Current Topics. AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 40, 24 January 1890, Page 1

Current Topics. AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Abb we to have colonial federation? If we are to colonial judge by the speeches made the other evening at Wjdkbation. the banquet given ia Dunedin by the Government of New South Wales on the occasion of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, the answer seems rather more than doubtful, and might almost be given in the negative. Most of the speakers dealt with the subject, and, as a rule, professed themeelves in favour of federation— but federation at some time or another, un ler Borne circumstances not yet quite apparent, and, in short, when everything should be quite different from what it is at present. Federation we are to have, but it is evidently to be a federation of that glorious time the future, when everything will be exactly as it ongbt to be, and the long-expected shall have arrived at last— if it ever does arrive. Indefiniteness, in fact, was the note of tbe dissuseion.anl there were only two speakers who departed from the rule. The one was tbe Hon. Mr. McMillan, tbe Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, who filled the chair, and the other one was Mr. Vincent Pyke, M.H.R. Mr. McMillan waa ferveat in advocacy of the project, and Mr. Pyke was cool and decided in opposing it. Mr. McMillan undoubtedly made out a very strong case, and held up his coloay to admiration as carrying out a broad and enlightened policy in practising free trade, with a view towards the common greatness of the colonies, wheieas her natural resources gave her special facilities for prospering under protection. Mr. McMillan boldly, moreover, declares the actual truth that federation includes the idea of a uniform tariff. As for Mr. Pyke, he plans for New Zealand a future concerning which there may, perhaps, bs more than one opinion. New Zealand, he tells us, is to be the Perfide Albion of the Australian colonies. She is to occupy towards them the same position as tn.it occupied by Britain towards the continent of Europe. But considering what the relations between Britain and continental countries have frequently been— and, indeed, as we have recently seen ia the case of Portugal nny still be, the pro pect seems far from unquestionable. Mr. Pyke . however, claims to speak with impartiality. He has, he tells us, been resi lent in three of the five Australian colonies, and loves them all ; but, wjth gome departure from a general rule, loving the last loveNew Zealand— best. Still, if a man may not distribute his love with regard to his personal interests, he must be looked upon as unfairly treated. And there, by the way, is Sir Robert Stout, from whom if from anyone we should expect au even distribution of love, yet who, on the occasion alluded to.slyly tried to make a point for New Zealand by advising Australians to spend three months of the summer here— an incentive to absenteeism on the part of his neighbours we should never have expected from a man of Sir Robert's principles. On the whole, then, the prospects of Colonial federation Jo not appear very flourishing. On this occasion New South Wa,es alone seemed strongly in favour of it, and New South Wales may possibly be regarded by tbe auspicious as occupying a place something like the position of the fox that had lost his tail. She is a freetrade colony, and, therefore, the chief difficulty does not exist for her. Victoria on a previous occasion had argued to the same end, but Victoria is not a fox that has lost his tail. In the character of fox she carries all her parts safe and sound about her, and may be believed fully capable of making the best use of them. A New Zealand tariff favourable to the introduction of Victorian manufactures would certainly give established industries in that colony, although they were defiantly alludid to by one of the speakers at the banquet, an advantage over those still to be established in New Zealand. Nevertheless, with the majority of the speakers at this banquet, we also believe in the colonial federation of the future. Sooner or later the necessity that exists for it must become the overwhelming idea of colonists. It would seem, however, that it can hardly be brought about— unless by some unforeseen and irresistible pressure from without, until there is plain evidence that no colony nued fear the giving by it to any other colony of an unfair advantage. In the ordinary course of events, therefore, it depends on the development by each colony of ita particular resources and the establishment of its particular industries. But, as on colonial and

Imperial federation the progress and welfare of both the colonies and the Empire ultimately depend, all steps that will result in promoting the preparatory measures referred to are to be strongly supported. His Excellency the Governor in speaking the other A evening at the New South Wales banquet, among suggestion, the rest alluded, in rather a Buggestive manner, to the House of Lords. In referring to the return to England of the cc lonia 1 governors who are peers, he said :" We will take again our seats ia the Imperial Parliament without the necessity of a perhaps fruitless wooing of a fickle constituency, and we shall be entitled to speak with that authority which long residence among you confers, to proclaim from the best platform which England can provide within the walls of the Imperial Parliament our belief in the boundless nature of your resources, the great future which you have before you, and the comfortable and happy homes which you can provide for those who show themselves fit to take advantage of them."