PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 19 September 1890, Page 17

PARLIAMENT.

JftiHjß OLONIBTS may congratulate themselves that ParLMfgSJf liament has been prorogued, and that the people ■SkoKT shall soon have an opportunity ot electing a new nHgSgHjS set of members. Before the end of this year the Uj&^w, constituencies shall have an opportunity of choosing new representatives. But will they choose better ? We must say we entertain grave doubts on this point. Our experience is that the representation will be pretty much the same in the future that it has been in the past. For the last twenty years the leaders in Parliament and the country have to a great extent been the same men. So that all the previous elections during these years might as well have nos been held, and consequently

these elections have entailed an absolutely useless expenditure. Indeed, we are disposed to think that many of the sessions of Parliament have only resulted in useless expenditure, notably the one that has just now come to a not very creditatfe end— -having, in our judgment, in reality done more harir than good. But there is one achievement of the last session which bsg^ars all previous efforts. Mr. Stewart has induced the legislature to embody in an Act of Parliament his fad in reference to the cumulative vote at elections of school comm'utees. And thus the almost only just, equitable, and politic principle contained in the Education Act has been eliminated from this precious Act. Our legislature has been iroved thereto by consideration of the scandals attending school com elections. At least this is the ostensible reason. We do not, however, believe this to be the real reason. The enemies of the cumulative vote hated it because it gave minorities a chance of being represented on these committees ; for the idea of the majority is that minorities should have no representation, and that majorities should have all power in the appointment of teachers, selection of school books, and the entire management of the education of the children of minorities to the exclusion of all interference on the part of the parents of these children. This is the true reason of the agitation which has ended in taking out of the Education Act the almost only just and wise provision it contained. From the first the principle of the cumulative vote has been a source of annoyance to the majority in this country; and that the only reason for this annoyance was the fact that it gave minorities a chance of representation is clear from the fact that the scandals complained of did not arise from the principle, but from the ridiculous and absurd mode of election sanctioned by the legislature. In England and Scotland this cumulative principle prevails, and there never has been any complaint such as has been heard here, because there has been in the Home countries a rational mode of proceedings at committee elections. Nothing can be more just or wiser than to have minorities represented on school committees, for the parents of minorities have an equal right with those of majorities to have a controlling influence over the education of their children. It does not follow because minorities are minorities parents of the former lose all right to control the education of their children, or that majorities, because they are majorities, ipso facto, becouie entitled to give to minorities such teacherb and school books as they approve of, no matter what all others think or wish. If Mr. Stewart and hi 3 henchmen in Parliament only desired to do away with the scandals of school committee elections, they could have easily devised means of securing rational elections without repealing the cumulative vote clause, as has been done in England and Scotland. But as they have not even attempted to do so, we must come to the conclusion that their only object has been to prevent minorities of parents from exercising any influence whatever over the education of their children in public schools. But whilst Parliament tries to spoil the only good provision in the Education Act, and to intensity the disabilities of minorities, it could not spare a few hourß for the consideration of Mr. Pyke's Bill, and in this unworthy action Parliament has been efficaciously aided by the Government. Minorities in this country should take note of these things. Parliament and the Ministry have insulted and ignored minorities, and minorities should therefore do their utmost to punish these supercilious and stupid legislators. "We hope, therefore, that members of minorities will not fail to have their names placed on the Register now being compiled. W e have often noticed that on polling days none were more excited and more anxious to give a vote in the right direction than members of minorities, whilst they were unable to do so because their names did not appear on the Register, owing to their own carelessness and apathy. Had these men taken the small trouble required to secure the registration of their names, they would have spared themselves the humiliation and mortification of finding themselves unable to act men's part on a great occasion.

The Most Rev. Dr. Moran visited Mosgiel on Sunday. A High Mass coram cpiscopo was celebrated on the occasion, the Rev. Father O'Neil, pastor of the district, acting aa celebrant with the Rev. Lather Lynch, Adm. aa deacon, and the Rev. Father O'Donnell as sub-deacon. The Bishop presided at the throne, and preached, also administering the sacrament of confirmation to 35 recipients. In the evening the Bishop presided at vespers, and afterwards received an address, to which he replied at considerable length.

