Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 15, 2 August 1889, Page 1

Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Among the more deplorable events of the time 3 are A pressing the cases brought to light by the Society for the QUESTION. Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The report fo r

last year, recently published, gives a long list of Bach cases, with details that it is agonising so much as to hear of. Brutal beating, in Borne instances of mere infants ; burning (Pith a hot |poker ; starvation ; exposure to cold and inclement weather. There is hardly any form of infamy that has not been resorted to. In some cases, cruelty only seems to have been the motive ; in others there was the additional design of getting rid of the child, either to be free from the trouble involved in taking care of it, or to obtain a sum of money for which its life was insured. The difficulties of the matter are, moreover, greater than vhey might seem at first sight to be. The law, of course, already provides for the punishment of offenders guilty of violence, or of such neglect as might have harmful consequences, but there are many ways in which malevolent ingenuity can carry out its purposes so as to evade the legal penalties. To provide for tbe need, therefore, a Bill has been introduced into the House of Commons, which, among other things, restricts the power of parents in employing their children to aid them in carrying on their business in the streets. It is, however, urged, and apparently with sufficient reason, that such a restriction must result in ruining many honest and industrious people, and driving them to take refuge in the workhouse. The aid given in many humble tenements by tbe work of the children is absolutely necessary to Bupply the family with bare necessaries of life. Under the proposed measure, for example, the newsboy would disappear from bis morning and evening haunts, and a class now recognised as alike useful to the public and indispensable to indigent households mu9t be deprived of their employment. The general question, however, of the employment of boys and girls seem? to be one growing in importance, and likely to influence the future of labour in no light degree. But parents are bound by law, with a view to future contingencies, to give their children such a degree of education as will raise them above the level of absolute ignorance, and place in their hands the means of self-improvement if they have the sense to desire it. It becomes, therefore, open to inquiry as to the extent to which a parent or employer is at liberty to choose for a child an occupation that may place him under a future disadvantageUnder existing circumstances, for instance, some branches of industiy are conducted by means of machinery, that can be managtd by boys and girls, to the exclusion of adult labour ; some branches even of the mechanic's ait are carried on in a somewhat similar manner. What, therefore, is to become of the boys and girls whose days of apprenticeship have been spent in leaning an occupation at which, when they have attained to a fuller age, there will be no employment for them 1 The question is evidently a very serious one, and calls for careful attention. But as to the additional legislation to be unlertaken for the preven'ion of the barbarous cruelty referred to, it is to be feared it must prove of little effect. The case is one, besides, in whicn well-meaning men may naturally be carried away by their feelings so as to act for the best in a manner little likely to succeed. It is to be feared that there are many incurable evils inherent in our civilisation, and which must still baffle both tbe philanthropist and the legislator.

Ddmng the week we have had, in the House of A SUGGESTIVE Representatives at Wellington, a state of affaiia movement, that is not only remarkab'e in itself, but otherwise

extremely suggestive. We allude to the stonewalling of the Representation Bill — which, as we write, has not as yet concluded. The struggle has been between the Ministry, supported by the country Members, and the town Members resisting the unfairness of the quota on bt half of their constituenciep. But, undoubtedly, to give to country constituencies the allowance of 33J would be to strengthen the Conservative or monopolist interest in the colony very considerably, and thus to retard progress and act against the general interest. It is hard, moreover, to avoid coming to the

