Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 38, 10 January 1890, Page 1

Current Topics

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

In another place we publish the fint instalment of a speech recently made by the Archbishop of Dublin on the question of a Catholic University for Ireland, snd to which, as well as to tbe instalments of it still to come, we would direct the particular attention of our readers. The Archbishop not only deals exhaustively and ably with the special subject under consideration, but also touches on Ithe whole question of Catholic education. It is difficult to see what answer can be made to his Grace's arguments by these who are bound to oppose them. Nothing can surpass the strength and clear* ness of his reasoning, and it would certainly seem that in the ey< s of any fair-minded, uopr j no* iced m»n, it most prove conclusive. What, moreover, must obtain for the Archbishop's arguments additional consideration from every puch man is his moderation and the respect shown by him towards (hose who differ from him. Even his humour is free from any caustic taint, and distinguishes him as possessing a heart as kind as his brain is clear or his intellect powerful. Among the points proved by the Archbishop's speech, and we cannot pretend to examine them in detail— which, however, is not necessary, as our nude's will have an opportunity of themselves reading them— is the complete failure of the concessions so far made with a view ot meeting the claims of Catholics, and the impossibility of their being accepted. His G^ace also shows beyond all power of contradiction the right of the Irish Catholic people to consideration in the matter of education arising from the great success of the efforts independently made by them. He does not appear to place very much reliance on the promise, or the semblance of a promise, lately made by Mr. Balfour as to the fulfilment of the Catholic desires, but the finest passage in bis speech is that with wbich be repudiates all possibility of the purchase by the Tories of political concessions to their party by any grant of tbe kind referred to. In this connection the Archbishop quoted a clause from Magna Charta, pledging those from whom it was exacted to refrain from selling justice. Speaking in his own name and that of his brethren of the Irish Episcopacy, he wys, "1 give you this asnurance, that, whilst we claim justice, we ■hall never stoop to purchase it, and, least of all, could we even harbour the thought of purchasing it at the sacrifice, or even at tbe risk, of the rights of the Irish tenants or of the Irish nation." This •peech of the Arohbishop's, in fact, is not only a masterpiece of reasoning and eloquence, forcible, lucid, and excelling in beauty of ■tyle and language ; it is also tbe utterance of the Chiistian wbo thoroughly enters into the spirit of his holy faith, and of the patriot wbo recognises and at all costs maintains the lights and just claims of bis country. We again recommend to our readers tbe cartful ■tudy of this great speech.

BHOWINO THE CLOVEN HOOF. 1

Opposition to " Clericalism," then, may, after all, be somewhat auspiciously associated. Even the more advanced minds of the day, if they be sincere in their pretensions to advancement, and have not, m may, perhaps, be occasionally the case, motives a littb mixed, most be staggered at finding a combination to overthrow a government formed between those who are opposed to Clericalism and thoJe who are devoted to slavery. Such has been the case, it seems, in Brazil, where the men who would emancipate mankind from the control of Christianity have received valuable aid in overthrowing the government of Dom Pedro from the slave-holders, enraged at the «z*aß<*pfttion of their slaves, recently carried out by the PrinceasBegent during the absence in Burope of her father, the Emperor. The advanced spirit of the age, therefore, would appear to be placed in ■omethiog of a quandary. If it holds Clericalism in detestation, can it give ita approval to slavery 1 Is it not, indeed, its pretence that the opposition it offers to Clericalism spriDgs from its devotion to freedom ? It might have been thought that the advanced spirit of the age would even itself make so much of a concewion as to acknowledge that the Pope was to ba applauded for the efforts reeontly nude by him tor the total abolition of alavery throughout the

▲ OBBAT SPBEOH.

world, and that, in particular, it wald have supported hii Holinan in the approbation expressed b., am of the action in thi9 matter of the Princess Regent of Brazi *i may be remembered that the Holy Father, in recognition of .«, sent her Imperial Highness the golden rose. Bat as to the coloured population emancipated, what, nnder the circumstances, ib to be their fate T May we judge in any way, for example, by the disposition shown towards such a population in the United States. We honestly confers that we, for our parr, should expect more Christian behaviour from a white population consisting of members of the various Protestant sects, such at that among which the negroes of the Southern States are scattered than we should from white men perverted from the Catholic faith into enemies of Clericalism. But wbat do we find in the United States ? A condition of things tbat seems destined to develop into a war of races. The hatred felt by the white men towards their coloured neighbours is manifested whenever the opportunity oflkri io murderous attacks and massacres. We had recently received details respecting outbreaks of the kind that were full of disgrace for the Sta'ea concerned, and which indeed in some degree formed a blot upon the whole Union. How, therefore, can the unfortunate coloured men in Brazil hope to fare, exposed as they will be to vindictive usage by people who have thrown off the restraints of Christianity? Tbe deposition of Dom Pedro has apparently paved tbe way for cruel times in Brazil. Fonseca and his followers, who, without cause, without even a show of reason, expelled the Bmperor, a man of a most liberal and progressive spiiit, shared to the full by bis daughter and heiiess, have entered upon a course of bloodshed, shooting without remorse all those who venturfe to dissent from their usurpation, and the probabilities are that they themselves will in turn be pnt to death. Ihe future of the county, in short, which seemed assured, and for which there was abnridant promise, has been made doubtful, and at least a period, of more or less duration, fraught with evil, may be expected to ensue, do far, then, nothing good can be discerned ia tbe levolution that has taken place. On the contrary, a great defcl that is bad has already ocsurred, and there is every reason to fear tbe occurrenca of much more. It is decile ily a case in which the anti-Clerical fury is associated with misdeeds that cannot be concealed or palliated, and where it is seea in open opposition to the principles, in support of which it is supposed to be evoked.