— We are not, of course, to take the congratu* lations his Excellency bestowed on himself and his illustrious con' freres as in any way expressing a contempt fjr parliamentary institutions as they exist to-day, or a regret for the days of the close boroughs. Still, perhaps, something distinctive of a Tory speaker is to be discerned in the ut'erance. The suggestion, however, relates to the contrasts to be remarked in the hereditary Chamber. Lord Onslow alludes to the advantages conferred ou himself and certain other peers by their experience as colonial governors and the serviceß which they are thus enabled to render in the House of Lords to the colonies. But how many members does that House contain who possess no such experience ; who possess, in fact, no experience whatever fitting them to I gislate for the country, the colonies, or the Empire, but in whose power, nevertheless, it lies successfully to oppose the legislation proposed by men who have such experience 1 Is not the majority of tbe House so made up ? The " fruitless wooing of a fickle constituency," therefore, may, after all, have its benefits, and we may take a hint from the improved position in which pears of experience find themselves as to the aiv.sabihty of allowing those who have no experience to take part in the decision of public affairs. Whatever Lord Onslow's intention may have been in making the utterance quoted by us, the suggestion it contains is certainly adverse to the existence of legislators qualified for their duty by inheritance only, and perhaps iv many ways disqualified for fulfilling it. Anything, in short, that biings into prominence the idea of fitness in ihe legislator also illustrates the absurdity of a hereditary Chamber. Even a Tory can suggest this to us. We see that measures have been initiated to have MB. henbt Dunedin included in the places to be visited by geobge. Mr. Henry George, during a tour he proposes to make ia the colonies. This is a step which has our approval and which we shall be glad to see attended by success. At to Mr. George's chief theory, that of the nationalisation of the land, we held as yet no completely decided views. We acknowledge, however that the novelty of the theory, as well as its apparent impractibility, rather inclines us against it, and it must also be remembered that men whose readiness to adopt all that is of fair promise and whose liberality are undoubted hive condemned it. Mr. Gladetone for example, has decided that it is impossible for the State to exercise' the office of landlord. But, although we have seen some of Mr. George's aguments exposed as palpably unsound, in his theory as a whole, bo far as we understand it, we see nothing that may not legitimately be supported. We should be glad, therefore, to have aa opportunity of hearing the author explain himself personally and answer such objections as might be made to him. If he a in the right, there would decidedly be an advantage in being won over to his side, and if oe is wrong by hearing him argue we should be in a better position definitely ta form adverse conclusions. All that he senna to claim is a fair hearing and that should be readily accorded to him. There is, meantime, a very pertinent sentence in a letter of apjlogy for notiattending a preliminary meeting connected with the matter, received from Sir Robert Stout. Sir Robert expresses some disagreement: on certain points with Mr. George, bnt gives him the

credit of placing the land question in the fore front of political and social question*. " And I believe," be adds, " that a proper solution of it has more to do with our prosperity and progress than any one of as seems aware." With this opinion we are perfectly at one. — The land question is the question of all others to be solved, and, if Mr, George by coming among us can do anything towards its solution. we may count ourselves fortunate in our visitor. Indeed, we may almost predict that such would be the case, for his coming would, at least, attract attention to the subject, and give it the pressing interest necessary to its solution. " Mr, George," says Sir Robert Stout again, " would revivify political questions, and he would, I believe, teach oi all most needed social lessons." We say, therefore, let Mr. George come, and let us hear all he has got to say. la one way or another we may expect good to result from his visit. We have heard a great deal of late concerning CATHOLIC Father Damien— very much more we may be conBEBOISM. vinced than the holy prießt, whose humility was in proportion to his sanctity, would have liked himself to hear. He went away into bis heroic exile thinking little of any fame that would resale to him from the act. We may, indeed, believe that, on the contrary, the forgttfulnesß of him by the world which if he thought on the subject at all, he must have looked for, was one of the recommendations bis self-sacrifice had for him. The living tomb be entered, nevertheless, made Father Damien famoue, and •elf -annihilation resulted for him in greatness. His name i 9 held in honour throughout the world and is spoken with reverence even by royal lips. The danger is, however, lest the immolation of himself by Father Damien should be regarded as an exceptional instance in the Catholic Church. No greater mistake than this could be made, and none more opposed to truth and justice. This self-sacrifice is bat a quality of the sanctity that is on 3 of the notes of the Catholic Church. It has existed from the foundation of the Chuicb. It has been shown by men and women in every age cf the Church's existence. Nor has Father Damien alone given us an example of it even in our own times. Far be it from us to rob of his halo the martyr of charity. Let Father Damien 's devotion still be