We quote in our present issue a portion of the tour of the Irish delegates in the colonies, relating their experiences in New Zealand «■ deicribed by Sir Thomas Bsmonde in United Ireland. We have to confess that in doing so we are guilty to a certain degree of theft, H United Ireland reserves all rights in connection with the papers— doubtless intending to bring them out afterwards in book form. But there are momenta when temptation becomes irresistible, and such a moment for us has now arrived. Our readers, when they have read the extract alluded to, will hold us excused, or rather will admit that had we not committed the peccadillo we would have been inexcusable. We need not attempt to criticise the passages. Their genial and genuine fun must be apparent to all. At the same time, we have not thought it fair to trespass too much on our contemporary and, therefore, we have omitted from our quotation several passages descriptive of scenery, and which stand very high among literary efforts of the kind. We take it for granted that when the book appears everyone will obtain a copy of it. As a book of travels— in South Africa, Tasmania, an! Australia, as well as New Zealand— it will hare few rivals, and every page in it will be full of interest New Zealand is not the only colony in which Sir Thomas Esmonde has met with humorous adventures, or where he has brought refined tastes, sound sense, a keen intellect, and right feeling, to bear on what struck him as worthy of his notice.

Sib Henby Pabkes, we learn, is suffering from an old wound in the heel. As Sir Henry, besides being a statesman, is something of a poet, it may comfort him in his illneßS to recollect that he resembles Achilles. It is to be hoped, however, that the results will prove less fatal.

" Thb Comte de Paris holds a letter from General Boulanger offering to restore him as monarch on condition that a dukedom i B conferred on him with a an income of £8,000." And now that it is quite impossible that General Bonlanger can ever fulfil any such undertaking the Comte de Paris, makes the proposal public. Such a turn is admirably worthy of tha Houbo of Orleans. " You may break, you may shatter the vase if you will, But the scent of the roses will cling to it still."

Germans et home do not believe that their authorities in Africa have proclaimed the free sale and purchase of slaves within certain limits. The rumour, nevertheless, does not sewn inconsistent with Oineral de Oaprivi's proclaimed policy of " Bullets and the Bible. 1 ' Bullets and slavery certainly go very appropriately hand in hand. Ai for the Bible, it goes hand in hand with everything and anything according as thoee who make use of it choose to direct. Homekeeping Germans, therefore, may protest too soon.

The following paragraph from the Nation, probably explains the readiness with which the Bey. Roaring Kane has accepted the mntation given him to make a tour in these colonies. It would neem that, like a diminished Othello, tbe rev. roarer finds his occupatioo almost gone :-" There is a lugubrious confession of weakness in the apeech with which Bey. R. B. Kane regaled his Orange friends on the occasion of the celebration of the bi-centenary of the Boyne this year. He had to enter into an explanation of the • comparative weakness of the Orange cause ' at the present time. It appears that despite all the brag and bluster, the merchant traders of the North' the professional classes, and even the landlords hang back from the Orange Lodges, The first mentioaed ' have to remember that Home Bule money and the money that Home Rulers can cut a channel for in exchange for their wares is as good as Unionist money.' It does not nut ' the professional men ' to be too pronounced politicians. Even the landlords are disposed to flirt with Home Rule. If Home Bule menaces the lives and liberties of Ulster Protestants, as Colonel Saunderson pretends the present indifference of thethree great classes mentioned ia certainly most wonderful. Dr. Kane says they will wake up yet, and that then we shall have wigs on the green But they are sleeping rather long, and even the Britons who are not blueblooded will hardly be frightened by the bogey of their contingent treason. The slumberousness of the threatened Ulstermen is the best answer to the doctor's threats. " Meanwhile Dr. Kane comes to wake up the colonies.

Thb Irish news of the week is that an announcement has been made of a visit to be paid next month to the United States by Messrs. Billon and O'Brien. It is, however, suggested that a subpoena served on Mr. Dillon as a witness in the O'Shea divorce case is intended to hinder the visit in question. It is not easy to explaia why Mr. O Bneo, we are also told, has appealed to the House of Lords against the verdict in his action for libel against Lord Salisbury

IB this a fair illustration of the working o f some of those delightful Extern creeds-or systems of philosophy-which people of th«W lC t o 7 r - reli SioUBS ioUBf <»™ of mind would introduce into the West as an excellent eubstitute for Christianity 1 We mast not,

of course, receive it as the effect of the conduct of a foreign garrison towards the natives, for that would be to throw doubts upon the endurance of tbe Empire's integrity— a thing not to be heard of. We quote from tbe San Francisco mail news :— " la more than half the railroad stations here, says a Calcutta despatch of August 9, huge placards are displayed warning travellers against accepting hospitality from natives, or purchasing drinks or eatables of any kind. Organised bands infest the stations peddling poisoned fruit, cakes, drinks, etc., to travellers. The inhabitants of villages rob and poison those whom they receive as guests, and the mania for such crimes is spreading among the natives."