A SUBPICIOUB CASE.

This divorce case, trumped up, most probably, to discredit Mr. ParneU, is an undertaking that p*yi a remarkable homage to the morality of Ireland. — It is, meantime, an undertaking that seems com* pletely in keeping with the nature of Mr. Parnell's antagonists and those of the Irish cause. Sir Robert Peel, for example, the otbar day referred to their most refined section as " filthy witches," stigmatising them for their foulness in attacking his moral character, as a method of defeat. We find again Mr. Labouchere, in Truth of November 7, speaking of them as " Primrose Jezebels" and " back-biting shrews." But, since both Sir Bobeit Peel and Mr. Labouchere are habitues of high society and know what is due from men of any respectability to women, we may be convinced they hare not spoken in this maacir without good cause. The charge brought against Mr. ParneU, therefore, seems to be quite characteristic, and only in keeping with what we might expect. There is a special necessity, moreover, for something of tbe kind just at present, The Tories are compelled to bring forward something of an exceptionally sensational kind and as disgracefully so as possible. The Irish leaders have announced that Pigott's diary has come into their possession and that they are determined to enliven the next session of Parliament by revealing its contents in the House of Commons. Against this it is absolutely needful for the Tories to provide, so fur as possible, and they can evidently find no more suitable steps to take than this one of tbe divorce case. If they can only bring out a little scandal to divert the public mind, and, if possible, to blacken Mr. Parnell's reputation, ■o much the better. Although, as they must recognise, the measure is wholly inadequate to the eflect they desire to produce. The chief suggestion of the case, however, is that of the homage paid to Ireland, for it is there, after all, that they must hope for their principal gain. Accusations, in fact, of the kind they now make can do little, even if proved true, generally to damage the career of a public

»an. In a well-known case in * bicta they hare done 00, the details brought to light were of a particularly aggravated nature, such a* aw not likely again to apprar. But experieuce teaches us that, as a nle, nothing comes of exposures like that sought afier. Mauy of v«, lar instance, may remember such an exposure made concerning an •fed statesman, who at ihe time was Prime Minister, aud who yet continued to hold his office What, again, of one of the mci who in bit day stood high in English favour, and was accounted throughout a great part of Europs^as a hero and a deliverer ? We refer to tbe la«e General Garibaldi, -#hoße relations in tbe respect alludod to were notorious. Nay, there is at present aled ng staesman in Italy who •njoys a high reputation unflff cted by somewhat similar circumitances. Karopeiin and eyen English public opinion is accustomed to regard such matters as that alluded to with a gooi deal of indulgence, or at least as having no very important bearing upon a man's conduct as a pnblic man. The feeling in Ireland, however, is known to be in some degree exceptional. There the people are not used to teeing those whom they look np to as leaders stained by private immorality, and what if true of the people applies much more forcibly to the 'priesthood. It* therefore, enters into the design of the men who are now accusing Mr. Parnell to throw confusion into tbe ranks of the Irish party by bringing into suspicion and contempt in Ireland the man who has been regarded there as the chief source of the people's hope. The homage paid to the moial sentiment of the country is marked, and, whatever may be tbe result, so much at least will be gained. We are not, meantime, much concerned about the result. Were Mr. Parnell proved guilty we should deeply regret it, at well for many other reasons as because it would be deplorable that any misconduct on his part should shut him oat from the full honours of a triumph, principally due to his leadership. There are, however, other men sufficiently trained in his tactics to take his place and carry the straggle to a successful end. Believing as we do, meantime? that the accusation made is, as we hsve said, merely characteristic of the party by whom it is advanced, we await the event with confidence, and expect that it will really prove to the Irish people tbe additional claim to their undying gratitude of a leader who has suffered to much in their cause, and so encountered for them the inventions of a wicked and unscrupulous calumny.

TIT »0R TAT.

If Primrose Dames are sharp of tongue, and not very scrapuloaa as to the subjects chosen for the exercise of their sharpness, they still hare not the whole matter completely in their own hands. There is a little •fcarpness also on the other side, and we may hope it is not over-scrupu-lonaly exercised. la alluding for example to a mission lately and, Wt may add, not very successfully undertaken by the editor of the Pill Umll Qautte, with the object, among other things, of inducing the Pope to adopt the ca"se of woman's rights, Mr. Labouchere Who very excusably ridicules the mission alluded to, writes as follows. Bis notion is, whether rightly or wrongly we do not say, that the Pope assigns to woman her " mission "iv a convent :— " I don't fancy I should break my heart," he writes, " if all the Primrose Dames who can't marry (to be sure, there must ba a tremendous lot) were comfortably cloistered. As a general rule, I think the nun's dress would be becoming to the Primrose Dame. It hides a good deal of the face, and all the figure." This ia decidedly rough on the Primrose Dames —and may well be admitted to justify a very considerable degree of sharpness on their part— but whether it would justify this or not, it would certainly produce it. All tb.9 promptings of gallantry, in any case, demand that we should look upon it as unscrupulous in the extreme.