celebrated and his name revered, but let the truth at the same time be made known, that his career haß bat been one among many thousands of inch. Here, for example is a contemporary case of a devo ion* shown indeed in a different sphere, but hardly needing for its exercise less heroism. The case is that of the Sister Maiy Teresa, a member of the Order of St. Vincent de Paul, and who was the other day decorated at Tonkin with the cross of the Legion of Honour, Here if the record of her merits, as pronounced by the Governor in publicly decorating her in presence of the troops to whos>e care she had devoted herself. " Sister Mary Teresa," he said, " when you were scarcely twenty-five years old you were wounded at Balaclava, while you were lavishing care on the wounded. At Magenta, in the foremost ranks, you received a wound. Since then y^u have taken c re of our poldiers in Syria, China, and Mexico. Ou the field of Beich,bofLn you were picked up severely wounded in the middle of the corpses of our cuirassiers. Later a bomb having fallen into the ranks of the ambulance confided to your care you Bcited hold of this bomb with your hands, and, having carried it eighty metres away, it burst in tailing and wounded you cruelly. Hardly had you been cured when you responded to the appeal for Tonkin. In the name of the French people, in tbe name of the French army I remit to you thid cross of honour." " Nobody," continued the Governor, " has more glorious titles to this recompense, for nobody has more than you devoted his existence and his whole life to the service of tbe country." —And may not the French people and the French army be proud of the Sister Mary Teresa ? May they not point to her in proof that tbe land of Joan of Arc still brings forth heroic women ? But the spirit of such heroism still comes from the source whence it also came in the time of Joan of Arc, from God in his holy Catholic Church, a source, alas, not mentioned by the Governor of Tonkin. It is, however, plain thit Father Damien has not done what, indeed, he would himself have indignantly and with horror repudiated, that is monopolised even in his own day the devotion and heroic self-sacrifice existing in the Catholic Church. — Great as was tbe sacrifice made by Father Damien, and deserving as it is of record, we say again it was only made in accordancs with the sanctity that has from the fim, and at all times, been a note of the Catholic Church. One of the latest phases of unbelief is that which NATURAL admits that miracles, or what are by some people CAUSES? called miracles, can be and are performed, but that they are the result* of natural causes. Still, even from this admission, Catholicism, for Catholicism is the form of Christianity which has always professed and never concealed a belief in the occurrtneo of miraclec, baa gained Eomething. The accusatu n no longer prevails against it of lying or cf being etapersntiously credulous. All that c^n be said now is that it had been mistaken, and received as miraculous what could otherwise be accounted for. The occurrence of events, hitherto only to be accounted f or by lupor-

natural or miraculous causes, in fact, became too palpable, too undeniable and open, to leave any room for the former assertions or arguments, and unbelief was forced to have recourse to something else. Ie has found its reasons in a new doctrine of the iiluence of mind over matter, and other powers, more or less accounted for, of euch a kind. For our own part, we are not concerned to deny that mind does actually exercise a very considerable influence over matter* We should, in fact, be very chary as to acknowledging anything as miraculous which could be accounted for in such a way, The sudden cure, for example, of any nervous disease, or any cure in which strong feelings of hope bad been excited, would seem to us suspicious, and not to be taken as miraculous without exceptional grounds. Cures, nevertheless, have been worked, and worked so that no one can possibly deny their occurrence, which it stems quite impossible to explain from any natural cause. Such a care, for instance, among many others, is reported as having occurred during the last National Pilgrimage from Paris to Lourdes. It is that of Marie Louise Horeau a young girl who was an inmate of the orphanage of St. Joseph, conducted at Aleccon by the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul. This girl, from the age of four years up to that of nineteen, had been a confirmed invalid, and for the last two years had been completely blind, her ejes, as the result of a severe attack of illness, having become quite opaque. This girl was, nevertheless, cured in a moment and so perfectly that no traces of her blindness can be found even by the most searching medical examination. What, moreover, makes the case more remarkable is the fact that she bad been twice bathed in the water where the cures generally take place without feeling the least benefit. Hope or excitement, therefore, could have had no influence in her case, for naturally she must have felt depressed after the first failure, and doubly so after the second. Her cure, finally, was not performed by the water, but as the Blessed Sacrament was being carried past her in a procession. AU the circumstances, therefore, seem completely wanting which would enable the miraculous element to be explained by natural means — even admitting as justifled the utmost lengths to which the infidelity of the period claims a right to go. We have taken this case at random out of 8-veral reported, and lay it before our readers so that, as our duty is, we may keep them abreast of what is going on in the realms of religion, and those of unbelief by which religion is opposed.