Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 12, 8 January 1892, Page 1

Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Mb Balfour, on the occasion of his installation as A rALSB Bector of the Glasgow University, has appeared in PROPHHT. the character of a prophet. He did not, according to the report, on the occasion in question, utter a whoop of triumph as to the results of his control in Ireland, but took credit only for sincerity in the methods by which Government had been administered there. He declared, however, that the future would never bring Home Rule for Ireland, and that American funds would never again support what he called an agrarian conspiracy there. We admit that appearances at present are git my, and if it be true, as cabled here, that Mr J. E. Bedmond has beaten Mr Michael Daviit by a large maj«rity for Waterford or North Wexford, the gloom has become intensified since Mr Balf our spoke. Nevertheless, the right hon. gentleman in speaking had evidently profited but little by the lessons of history. Every Iriah movement, one after another, has been defeated— but it has been regularly succeeded by another movement, and that ajmovement inadvance. We cannot tell what will be the result of the division that now unfortunately prevails, and Btill more unfortunately seems on the increase, among the National party ; but even should the task be bequeathed to another generation to carry out the undertaking to victory, we may be sure that success will be the ultimate crown. The movement of 1848 was defeated, but it laid the founda'ion for the political and national education of tie people, and implanted the yearning for national life indelibly among them. The Fenian movement was defeated, but it taught the people the folly and vanity of any attempt at separation, and by disabusing their minds and hopes prepared them for sounder methods. Mr Parneil's movement taught the people what those methods were, and even if it prove impossible for the party, or, as unhappily we may s»y, the parties, now existing to practice the lesson they have learnt, we may be confident that it will not ultimately be thrown away. Those methods are union and self-control, in which we perceive that although they recognised their importance and efficacy, and professed a belief in their necessity, both the leader who pointed them out and the followers who professed acceptance of them, themselves made a signal failure. It may be that years of suffering still remain before a generation has been sufficiently trained in the exercise of these needful qualities to gain by their means the desired end ; but our faith in the intelligence and manliness of the Irish people must perish before we acknowledge that the lesson learned by them will never be carried into practice. As to the alienation of American sympathy, which Mr Balfonr also foresees, and from which alone a refusal on the part of Americans — and we may add Australasians — to give pecuniary aid to the cause could proceed, we would not have the enemies of the Irish people reckon too surely upon it. For the moment, indeed, the fountain of generosity has ceased to flow, and is there not reason for it ? Prudent men who look on from a distance and, uninfluenced by false feelings resulting from excitement, perceive what the consequences of the division must be, necessarily refuse aid that, even with the best intentions in the world on the part of those to whom it was entrusted, must be squandered — so far, that is, as the advancement of the cause, the object for which aid in any shape has always been given, was concerned. We need not allude to the hold obtained over the national fund in Paris by the divorced wife o[ Captain O'Shea — and for condemning which, in terms rather direct than polite, ani in broader Anglo-Saxon words than the squeamiahnessof a more rtfiaed, though not a more moral, age admits of, Mr Tim Healy was thrashed the other day by a nephew of the late Mr Paroell. Whether we approve of the coarseness of his tongue or not, the indignation express-d by Mr Healy we fully share, and if we f jar that there is some risk of i postponing the success of the movLment inaugurated under Mr Parnell to another generation, our fears are based in some degree upon the fact that men who have countenanced this action on the part of the woman alluded *o and have admitted her within the range of their sympathies, still find it possible to obtain a following among the Irish people. The movement, uowevtr, will be purged of

all these evils in doe time. Perhaps the straining oat of the corrupt element consequent on the division referred to may bo regarded m an unmeasured benefit. We perceive now that, in many instances, confidence bad been wrongly bestowed, and the experience cannot fail to be useful. But Mr Balfonr reckons without his host. Tht very adversity from which the Irish movement bas suffered murt eventually prove its strength. The effects of division and selfseeking by being made apparent will causa more caution to be employed in the choice of the men appointed to lead and greater steadfastness and firmness to be practised by their followers. All that is required by those who sympathise with Ireland from abroad is the assurance, an assurance to be derived from reunion alone, that their efforts to give effective aid will not be thrown away or vitiated by the Interference of unworthy people. Mr Balfonr as a prophet foretells rather what is agreeable to the ears of his party than that which is likely to be borne out by future events.

