THE DAILY TIMES AND BISHOP MORAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 16, 5 February 1892, Page 17

THE DAILY TIMES AND BISHOP MORAN.

A printed report of Bishop Mohan's discourse was sent to the Daily Times for publication, but this journal refused to publish it and returned the printed slips. We do not complain of this. In acting as it has done so far in this matter the Times was -within its rights and did Bishop Moran no injustice. But we have a right to complain that, having refused to publish the discourse, the limes should have published in its leading columns a misleading and unjustifiable attack on Bishop Moran, and endeavoured to hold him up to the scorn of his fellow-citizens on account of a discourse which it would not admit into its columns. This, we affirm, was not fair journalism nor courteoua treatment. We shall not follow the bad example of our contemporary. On the contrary, as we publish to-day comments on this leader in the Times, we publish its leader word for word, so that our public may see both sides in this controversy, Ahe Times designates the Bishop's discourse as " almost from beginning to end a tirade of abuse of the existing system of education, of those who uphold it, and generally ot every person who does

not happen to fall in with the views of the Bishop upon this particular question. He never for ft moment managed to get out of the old and well-worn ruts. The schools were ( godless/ Catholics were defrauded in being compelled to support them ; they must wring justice from their oppressors by the use of the only weapon likely to be of any avail— the block vote." There is nothing abusive in all this, it is all a simple statement of facts. Are not public schools godless ? Who will dare to deny a fact so palpable, notorious, and general ? Are they not un-Christian ? Who will dare to deny this ? Are not Catholics compelled to contribute to their support, and is not this defrauding Catholics ? This is not abuse, but a sober and moderate statement of a notorious fact. Catholics must wring justice fiom their oppressors by the block vote. This is not abuse ; it is a statement of a policy which experience proves to be the only one capable of obtaining justice for Catholics on this question. Bishop Moran is accused of ravings which would scarcely be creditable to a third-rate politician, and it is added that, if the education system is to be changed, it must be the result of arguments addressed to the intelligence of the community ! Bishop Moran does not pose as a politician of any rate — first, second, or third — and what are called his ravings are an epitome of solid arguments addressed to the public for twenty years, and to very little purpose. Consequently, he thinks, and very wisely thinks, that a new argument, and the most powerful that can be addressed to a Britisher, viz., the argument addressed to his breeches pocket, should now at last be adduced. And why should he not, if he pleases ? All other citizens are free to adduce such an argument, and, in point of fact, never fail to adduce it. What is the Times* party doing day by day but appealing to the mercenary instincts of the public, and, in order to weaken their opponents, repeating usque ad nauseam the trite tale of the withdrawal of capital from the country owing to the legislation of the present Government. And where is there ever seen an instance of said party voting for a political opponent or a political enemy, or for a candidate who pledges himself to make them victims of selfish legislation and compel them to contribute money for the special pecuniary advantages of other people's children. Such a case is never seen, was never heard of. And yet Bishop Mouan is held up to public detestation simply because he advises his own people to imitate the example of his assailants and refuse to vote for their enemies and declared plunderers. Every other man in the community is free to vote or not to vote, just as he pleases, except Catholics ! These must vote for an enemy; if they refuse to do so they are told they are the victims of priestly dictation, and are disfranchising themselves 1 This is the argument either of political babies or loud-tongued schemers. Because Mr Bell has not been returned by the voting of Wellington Catholics in his favour, notwithstanding his determination to perpetuate on them the iniquity of double taxation, Bishop Moran is a clerical dictator, Catholics are slaves, and have ignobly disfranchised themselves ! This is the argument of the Times by the pen of its leader-writer, and it is the argument of a little, a scheming, and an intensely selfish and blind partisan. It is said the Bishop has exaggerated. But the public are not told in what he has exaggerated. And he has not exaggerated. What he said at Milton is only the repetition of what he has been saying for twenty years, and what no man has ever yet attempted to refute or minimise by explanation. Bishop Moran lias been accused of using very strong lauguage in describing metaphorically the effects of the position and pledges of the two candidates at the late Wellington election. The language is strong, but its strength arises from its accuracy and its truthfulness, and we have yet to learn what commandment is broken by strong language, which is :it once accurate, truthful, and necessary. And is not the strong language of Bishop Moran n? cessary ? Can. any other kind of language produce an effect on the thick skalls and still thicker conscienc3S of men who have persistently refused for twenty years to do an act of simple justice? But we are told that both Mr Bell and Mr McLean would ba surprised to hear the effect of their principles described ia the language used by Bishop Moran. What of that ? We do not think they would be at all surprised. But were they; all that can be said is that we should then have a lower idea of their intellectual power and moral perception than we have had up to the present. Further on in this leader it is said " Bishop Moran appears to keep in stock a shower of billingsgate for those who differ from them," but no specimen is given of this