conclusion that some such intention was kept in view by those who framed the measure, if it were only from the fact that tho smaller towna are included in the allowance made. Such towns, as a rule, are dependent a good deal on the patronage of the adjacent squatter, and bis word, for very sufficient reasons, forms their law. We all, of course, know that the secreßy of the ballot is inviolable, but is difficult to persuade timid electors that theie are not ways of rinding out, without actually seeing his voting paper, how a man, in any given case, has voted, or, at least, of forming such conclusions as to the matter as may satisfy the scruples of anyone capable of punishing those who exercise their legitimate freedom in their own way. The Btone-walling, persistent and deter mined as it has been, that has taken place has been Jooked upon with a very great degree of sympathy, and regarded as a spirited resistance of a praiseworthy kind to Parliamentary tyranny. In itself, as we have said, the matter has been most interesting. The perseverance and determination shown by the Members engaged in it hove been entitled to respect, and the considerable degree of selfsacrifice involved in the struggle has made them seem all the more disinterested and deserving of praise. The tactics also, as employed against a relentless majority, have been worthy of study as particularly instructive. More interesting still, neverthe'ess, has been the suggestion as 1o the somewhat similar, but much more aggravated, cate that a few short years ago took place in the Imperial Parliament. There it was no mere question of town agaiust country, or even of the comparative hindrance of progrcES fo: a limited number of years. For it is clear that the monopolist who stands in the way if the country's advancement dots so only for a limited lime, and but paves the way for his own punishment It was the vital interests of a whole nation that were concerned, and ihe question seemed to be as to whether a umverail wrong was to ba indefinitely continued. We allude to the obstructivo ip<£}cs adopted for a time by the Irish party in the House cf (. <fni t-lfcp, and which weie co loudly condemned. The expulsions X./ Irish Members, the passing of the measures of closure — all V *'\ s highly j.ravel, and indigoation was unstintedly poured o on vhose who were tbe victims and the cause. Obstruction, howt er. did its w >ik, and helped in calling the attention to Irish affiirs that is to-day one of the most hopeful features connected with them. However this stone-walling at Wellington, therefore, may terminate, and we know nothing of that as we write, it has been, as we said, both interesting in itself, and suggestive as to matters of far higher importance than those it has related to.

It would seem, then, that Primrosery is not the primrosery united and supernal manifestation of liberty, UXVEILKI). fraternity, equality, in elevated quarters and within

certain lines, that we had been taught to consider it. Primrose hibttation may contend bitterly against Primrose habitation, and there may even be a rcas viable dou >t uttered as to the legitimate expenditure of Primrose funds. At least Primrosery is very sby about publishing its icoo'ints, and refrains 9tu liously from doing so. — It is, however, hinted that any publication of accounts must result in detracting very much from the numeric il reputation of the League in which much of its force consists. Lideed there is some suspicion, and by no means a completely groundless one, that Primrosery recruits its members in rather a omical way. The reception into its ranks, at least, the other day, at Romiley in Cheshire, of a baby a few weeks old, seems rather a suggestive event. If, as in this case, the strength of Primrosery in the present is based on its hopes of how tbeyouag idea, properly taught to shoot, may turn oat in the future, there is not much tA fear fioui its antagonism. Meantime, something of the methods o- Primrosery in conducting its war-fare may be leaimd from a case- ''laa occurred in Somersetbhire, and which has been reported to ci, t v, ?y a local Libt ral, for who-e tru9twoithiness he vouches :— " zV-iJ\ v\ f complaioing of boycotting (writea this Liberal) is like the D^vilrebWking am. The Somerset Tories near Taunton hav^ substituted boycotting, bull} ing, and rotten eggs as arguments against Home Rule. The Home Rule van was working in West Somerset last week. At one meeting considerable opposition took place, one of the ringleaders being a youthful and not highlyintellectuaLson of a clergyman. At Bishop's Lyueard, the men con»

ducting the van were co boycotted that they wern unable to purchase anything to eat or drink. A liberal lady from Taunton went over and bought something, or else the men would have starved for that day. But the worst happened at Bishop's Hill. Heie the churcbbells were rung to drown the speaker, Mr. Lauil-Biuwn. As soon a« the speaker ceased, the bells ceased. When he commenced again the bells began again, This wen^ on for two hours. Beer was freely handed about. The vicarage garden was the receptacle of rotten eggs, which were hurled wiih effect. One of the rowdy gang was heard to say, with several oaths, while in a public-house, that he would like to burn all the Home Rulers. Doubtless, thes? " lewd fellows of the baser sort ' were made to do this unseemly act by their 1 social superiors.' If two places so ecclesiastical as to be called Bisbop'B Lydeard and Bithop's Hill respectively are so godless, clerics must not be hard on the men who say ' the nearer the Church, the further from Heaven.' It is io be hoped that the thoughtful electors of both these places will resent such iowdyism by voting for Mr, Latham at the next election. Coercion in Ireland, evicting starving tenants, thrusting Mr. Harrison into gaol for giving a loaf of bread to the hungry, slander, forged letters, rotten eggs, and rowdyism ; sucb are the arguments of the party which, according to Mr. Chamberlain, contains the gent emeu cf England." — We are justified, therefore, iv cone uding that Piimrosery is Dot exclusively the system of gentle peace, good manners, unvarnished truth, and refined and delicate odours, that we had been required to be.ieve it was.

