cause in thes3 colonies, and, if not wholly to cut off, at least to lessen in a considerable degree, th 3 money subscribed. But if the friends of the Irish cause are on the alert, and keep their eyes open to the truth, this cunning attempt also, like many others, must end in a lignal failure.

It is doubtful whether the aspect of affairs in the ▲ THREATENING Balkan peninsula has ever of lao years appeared situation. more grave than it does at this moment. It seems as if the long-expected fight for the mastery,

between Russia and Austria backed by Germany, was about to occur Ever since tbe deposition of King Milan, indeed, and the elevation in bis place to the throne of Servia of bis son, a boy of some twelve or thirteen years of age, the predominance of Russia has been apparent. The youag £ing is bound by all his circumstances to be a Russian dependent. His mother, Queen Nathalie, was a Russian subject, and one devoted to her country. Her ioflaence at the court of her husband the King was exercised in favour of Russia,as opposed to that of his Majesty, who was a strong supporter of the Austrian supremacy. Her sou has bean educated in his mother's principles, which will have an additional control over him owing to his devotion to her. It is not likely, therefore, that there is any truth in the report that the Prince of Montenegro will be proclaimed King of Servia, with the consent of the Czar, or (hat his Imperial Majesty will support tbe revolt, which we are told is imminent, on behalf of Prince Peter Karageorgovitcb, the son-in-law of the Prince of Montenegro, and the hereditary pretender to the Servian thi'ODe. What seems more likely to be true is the rumour current a few days previously to the effect that the rule of Prince Nikita was to be extended to Bjßnia, over which the protectorship of Austria now prevails. This stsp, moreover, since Servia is already in. Russian bands, would complete the Panslavic chain, and would most effectually bar Austria out from the Southern extension which it is hardly any longer denied that Germany intends for her. The reports that have reached us by the cable are meagre, 'and, as is not uncommon, appear somewhat confused. We are, therefore, at a disadvantage in forming calcula. tiona as to what has really taken place, or what haß occurred to set tbe movement on foot at this especial moment. It may be, perhaps* that tbe recent reaewal of the Nihilist attempts on tbe life of the Czar have made his Majes y anxious for some undeitaking that may absorb tha interest of his people and turn iheir thoughts, at least for a tim?, away from conspiracy. Russian action, however, is certainly at thi! bottom of tbe movement, whatever it may be, and, according to all appearance*, war must ba the result.

We si ll continue to receive at iatervals appeals for A scspicioui aid towards the support of the home for boys institution, established in London by Dr. Barnardo, But, tiuth to tell, the stimps affixed to these appeals represent so much money thrown away. We send no aid to Dr« Barnardo, nor is it likely that we shall ever do so. Not, however that we have no sympathy with a Protestant charity honestly conducted — such a charity, on the contrary, we should be glad to aid, so far us wti could find it possible. But Dr. BarcarJo has revealed bisband in one little book forwarded to us— the one little book which we found it quite sufficient to read— and, having discerned the proselytisjr, we have neitner sympathy nor aid to effer him. Meantime, the London Tablet, which \9 on the spot aod knows how such things are carried on, instructs us as follows :— '• In the experience which we passed through we could hardly help being taught a fair amount of field practice, and, amongst the many conclusions which have been borne in upoa us, perhaps one of the most plain and tbe least pleasant is that in this warfare— this struggle to protect and recover our own— ill the difficulties lie on the side of the Church, and all the advantages on the side of the pioselytiser. He is richer than we are. Then, by the very condition of things, it is ea6ier for him to steal ten children than for uj to rescue one. Moreover, a child has ooly to be dexterously stolen and then dexterously stowed away — and for the clever management of both the proselytiser can be inimitably trusted— aid tbe Catho'ic parent and tbe Catholic priest may setk for it in vain ; and, although they hive both moral right and British law upon their side, the probabilities are that they will fiad themselves out-matched, baffl;d, and worsted. . . . Bat if the Catholic parent, indignant at the perversion cf his child* or roused by the priest to a s^nsj of duty, should came to clamour and claim, then the proselytiser holds in his hand a whole series of expedients. First of all, the angry parent may be cajoled. He may be persuaded and unctuously talked over, especially with those arguments which the poor find Icribly convincing. But if he will not another caid must be played. Ho may be frightened. • If you take A. away, you must pay five pounds as expenses for the time we have had him here. Five pounds from that begrimed collarless workman

— irom that pale, pinched-cheeked woman, shivering ia her shawl. Why did they not ask five hundred ? The point of thi9 prosely User's joke is that such a claim is utterly illegal. Bat the workman and his wife are not ltwyers, and with this five pound claim ringing in their ears, they will in all probability turn away defeated and dumbfounded. But if this ruse faiU — and it rarely docs — tha] proselytiser has his third card ready. If the Ca'holic parent cannot be fooled or frightened, he may be evaded. ' Yes, A. was in this Home some time ago, but lately he has been sent to another Home, to Dr. 8. at Birmingham.' How is the destitute father to find means to follow him ? Even if he did, it would be only to be told that little A. bas had another change, and bas been passed on to Dr. 8., at London. The parent will be sent en a fool's errand from Home to Horne — made to wait— asked to call again and again — and finally sent elsewhere, until means, patience, and courage are alike exhausted. Not one parent in a hundred among the working classes will withstand ■uch an ordeal. But if the parent ha 9 tracked his child and must have him. then the proseljtiser plays his last card. He defies him. He tells the anxious parent, through the half-opened door, tbat the child shall not be given up, and that if he wants it he must go to law for it, and the door is bangrd to by way tf putting a full stop to the sentence. 11 — On the whole, then, we see good reason to conclude that we are fully justified in turning a c ! c>f ear to the requests for aid forwarded to us periodically by Dr. Bernardo, and in not being at the trouble of opening the little books and pamphlets he sends u<>.