" It is reported that the Archbishop of Armagh praised the attitude of Bishop O'Dwyer in his controversy with Mr. Dillon." We do not believe this report. Th« mind of the Irish hierarchy ha* more probably been expressed by the action of the Archbishop of Tuam who, a few days after the letter appeared, had himself introduced by Mr. John Dillon into the distinguished strangers' gallery of the House of Commons. The letter of the Biahop of Limerick it a painful let'er and out of respect for ♦-be episcopate, of which his Lordship forms a member, we refrain from reproducing it in our col am as. At the same time we do not see why a Bishop is to be restricted f»*om a free expression of his opinions on any point, political or otherwise, even although he may stand alone in entertaining such opinions Sometimes, iv fact, subsequent events prove that the Bishop has been right. Cardinal Cullen, for example, was, as his memory still is, violently condemned for his opposition to Penianism. And yet what came of Fenianism but misery to many people, and complete ruin to not a few? The Fenian movement is now generally recognised as unwise, and necessarily unsuccessful. Mr. O'Brien's book makes it even appear ridiculous. At the same time we do not agree with Dr. O'Dwyer, or sympathise with him in any way. It is rather as humiliating and lamentable that we withhold his letter, than as formidable or capable of justification.

A repobtbd outbreak of Socialism in the German army gives room for serious reflection. Taken in connection, moreover, with the discontent shown of late in several English regiments, it may have a very grave signification. A revolutionary spirit permeating the enormous forces now under arms, would indeed form a portentous spectacle for the world. Under the c'rr umstances of the time, however, such an event cannot be looked upon as wholly impossible.

It seems evident from the following paragraph that the question as to negotiations with Borne has been once more prominent in England :— " In a speech at Manchester on August 7, Mr. Balfour declared that Mr. Gladstone's insinuation that the Government had sacrificed the rights of the Protestant residents of Malta in order to secure the favour of the Catholic minority was totally unfounded, and a moat barefaced attack from the man who sent Errington to Rome in 1881 to enter into direct relations with the Pope." ..." The British Government have informed Cardial Rampollo that it is impossible to receive a Papal envoy or send a Minister to the Tatican." Whatever may be the merits of the question as it affects Liberals or Tories Gladstone or Salisbury, Irish Catholics cannot regret that no permanent embassy is to be established. Even the temporary ones are more than they care to see. Honour paid to Rome no doubt is appeciated by them, but still the old motto holds good— Timeo Lanaos.

We publish in another place a letter touching the charge made for water to the Catholic schools at Oamaru, which we recommend to the particular attention of our readers.

Oibdinal Rampolla, in a letter referring to the appointment of Maltese Bishops, respecting which some debate has lately arisen, lajsdown a very important principle, and one which the Catholic people generally would do well to keep permanently before them. His Eminence writes as follows :— " Her Majesty's Government ought to be satisfied with the consideration that, as a matter of fact, the Holy See, conforming itself to the spirit of the Sacred Canons, would never appoint as pastor of a dioceße one who is not acceptable to the people to be confided to his charge."— lt necessarily follows from this that not only are the Catholic people justified in making known to Rome their desire as to the appjintment of particular bishops— but that by refraining from doing so they risk causing a violation of the spirit of the Sacred Canons by allowing the Holy See, in ignorance of their wishes, to make unacceptable appointments. This is certainly a very important consideration.

Mr. E. O'Connor, of the Catholic Book Depot, Christchnrcb, continues to Bhow bis enterprise by the quality of the stock imported by him. Catholic schoolbooks of the most improved issues, and Catholic books to suit all needs and tastes are constantly to be found in his establishment— and moderate prices make them easily obtainable even by people whose means are limited. Details will be found in our advertising columns. The Standard understands ihat Lord Wolseley will take command of the forces iv Ireland m October next.