Opinion in Europe, according to the latest details, AN eveklast- seemed to be that Russia was determined to form ING- question, a greater Servian kingdom, including Bosnia,

Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and ruled over by Prince Nicholas, promoted to be king. Tbe return of the Metropolitan Michael from Russia, where he had taken refuge some yeara ago, oa being banished by Prince Milan for advocating in opposition to him Panelavist interests, has been taken as particularly significant, and as almost an open declaration of Russian intentions. The bringing forward of the Piince of Monlenegro, meantime, into a more prominent position would be of itself a very remai kable event. In his retired and hardly accefsible principality this Prince Las led a very primitive Bart of life, and has been used to enforce his control by methods no longer recognised among civilised peoples. He is said, for example, to consider it quite an ordinary proceeding to Ciuse a refractory or Btupid Minister of State to be publicly whipped in his presence. How, therefore, he would figure as a potentate on a larger and more widely observed stage may be a msLter for speculation. Before Prince Nicholas, however, could be so promoted stirring events must take place. Preparatory steps must involve the long threatened collision between Russia en the one side, anl on the other, Austria, fighting to retain her lLfluence over Bervia and her actual hold on Bosnia and Hci/'j^oviua, as \v_ll ,is her prospective advance to Salonika, and Germany engaged for her own pamcular ends, in foi ward ing Austrian viewj, A point, meantime, which is by no means the least interesting to us in vhe matter is tbe position to be assumed under the circumstances by Catholicism in tbe provinces concerned. Of recent years its advance there has been very marked — more especially i i Bulgaiia, which, of course, wuuld share the general fate of subj' cpction to Ruast.l, and where, — also under the impirtial rule of the mucL-abused Prince Alexander — the Church has been most active, with sinking success. But the Metropoluan Michael returns to Stir via no more ihe herald of a Russian zuzerainty than of a movement hostile to the Catholic Chinch. The very bond of the Pacslavic Union, of which he is so devoted an advocate, is the undisputed sovereignty of the Rus^c-Greek Church, under tbe spiritual headship of the Cz ir. We know too well, howover, tie methods by which tbe Rust-ian Government enforces l s spiritual supremacy, and, were it Bucccssful in the Balkan peninsula no greater leniency might tlv.re be expected hum it. The interests, therttore, implicated in this evcireviving Eastern q'j^tion are merging every year. 'J he kingdom, in abort, which Rubsia proposes to form and cement, must involve in its establishment iateies;s tl.at concrn the world at large.

1 hlhl is one Thomas (J ancy, in the County Clare \vi,ll DOM<", who rnufai, be a whole Jack-thi-Gianf-Killer in him'JTO.li CJLA.NLY. self, lorn, it seems, is able (o intimidate a whole

country-side, and korp them horn buying the cattle of an obnoxious latdUdy. Irish il->iiL and bloo 1, therefore, when it attains to the npu age of fifteen is cvi Untly a very formidable alt" lir, for fifteen j ears is the wboli* amnuat ot the span to winch Thomas Clancy has attained, although, if jidged by his prowess and fury, lie might equal the most vent lttble of a'l the putnaichs. Tom, however, was not wholly invincible, and, although be could make Mis. Moioney, the obnoxious landlady, trernb'e in her biggest galoshes, and scatter to the winds the ciowd of the would-be di>akn viith l.cr, the Peeleis proved too much foi bun, as they bad dune, indeed, for many on boLest lad before hid Him-. Sso loin was t<.kun vp — oyk up, peihaps, he himself would saj — auU earned before the magistrates. And wLat waa the eeaumce of their Worships / Why, that if Tom would enter

into his own recognisance m £10, with two sureties of £5, to be of good beha\iour for twelve months, and let Mrs. Moroney's cows ( sold under his very nose, they would set him free. Tom Clancy, however, was too valiant a lad for that, and had too much of the spring of the old tod in him not tc despise good behaviour under the circumstances. He knew, of course, that he would never lose his £10, and that his sureties would never lose their £5, let him do what he would, for not a ten pound note or a five pound note had Tom Clancy, or any of his friends or acquaintances, except perhaps Mrs. Moroney and her would-be dealers whem he had terrified, and they must be the last to go bail for him. But, ju6t for the fun of the thing, he chose to reject the kind offer, and go to gaol for a month. Tom Clancy's case, meantime, will make one in t\ c list cf (ffences that, when the occasion calls for it, will be brought forward to prove the necessity of continuing the rule of coercion in Ireland. Tom Clancy, meantime, is a plucky little chap, deserving of a word to keep us in mind of him.