Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 18, 19 February 1892, Page 1

Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

A distinction drawn by bis Exoellency the Governor, in hia speech at the farewell banquet in Danedin, baa been the occasion of some varied applications. His Excellency said in effect that while he had no fear of the democracy— rather relied npon and favoured the democracy in fact— be did fear the demagogue. We do not know that the speaker bad anyone in particular in his mind when he spoke. He probably referred to one of the difficulties connected generally with the democracy, bat if we were to judge by the conclusions that have been drawn we must admit that ha made allusion to several individuals. Every one, in fact, against whom, as a public man, the commentator entertains a grudge, has been pointed ont as the person to whom the Governor referred. For our own part, we have perhaps no particular antipathy in the matter. We are inclined to accept the inevitable and look upon the demagogue as a necessary evil. How, indeed, is he to he got rid of 7 For this it would b« necessary to imagine a pnblic perfectly capable of distinguishing, free of prejudice, fully enlightened, and every one of them qualified to form independent, rational, and wellinformed conclusions. Such a public, in short, as the demagogue?, with suicidal pretences, tell us their secular system, for example, is calculated to create — and the impossibility of crea ing which ia as telling a point against the secular system as can be made. The slenderuniform, education, the superficial training of the intellect given by secularism, at the expense of the moral faculties of the pupils, nevertheless, is the demagogue's strongest reliance, and the surest fund on which he may draw for his support and continued existence. But while we freely admit the danger attending on the democracy, and partake freely in the fear Lord Onplow expresses regarding it, we perceive that other forms of party have also their dangers, and are quite as liable to place an undesirable degree of pow^r in the hands of uu worthy individuals. Anl after all the demagogue has something to Bay for himself. If it is only that be possesses the gift of the gab as tbey call it, he has, at least, something that distinguishes him as a human being, even though it may di play a meaner and more mischierous side of human nature. But what shall we say for that class of pipalar leider9 referred to, for instance, in the slashing letter written by Dt B^kewell, and which we qaotei last week from the Auckland Herald ? These men bold their power by virtu? of a b.ser appeal than, for the most part, is made even by the lowest of the tribe of demagogues. The demagogue, as a rule, addresses bis following as a class ; he makes some pretence of inspiring them with a desire to benefit their fellow-creatures. He appeals to them in the name of society, and gives them a redeeming chance of being self-deceived. The class of men referred to appeal only to self-interest. They bring pressure to bear on the individual, and make him fear for bis animal instincts. We have in our mind's eye at this moment a member of the claes who in the last election was returned by just such motives We refrain from naming him lest we should seem to follow the example of those able editors and others who have drawn their own prejudiced conclusions from the words to which we h-ve referred of Lord Onslow. But there is hardy anyone among our readers, we mty suppose, who does not also know of some cape of the kind, The class of men referred to obtain power by virtue of what is bestial in their supporters, and, from first to last, they are consistent in their attempt to brutalise Bociety. The squat'er's patronage in the country town ; his complacancy as to the trespass of the cattle or horses of bis poorer neighbours on bis run ; bis liberality in giving employment — all this with the assurance that, in every case where he suspects opposition, he will change bis tune, forms an appeal to the lower man, and while it is quite as effective as anything the dewagogue can do, it is still more mischievous and degrading. If, therefore, the demagogue be a necessary danger of the democracy, do uot let us suppose that the democracy s'aods alone in being so accompanied. Conservatism, or at least Colonial Conservatism, as we see,

BIX OF ONE AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHKS.

involves a still worsa accompaniment. If the democrat, in short, nee^s discernment, moderation, and self-control to escape the devices of the demagogue, the Conservative Deeds manliness, independence, and regard for his neighbour, to escape the snares of the plutoci-t. That Lord Onslow, on the occasion alluded to, had any particu* ir demagogue in view seems to be doubtful. A Tory peer, who approv s of the democracy, must necessarily perceive some danger ia conne > tion with that system which justifies his opposition to it. As hi* Excellency's allusion, however, seems to apply to the demagogue without distinction, the writers to whom we have referred may plead justification in m king particular use of it.

IN FAVOUR OF SECULARISM.

