Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 22, 27 February 1891, Page 1

Current Topics

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Mr. Fism made rather a lively address to his constituents the other evening. A good deal of it was taken up with a defence of himself, an effective defence, indeed, from charges that had been brought against him. A good deal of it was also taken up with charges brought by the speaker against other people, and some explanation of the speaker's views on the political sination generally wae likewise given. Mr. Fish, as we might suppose, feels outraged at the recent appointments to the Legislative Council, and the manner in which they were made. He scorns to accept the apology offered by the Premier for his Excellency the Governor, but, on the contrary, declares that the recall of his Excellency, whom, we are sorry to say, he describes as a " titled and gilded popinjay," should have been petitioned for. Has it by chance escaped Mr. Fish's rather " cute " discernment that his Excellency — whether popinjay or not — represents the opinions of the Government by whom he was appointed, and that he acted in harmony with these in confirming a measure especially favourable to the interests of monopoly ? It is not difficult to guess what must have been the fate of the petition in question, had it been sent. Among other matters with which Mr. Fish dealt severely was the sending out of the Kakanui — which he condemned as rash, unnecessary, and ill-judged in every respect — demanding & strict inquiry into it. In dealing with our, interesting friend " Civic," of the Otago Witnrsx and Daily Times however, the speaker almost surpassed himself. He (lung down nothing less than a challenge to the redoubtable writer in question, whom he accused of having maligned him shamefully. Really, we must eive Mr. Fish the credit he deserves for good British pluck in inviting his detractor up to have, as he said, " every satipf iction th it a gentleman could wish." There was none of your sneaking Yankee ways about him — slipping into an office unexpected, like a red Indian in the forest, with a revolver or a bowie knifo in his hand, and doing for an unfortunate editor before he know where he was. It is something worthy of a man to challenge his adversary to a duel cornm pi/hlico, on the platform, like men in a play, only in downright earnest. And, of course, Mr. Fish meant pistols or swords. He would never think of vulgar fisticuffs, for what gentleman could find a satisfaction in that' And what has " Civis " to say in defence of himself for declinine ihc challenge and com. promising the valour of the Press ? Where, too, were the police. ? But probably the force understood that a writer who frrquently takes a cowardly advantage of his anonymous condition would give no occasion for their services. Mr. Fish, meantime, does not altogether agree witn the line of policy sketched out in the Premier's late address. He dissents, for example, from the proposal to purchase private lands. And it is obvious that, unl?ss this were wisely and impartially done it would lead to much evil. What is thera, nevertheless, to hinder the success of a plan by which, in any case where tho lands idly held by monopolists were reeded for immediate and buna fulr settlement, they might be purchased either directly by the intending settler, or indirectly through Government. Such a plan, moreover, need not prevent the imposition of a graduated land-tax by which monopoly in general would be effectually, though more Rlowly, broken up, and which Mr. Fish proposes. Nor is it necessary that an objectionable class of landlords should becreated by the perpetual leasing of Native lands, ay Mr. Fisli nlaie«. The Maori l WLers to whom, ahead -rent was psid need have nothing whatever to do with the tenants. The amount to be paid them might be fixed once for all, and the Government, not the tenants, should be accountable to them. It should not require any very great effort of wisdom on the part of a legislature to provide a measure of yich a kind. The thing to keep in view would be to dispose of native lands so as to avoid the degradation and destruction of the owners. On the whole, however, Mr. Fish spoke sensibly enough. All the arguments advanced by him are at least worthy of consideration, and he seems to have deserved the vote of confidence in him, which was unanimously carried.

MB, FISH SFEAKS OUT

A NICK POINT OR TWO.