billingsgate. A few specimens would be desirable in order tflat the public might see what an elegant and just leader writer calls billingsgate. This, however, he has carefully avoided showing. General charges, without proof, are more in his line. The writer of this leader gravely tells us that others can use the block vote as well as Catholics. Them wag no need to tell as this, as it had been already well known to us. The block vote, for the purpose of compelling us to contribute money for the free and godless education of other people's children, had been already used, and very efficaciously up to the present. And does it not appear reasonable that we Catholics should learn from this a lesson, and henceforward follow the example of our opponents ? But no, this must not be ; it is expected that Catholics shall be slaves for ever ; shall for ever contribute money for other people's purposes. The truth, however, is, all this rage against Bishop Moran is simply because he recommends a policy which, if followed, must secure victory for the cause he advocates. Bishop Moran does not seek to inflict injustice on any man. His only desire in this matter is to obtain justice for his own people. If people educate their own children at their own expense, justice and equity demand that the money they pay for educational purposes should be handed over to them for their own schools. This is all the Bishop asks or has ever asked. Why should such a reasonable and politic request evoke the abuse, the vituperation, the misrepresentation of the writer in the Times. All honest, straightforward, intelligent men stand aghast at such conduct, and naturally ask why this ebullition of injustice, and even hatred, and this appeal to low passions and avaricious interests ? Is it because Catholics refrained from voting for Mr Bell ; for Mr Bell, who told them they should continue to pay for the free and godless education of other people's children, and by so refraining, occasioned his rejection by Wellington ? The writer alluded to know*.

The ceremonies at the church of the Sacred Heart, North-East Valley, Dunedin, next Sunday, will commence at 11 a.m. sharp. The Most Bey Dr Moran will act as celebrant of Pontifical High Mans, and the Bishop of Christchurch will preach. The Very Rev Father Vaughsn, 0.55.8., who arrives in Dunedin this (Wednesday) evening from Christchurcb, the Very Bey Father Plunkett, C.SS.B., and several other members of the clergy, will also be present. Mr P. Lemon will officiate as choir-master, and Mr J. Coombs as leader of the orchestra. Besides many of our well-known Catholic singers, Messrs Densem and Blenkinsopp will give their services. We may add that the vestments presented to the church by the pnpils of the Dominican Convent High School, and in working which all the girls, without exception, have had a part, are now completed. They are extremely beautiful, and executed with an exquieiteskillthatcould hardly be surpassed in any factory. The ground ia a rich, flowered, white silk, and the design is passion flowers surmounted by crosses. The tintß are warm, and the whole effect is admirable.

St Mary's School, Mosgiel, will open on Monday, Bth inst. Miss McLachlan has been appointed teacher.

The Bedemptorist Fathers Hegarty and Mangan opened a mission at Milton on Sunday, when a large congregation attended morning and eve Ding.

Wk went to hear Mr Stanley expecting to be disappointed — or, rather, we were resolved to expect nothing, and therefore not to be disappointed. Hardly had the explorer begun his lecture, however, before our frame of mind underwent a complete change. There was a plain man quietly telling a plain tale, but, by every s ntence, making us acquainted with the stuff of which heroes are made. There was no Mlf -consciousness, no self-assertion. Yet in each adventure the narrator had had a chief part. We can now understand how it was that Othello related his exploits and won the heart of Desdemona. It does not seem wonderful to us that Mr Stanley baa been similarly rewarded.