The times are promising. Whether they are 80 in accordance with the secular pretensions of the period may be open to question. But, at any iate, they seem to suggest that a fulfilment may be looked fora little different from that which had been foretold. If we turn to Europe we find a dismal state of things there. If we turn to Australia we are hardly reassured. In Paris, for example, the increase of lunacy for the last sixteen years has been 30 per cent. What makes the increase in question particularly suggestive is, however, the fact that it is attributed in a great degree to the increase o drunkenness. Another suggestive fact connected with the city referred to is that the muiderer is now more commonly found to be of tender years. "The jurymen," we are told, " hesitate to condemn him on account of his youth, although they are horrified at bis cold blooded ferocity, and at the absence of moral sense which ha displays." But if we turn to Sydney, matters still remain donb'tul. The Morning Herald, the chief daily of the ci'y, for example, giv c s us the following details and comments relating to the recent report of the Inspector General of Policu. " Homicides have increased, and the scarcsly less objectionsibl • ela*s of criminal assaults has shown an augmentation little short of doub iDg the reco'd of ttie previous year. The record is actually doubled in the c°.se of the abandonment of children. But a very unpleasant ph«ise of social l.f.j is here reduced to figures in the number of embezzlements during the year, which shows an increase of nearly 50 per cont. Of course, it haJ been generally observed from the daily history of events that this crime had been largely on the increase, and it cannot be denied that a record of 111 embezzlements in the ye^r doe 9 not present a very enlivening picture of commercial morality. One satisfactory feature is presented in the ffict that the number of incendiary fires during the year has been far below the average. Whether this is indicative of an improvement of morals among the criminal class, or of general prosperity diminishing the temptation to this particular form of offence, may be a matter of opinion ; tut in so far as relates to the development of crime in the colony for the year, the annual report of the police department is not a reassuring document." We do not know if the pretensions of Secularism are still maintained. But such, at least, is the condition of a world in which it has had full time to give effective proofs of its virtue.

A LAMENTABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS.

We have already remarked on the strangeness of the fact — and the little credit thus r lljctod on France — ihut aa attack upon Freach cit zjns in a foreign city, and by a mob showing tbemselvfa hostile to their country, should have been fallowed up in the country insulted by a persistent attempt made ia many ways, to play into the hand of the party offering the insult. Bat, ever since the attack on the French pilgrims in Home la9t Oc'ober, the French Government have actively carried on a renewal of tt eir harrasB ing measures against the Church. The ac inn of the Government, has, so far, culminated in the prosecution of the Aichtnsh^p of A>x — but although the Government opposed the motion in the (Jhambjr fjr t'.a separation of Church and Staie, and helped to bnn^ about iti rej ction by ia large majority, we learn by ac»ol"gram rece.vjd this week that they are considered themselves to entertau sujh a project, and that the Premier has introduced a Bill calculated to accomplish this by indirect means. The method chosen, aa we ara informed, is that of a furiher persecution — for we can call it nothiog else — of the religious societies, for which the way had possibly been paved by an attack begun some two or three months ago by certain Republican

papers on the Oat hoi c clubs— whose legality tbay called in question. But the Government, in this matter, seem to be placed, as it were, between the devil and the deep sea. They have the peasantry on one band — not as yet inclined to dispjn&e with the ministrations of religion — and perhaps hardly more inclined to undertake the entire support of the priesthood, that must devolve upon them should tbe slender stipnds now paid by Government — the scanty remnat.t of ihe immense wealth once owned by the Church in France — be withdrawn. On the other band, they have the Freemasins urging them on and determined to rest patUfied with no half-measures for the total extinction of religion. They may, therefore, discern tbe advantage to be gained by the adoption of a course which would saiefy the latter that their behests were in course of being obeyed— while it would not have the effect of arousing among the former tbe panic and indigoation to be caused by their finding themselves suddenly called upon to choose between tbe alternatives of supporting their clergy or dispensing altogether with the ordinances of religion. The particular lesson we learo, however, seems to be the strength of the united warfare now being made by tbe secret societies against religion. The quarrel fixed on Frenchmen by enemies of tbtir country, crying Vive Sedan, in Rome, has been taken up by the French Government in France, and they are obliged to carry it on there, although they shrink from tbe unpopularity that it must entail upon them, among the peasant proprietory of the country — whom it will affect in the only manner in which, to their shame be it siid, they are capable of being affected — that is throogh their pockets. But, between sordid, half-hearted friends, and bitter, persistent, and united enemies, religion in France has a hard battle to fight. We may judge of the nature of the contest, we say again, by the manner in which tbe French sense of honour — hitherto regarded as so nice where the nation was concerned — haß been sacrificed to the infernal ends that are sought after.