The phenomenon of members of Duncciin school* committees presenting themselves before the Education Board for the purpose of supporting the demands of parents who object to the use in th» public schools of the books issued by Messrs Whitcombe and Toombs is decidedly interesting. These gentlemen openly asasrt the right oE parents to withdraw their children from schools in which any infringement is made of the principles by which they are actuated. The moral to be derived, therefore, from their action, where th e attitude of Catholics towards the secular schools la concerned, is too obvious to need explanation. As to the question, meantime, of Meßarg Wbitcombe and Tonmbs' books, it seems ominous that it should be revived. Remembering, as we do, how something of the kind formed the commencement of the late agitation, we can hardly regard it witboat apprehension. We have, however, never looked upon the collapse of the late strikes as conclusive. The movement is too general and of too great proportions to admit of a belief that any local failure, or success, if success there were, could vitally affect it. It is not a mere question of the conduct of any particular firm, or of the employment of any special branch of labour that is to ba considered. We find the matter of tbe employment of women or srirls as compositors once more brought forward. Dr. Stenhouse as a member of the Board, for example, spoke strongly against it, denouncing it especially as injurious to the health of tbe females so employed. Bat how little a part of a world- wide question is here to deal with. The employment of women is one of the great considerations of the day, and the composmg-room is not the only place in which we see them competing with men. The whole realm of literature, especially, is seized on by them, and everywhere literary men of all classes fiod them formidable rival?. It was a young woman, who the other day, for instance, travelling as a reporter for an Americin newspaper, made a journey round the world in a shorter time than it had ever been made bsfore. Trending on her heels, moreover, came another young wonnan bound on a similar errand but, no doubt much to her chagrin, destined to be distance J. The unprotected female, in fact who used of old to be so much an object of amusement, and to figura so prominently in the comic preee, to all intents and purposes, no longer exists. She has become so common an occupant or frequenter of all places, public or private, that she is her own protectress, and no one would or dare venture to interfere with her. Perhaps, on the contrary, bappy may be the man who finds that she does not interfere with him. It was the glory of King Brian's reign, as ancient tradition tells us, that a lady , unescorted and richly equipped both with personal charms and jewels, could go aloje around the island. A lady now trips alone around all creation, and no one lays a finger on ner — and yet we are Bure tbe civilised world is not so virtuous, although civilisation may be more widely spread as Erin was in brave King Brian's reign. The mile creatures who now encounter the lone and md' pendent lady are hardly so courteous, they say, a 9is the knight, for instance, who addresses the wandering damsel in Tommy Moore's song. They express no deferential surprise at her appearance. They let her pass unsaluted, in fact, and do not even make room for her when she enters a public conveyance, The amenities of life, in short, begin to be in a considerable de^re^ affected by thi manner in which women have come into contact with the world. Nor, we are furtner told, is this the only way in which the influence of the change it? visible. It alsj begins to appear in the more sinister manner of a deterioration in the physique of children. But the considerations attending on this matter aro endless, and it is impossible to foresee what solution the qnpqtion may riaally obtain. Indeed, the whole labjur question, of which the matter relating to Messrs. Whitcombe and Toombs, even, locally is but an infinitesimal portion, is beyond the calculations of the ordinary thinker. We have reason to believe tbat tbe Pope is about to issue an encyclical dealing with it, and to this we look forward as giving us light w>; eagerly desire. Meantime, the Catholic journalist, even did he suppose himseif equal to the task, would hardly venture to pronounce decided opinions — which, without temerity and presumption, under the circumstances, he could not do. Rome is about to speak, and we respectfully await the authoritative deliverance. But, so much we miy conclude^that if school commit-

THE RUSSIANS A»AIN.