As to the substance of Mr Stanley's lectures, those who have not beard him will obtain a fair idea of it from bis bock. His account of the rinding of Livingstone, we may, however, say, though solemn and affecting, was quaint and humorous. His description of the great explorer's death was vivid, and touching in the extreme.

Mb Stanley was not the first African explorer whom we had seen. Many years ago we formed seme Blight acquaintance with a Venetian gentleman — one Sigoor Miani, who, in the earlier days, had made a journey South in the " Dark Continent." His motto was, Paris or the desert — " Paradis ou Vsnfer." He bad a grievance

against the Geographical Society, which had relentlessly placed a tree that formed the limit of his expedition one degree further North than he contended for. He was not chary of airing his grievance, and invariably wound up with a pathetic shrug of resignation, and the explanation he insisted on — " Je ne suis pas Anglais."

The appointment of Cardinal Ledocbowski es Prefect of Propaganda seems in every way a mo^t admirable one. To all Englishspeaking Catholics, we have reason to believe it is eminently satis, factory. It is, however, reported that Russia, France, Austria, and Italy regard the matter with disfavour. Rufsia, of course, and possibly Austria, dislikes the Cardinal personally as a Pole. France, we should have thought, would respect him as a former victim of German persecution, and as a confessor of the faith the whole Catholic world must regard him. Italy, perhaps, fears him as the foreigner whose accession to the Papal throne she dreads — popular opinion accrediting the Cardinal Prefect with a chance of such election, as in the case of Cardinal Capellari, afterwards Pope Gregory XVI. Otherwise the appointment has no political signification, and it is difficult to conceive how any of the powers can object to it on Bucb a consideration. But to English-speaking Catholics, at least, as we have said, Cardinal Lcdochowski ia a persona grata.

The Bight Eev Dr Nevill ia to be congratulated on having discovered another mark of Catholicity. It takes the shape, this time, of an Assyrian priest, who, as the Bishop tells us, has been arrested somewhere in Australia " on a charge preferred by a Roman priest for calling himself a Catholic." Queer laws, we may remark in passing, they mast have in that particular locality. Fortunately in New Zealand a man may call himself a Dutchman if he likee, and there is no danger whatever, therefore, ot Dr Nevill's being " run in." This arrest of the Assyrian priest, however, as Dr Nevill gives us to understand, furnishes a complete proof of the Catholicity of the Anglican Cburch, or, at least, of that particular section of it to which the good Bishop belongs, and the proof, we admit, is quite as valid as any of those that his Lordship has from time to time advanced. Positively, if things continue to prosper with him in this way, very little can stand between the Bishop and his development as a full- fledged Cardinal. The Bishop, of course, will not don the Boman purple, but we may confidently leave it to the taßte of the ladies of his community, let us say, to fix on something particularly becomicg to the complexion of of a popinjay prelate. Some delicate tint of rose-pink, for instance, or some tender shade of mauve. Dear, dear, dear ! how often we are destined to happen on utterances that seem to justify that sentence of Carlyle's — " mostly fools."

Bin Thomas Esmonde, M.P. (Bays a correspondent of the National Press of December 19), will contribute an article to the January number of the Welsh Renew on the subject of ' The Priest in Politics.' The hon. baronet is still in Yorkshire, at Haughton Hall, where he is detained in consequence of the indisposition of Lady Esmonde, who, I am glad to say, is gradually legainiDg strength.

We unders'aud that our esteemed fellow-colonist, Mr Peter Paul Fleniing, has been attached to the staff of the General Post Office, at Wellington. We wish Mr Fleming all possible happiness and prosperity in his new position— whose duties, we need not say, he ia well qualified to fulfil. We Bee, by the way, in a notice of the funeral of the late Prince Bonaparte, which took place recently in England, that among the attendants was the Very Bey Father David Fleming, 0.5. F., who had been the deceased Prince's confessor.