Since we wrote the note published above, we have kkassuhance, read a speech made a couple of months ago at the Queen's County convention by Sir Thomas Esmond e, and t in which the i speaker expressed opinions that coincide perfectly with that we have written. No one more clearly than Sir Thomai Esmonde can see the advantage derived from union to the national cause, or the mischief arising, and certain to arise, from division. The speaker warned his hearers not only of the results at Home almost in the words we ourselves have used, pointing out the rißk that success must be deferred until another generation had attained it. He also showed a complete understanding of what the issue among Irishmen and their sympathisers abroad must be if a speedy remedy were not found for the division now prevailing. We are at a lose, we must confess, to understand how, in Sir Thomas Esmonde's own particular country, where bis influence must be more particularly felt, and the confidence and affection deserved by and fully bestowed upon each bead of his ancient and honourable house in succession hive had a fuller realisation with regard to his own person, an opponent of his, as it seems may be the case, could gain a victory. May we take a symbolical instance 1 The rain descended and the winds blew there lately, as we saw las week, and carried away Sir Thomas's lake from the front of his mansion. Some outer and unexpected influence perhaps has worked a sinister wonder aIBO in the moral world by which he is surrounded and has resulted in a temporary disaster. Nevertheless, the full and clear grasp of the situation shown by Sir Thomas Esmonde in the speech we allude to necessarily gives us confidence in the views he, at the same time, expressed as to the turn things must ultimately take. " But gentlemen," he said, " I have no fear for our National cause. Ireland has unquestionably made op her mind to preserve the priceless treasure of unity. Whenever she has spoken during the past twelve months she has spoken decidedly and unmistakably in favour of unity. Let us hope she will continue of the same mind, and that whenever she again gives voice to the aspirations of her people — whether in Cork or elsewhere — she may declare herself with equal plainness and with equal effect." Since this speech was made, the return of Mr J. E. Bedmond seems to have disappointed this hope, but as we have said, we attribute the event n question to some untoward accident, and refuse to accept it as any expression of the feeling of the country. The speech of Sir Thomas Esmonde, replete as it is with common sense, foresight, and right feeling, of itself is sufficient to reessure us, and to convince as that, however deplorably numerous the defalcation has been, leaders of the true metal are still at hand. As we have Baid elsewhere, the straining out of the corrupt element will prove beneficial, and its tendency will be to secure the victory, for whose right use alsu it will be a guarantee.

Fas ett ab hoste doceri. In his character of an goosey-goosey- enemy, then, we may be taught something even qandkb. by Mr B. N. Adams. Mr R. N. Adams, as the B.W.G.M. of the Orangemen, has been talking at Southbridge, and, as we have said, in bis character as an enemy of ours has taught us something. In any other character, if he has such a thing, we do not know that Mr B. N.Adams has much to teach any one. If he would only hold his tongue we might give him the same credit

for information that we give to boobies in general. But Mr R. N. Adams will not hold his tongue — apparently cannot hold his tongue. An unkind nature has given him the gift of the gab, as they call it, and as neither art nor nature has given him anything else, the consequences are obvious. Mr R. N. Adams talks, and talks without ceasing, and has not a word to say. As to the twaddle produced by Mr R. N. Adams at Southbridge, it is really too foolish to bear repetition, or even to be alluded to. A brain as soft as blubber and a condition of mind to be studied from its outward manifestations in some particularly dull and uninteresting quarter in a menagerie or s -ological gardens alone could account for it. It is beneath contempt and not to be reached by ridicule, and no one capable af penning a line worth reading would be bothered commenting upon it. And yet, as we have said, Mr B. N. Adams, in his official character— that of our enemy — the only character, indeed, he seems to own, is capable of teaching us something. The lesson we derive from him is this — The utter inanity, the complete helplessness, the imbecility beyond that of the idiot that cbaracteiises Orange ism in New Zealand. Notwithstanding the address delivered by him, or — appropriately to borrow a term from a lower form of human life— the "talkee, talkee " made by him, the Loyal Orange Lodge re-elected Mr R. N. Adams, and re-appointed him their R.W.G.M. for the ensuing year. Gould we possibly be taught in a more emphatic manner what the anility and effeteness of Orangeism in New Zealand must be ?