tee men — who have come forward as the advocates of parents who, refuse on principle to sanction the reading by their children of any particular school-books, venture bereafcer to oppose the just claims and to condemn the well-grounded objections to secular education* of Catholics their bigotry will be evident. We are threatened with another Russian scare. This time the alarm comes from Melbourne, where it is reported that the Russians are collecting transports in large quantities near Herat. What shape the transports take we are not told, nor the manner in which they are to be used. It should, however, be sufficient to put us on the alert to learn that something suspicious is beiog done in the neighhood alluded to. It is loyally proposed, moreover, in Melbourne that an Australian contingent should be sent to fight in a Russo- Afghan war, if such breaks out, or that, failing that necessity, the loyal disposition of the colonies should be proved by their sending a representative ccrpa to take part in a military camp to be held at Delhi next year As to a Russian scare, meantime, it should be a very well-grounded rumour that, at this time of the world's history, could excite one. Scares of the kind have been bo fiequent and have proved so vain, that even were there now cause for one, it should be difficult to stir it up. — Where Russia is concerned, however, it is not easy to say whrt may not happen. Mr. Stead, indeed, Btill professes unbounded confidence in the wisdom and good-will of the Czar. It depends on England alone, he says, to enter into euch an alliance with his Imperial Majesty as would give her the joint control with him of all Asia. The Lamas of Tibet, he declares, protected by their icy plateau, would alone escape subjugation. Mr. Stead, nevertheless, is not infallible, and, on the other hand, anjalliance has been foretold which Would subject all Europe to Russia combined with China. What seems certain is that the temper of the Czar is not to be depended on. j Hia treatment of the Jews, and the impatience at any remonstrance shown by the Press, over which he exercises a strict censorship, would seem sufficient to prove that he is capable of very arbitrary action, in fact, bordering on savagery, of which he will give no account, and concerniog whose consequences he is in a great degree reckless. It would seem rash, therefore, to answer for what an autocrat of such a disposition might not be responsible for. It remains to be seen, meantime, how far Australian loyalty will resp* nd to the call that is made on it. A good deal is involved, besides, in sending a contingent to take part in a war with any European people. It means a direct challenge to the people in question to attack these colonies, and do as much mischief here as lies in their power, la Australia, in a word, strong enough to send abroad a contingent capable of being of any use to aid in a war, and jet to defend herself from the consequences that must necessarily ensue ? Po c sibly there may be plenty of time to form calculations respecting the matter— for, as we have said, a Russian scare is a oiatkr that may not call for any immediace action. Ii we may judge by recent cablegrams, Prince Bismarck appears to be giving some trouble to the German Government. Wnat the precise nature of his action is, we caDnut as yet tell, but something of a particularly vexatious character he appears to bo accountable for. Things must have gone pretty far wben we find the successor of the great Cliaacellor declaring that it is beneath the dignity of the Empire to punish him. But hovv are the mighty fallen. Surely even when we foresaw that, notwithstanding all the Chancellor's prou 1 hoisting, he must eventually go to Canossa we did not anticipate anything Lke this. He h-isgoui to Cinjsit, a - i i even th\t his njt savel him from a more abject fate. The etory of his il'sm s*al from oili ;e ha* been published by the Pat is correspondent of the Timn, and, if it be true, it tells a tala of bitter humiliation. Th 3 Emperor, it woald seem, wearied of the imperious attitude of his Minister, only awaited an opportunity of getting rid of him He was glad, therefore, to fin lit in one of these feigned resignit'ons which the Prince had been in the habit of tendering, with different tffect, to hia grandfather, and the Pricce, to his astonishment, found himself taken at his word No chance for a withdrawal was afforded him, and it it state 1 that he had even recourse to the Empress Frederick to beg for her intercession. " Revenge is sweet," we have been told " especially to women." The Empress, in a neat little speech — as pragmatical almost as might have been expected from her Majesty's late lamented father—reminded the Piiacc of how he himself had undermined or destroyed the influence she might naturally claim to exercise over her son, and i hat consequently she could do nothing for him. The narrative, though of a character that might lead us to suppose it had been originally composed by the writer— seems to be borne out by the present sta'e of affairs. There is but li- tie dignity in the course reported as adopted by Pjince Bismarck. Even his own sou, whom he had destined for his successor as the prop teeessary to sustain the Imperial throne, appears to condemn him, and haa suught a pretext ma journey abroad for avoiding entanglement m hia uuueit'.king. There are several aspects ia which the matter is iuUitat.n o '. It is so

A MOMENTOUS QUESTION.

as affording us a study of human nature. It is bo as regards the conseqences to follow to Germany — and especially as possibly affectwc the position of Socialism, the danger of the times theie. Bat chie^ry interesting to Catholics must it bj, a-i exhibiting once more the fate of those who enter upon hostilities against the Church of God. The Chancellor proclaimed himself her formidable foe. A few short years, however, have passed, and he is formidable perhaps to the great Empire he helped to found and consolidate — but most probably formidable chiefly to himself — against whom, he may compel the Emperor to adopt serious measures. We have alluded to the mischievous effects which the entrance of womtn into the rougher or more stirring avocations of the day is &aid to produce among children. The whole training of the girl, however, as it ia now carried out, seems adapted to a similar end. — We find, for example, that the subject is treated of in the National Review for December, by a lady-doctor, mmcd Arabella Eenealy. The writer gives us the results of her observations among the schoolgirls. *' I met tbe other morning," she says, "some fifty or sixty girls trooping out of a high school, and observing these with attention — through my physiological glasses, as it were— l stood aghast at the picture of womanhood projected. The girls ranged in age from twelve to sixteen, and the sallow-akin, nerveless faces, sexless look, lustreless or spectacled eyes, and heavy anostnic lips of the greater numbe I"—a1 "— a small proportion being bright-eyed, eager neurotics— told a pitiable story of constitutions being wrecked between two forces ; on the one hand, nature struggling to develop a healthy efficient womanhood ; on the other, over-education exhausting the nervepower and demagn etising the blood by long, close hours of study and arduous application. Just at the most trying epoch of h«r existence , when the future of her constitution trembles iv the balance, the woman-child is taxed to the utmost, and generally with the worst possible results." We can fancy what the perpetuation and increase of the mischief, by devoting the girls so trained to a life consistent with such a training must involve. If, however, women are to vie with men ia the pursuits and callings of life, both the mischievous preparation and the ruinous results seem inevitable. The question is, therefore, are the ends to be obtained worth the sacrifice to be made for them, or are there no means of checking a destructive system, or of substituting for it one at least less harmful /