We clip the following from toe cablegrams received during the week: — " A statement published by Mr Michael Davitt shows that £4,500 was collected last year in aid of the evicted tenants, which sum was sufficient to administer temporary relief to 1,400 families. The funds are now exhausted, and Mr Davitt invites the Parnellitea to show a spirit of generouß rivalry in collecting money for the relief of tenants during the current year.

Bepobts continue to be spread to the effect that the Pope is in a threatening state of health. They do not, however, appear to have any particular foundation. Hia Holiness seems to be as well as may reasonably be expected at his time of life. When a man reaches the age of 82 we cannot reckon very securely on bis survival. We can, however, always hope and pray, and, though God will still protect the Holy See, our earnest desire is to see its present illustrious occupant long spared to us.

Thb imbroglio between Chili and the United States ntill continues—but an early and peaceable settlement is anticipated. It ia notable to find Mr Egan, the American Minister at Valparaiso, condemned in some quarters as a Fenian, for having sheltered some of the defeated adherents of the late unfortunate President Balmaceda, and shielded them from the vengeance of the victorious party. The quality of mercy, it would appear, is at a low ebb among us. If this is all that can be advanced against a man as a Fenian, the virtues of

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the brotherhood are established. But were it} not for this cry of Fenian ism the part taken by Mr Egan would be generally recognised iM most praiseworthy.

The death is reported from Mentone, where be had gone for the benefit of his health, of the Rev C. H. Spurgeon, tbe famous London preacher. Mr Spurgeon, we believe, was a man who, according to his lights, endeavoured sincerely and consistently to do good, and wo never heard of bis being engaged in any particular anti-Catholic campaign. He was remarkable for having attained to eminence in hia calling at m unusually early age. We remember his public career so long that it seems hard to realise that he was little more than 57 years old tbe other day when he died.

Thbough the kindness of a friend, we have been favoured with a sight of the papers used in the recent Junior Scholarship and Matriculation Examinations of the University of New Zealand. Must we cry, " Defend me from my friends," or is it wholesome for a man to find the abyss of his deficiencies thrown open before his eyes ? The matter is, however, one on which perhaps we may be excused for declining to dwell. Suffice it to say, we quite agree that the young lady or the young gentleman— we allude to either with some touch of reverential awe — who answers these questions, or even a tithe of them, correctly, acts very creditably indeed. We give our opinion for what it is worth, of course, but what that may be we do not feel ourselves called upon to explain. After all, thank Heaven, it is not necessary for an able editor to be a junior scholar, or even to matriculate, in the evening of bis career.

We suppose it comes of our looking at those scholarship papers, but we want to know one thing:. Mr Stanley tells all about his discovery of tbe Homeric Pygmies. Did he not happen to come across any of the cranes by which the diminutive people of old were wont to be attacked 1 Or did the dwarfs finally demolish their foe ?

In a letter to a friend in Napier, as we learn from the local Nem Mr John Dillon writes as follows :—": — " We have had a sad time of it in Ireland for the last yeai, but the worst ia now over, and day by day the party of faction and dissension is diminishing in number. The general election will, I am sure bring us peace, and complete unity once more."

Wb have before us as we write a photograph of himself, sent last mail, by Mr Charles £antley to a friend in Duneditj. The bright and kindly expression of the great singer's face is clearly reproduced, and generally he looks well and happy. He saems, however, somewhat thinner than he was when he visited this city.

This morning (says the Wellington Prrs.i of the 30th inst.) the Rev Father Doherty, assistant priest in the [aiish ol St Mary of tbe Angels, took his departure for his new field ot labour at Napier. Last evening nearly every parishioner called upon him to bid him farewell, and testify to the general regret at bis departure. Father Doherty's record of zealous work, of unfeigned kindness, and continual ssjlf-renunciatioa will live long in the minds of his many friends.