Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 27, 22 April 1892, Page 1

Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

It is a carious and 6uggestive fact that two bodies among the human population of the earth, who are commonly supposed to be widely separated from each other, are now in motion with more or less virulent intentions. We allude to the anarchists and tie Orangemen. It is sill more curious and suggestive that the object aimed at by these two widely dfferenr, or differently reputed sections of humanity, is one and tbe bame. The anarchists of France and Spain are showing themselves particularly active with regard to the Catholic Church. It was in the churches of Paris th<»t their outbreak commenced, and in Madrid and Cadiz Catholics engaged in Divine worship have been the special object of their attack. Under such circumstances it is suggestive, as we have said, to see a clerical mission from the North of Ireland going out to pleid with the people of Great Britain to give their support to the threats that the Orangemen of their province have u'tered against their Catholic fellow countrymen. Doubtless these dious missionaries would hold up their hands in horror at tin idea of their deserviug to be classed with the followers of Marx or Lassalle, or, still more, of Balounine. D > they not enter upon their task with the word of the Gospel in their mouth, and morally supported by the sympathy of tha Tory Prime Minister ? Nevertheless their intpntion is that of calling out an expression of wrath, and cf obtaining at least mor.d assistance in an outbreak against law and order. The anarchists with their bomb? are more advanced and more direct— perhaps more courageous in their action, but tbe Orangemen are not les* deadly in their throats and their intentions. Whither they will prove so bod in their performance remains to be seen, and wa rather think they will not. The mission to Great Britain, however, goes out under less favourable circum■tanccs than would have been the case some years a^o. Taero was a time, prior that is to the memorable proceedings at Cleator Moor ) when people in England and Scotland had seen nothing on their own e ; de of the Irish soa which could give them any information as to tbe true nature of Orangeism. They were dependant for their knowledge of it on those one-sided stories that tie organs of the party ( and others favourable to it, published as to the attacks upon it made by Catholics. All the long course of outrage and insult that led to seme excess on the part of a hot-headed Catholic mob was suppressed and a chastisement earned, if not deserved, by years of insolence and brutality was described as an unprovoked and aggressive outbreak. The memory, however, of Cleator Moor his hardly yet died away throughout Great Britain. There tbe Orangemen betrayed themselves and appeared in their true colours. Without any provocation whatever, and inspired by the virulent, undistinguishing, hatred that is their characteristic, they made a violent and indiscriminate attack oo children, women, and defenceless men— on people who had come into their neighbourhood without giving th«ra a thought or being aware perhapß of their existence— for tbe peaceful purposes of a pleasure-party. There was no difference of opinion throughout the country about the matter ; the revelation was pronounced complete and the Press, without exception, declared that nothing of the kind must be tolerated. When these pious missionaries, therefore, go over to plead from English and Scotch platforms and pulpitß for the support of the people of Great Britain in sustaining such a roodition of things in Ulster— not, indeed, in all Ireland, for it would bean injustice to Protestants throughout the country cot to acknowledge what we know to be the fact, that Orangeism has always b?en regarded by them, with very few exceptions, as the shame and opprobrium of their creed. Theee Protestants have long had the testimony that the doings at Cleator Moor placed within immeaiate reach of the people of Great Britain. When these pious missionaries go over to plead in such a caute, will not the memory of Clea or Moor be recalled to some sufficient purpose 1 Nay, has not Scotland had a more recent experience still, in connection with a Pruteatant contingent imported from the Orange head-quarters to replace some discontented Catholic labourers in Glasgow, but who had no eooner arrived

BIBD3 OF A FEA.THBB.

in the ci'y than they eet to and fought among tbem»elve», disturbing the whole quarter of the town in which they were lodged ? Preachers of the Gospel go over to Great Britain to back up with their pioaa exhortations the blood-thirsty threats made by men like these, that, if a measure is constitutionally carried which displeases them they will Bet the lsw at defiance, make common cause with anarch* ists, and run amuck throughout the country slaughtering everyone who is opp )sed to them. Oan anything be more preposterous than this? Has the cry of 4< No- Popery " ever been more grossly or impudently rused? We have not errei, therefore, in the comparison we hare made. Orangemen and anarchists are, in fact, at one. The Church is their object of attack and tha methods ihey approve of or adopt are but little different. The anarchist, however, is the bolder of the two. He sets to work without giving a warning, by wbiob be may hope to intimidate, and thus to save himself the danger of action. The Orangeman, if be can attain his object while be Baves his skin infinitely prefers to do so. Indeed the chances are that the desire to save his skin will confine his action to such insolent threats. He mak<»B known, however, what it is he would do if he durst— and this, as well as the companionship in which, to all intents and purposes, he exhibits himself, should be euough to inform the world as to his real nature. Our contemporary the Ota go Daily Times gives hb another view, the following :— •• At the sitting of the Native Lands Court at Hastings on Tuesday a comical episode occurred. A female witness wa9 asked why her mother was not giving evidenca, as, the question being; one of ancestry, the mother might bs exp ced to know more. The witness naively replied that her mother was too old, that she was not accustomed to thfl ways of courts, and did not know hare to tril lies!'' Bat was it altogether a comical episode and only thit ? We fancy it would not ba impossible to discover in it something aUo of a tragic element. Is this, indeed, what the enlightened civilisation, of which so much isbcasted as distinguishing the Anglc-S»son race, and which to have spread abroad over the face of the earth has gained for them so much renown, bas conferred upon a less privileged people ? The elder woman, adhering more closely to the practices of hei savage forerunners, has not required the art oE telliug ILb. The true-bora Briton brags that the less richly-endowed races are destined to die out before his advance. Bat what of the diseases by which they perish ?— the vice, and fraud, and falseboood, with which he infects them 1 There may be more than one way, then, of looking at this episode which we quote. Bven a laughing philosopher might, per* haps, con eider it with tears iv his eyes. Rumours of the Faribault plan have at length 1 reached Dunedin. We had been for some time looking for their arrival and their adaptation to the situation in New Zealand. To give the devil hie due, however, as we alwiysdo, we find that the plan is fairly sketched. It consists in placing a Catholic school, conducted by Dominican nuns, at a place called Faribault, in the diocese of 8t Paul, under the State educational authorities, the school to be in all respects conducted like a Catholic school, except that direct religious instruction is not to be given within the hours over which the State has control— that is, within the ordinary school hours. The plan is, as yet, in an experimental stage, and nothing can be definitely pronounced concerning it. Ie has the approbation of Archbishop Ireland, in whose diocese it is being carried on*, but it by no means commands the decided approval of all the Catholic authorities of the Uoited States. Indeed, it has been very frankly ani even severely criticised and a variance of opiaion prevails with regard to it. As we ourselves know nothing indepandently concerning it, we have no opinion on the matter to offer. Archbishop Ireland is a prelate whom we highly esteem S3 i *r as we know of his Grace from the C itholic Prees of the country, but American ecclesiastics not unfrequently sirike us as somewhat exceeding in boldness. Probably, if we knew the circumstances in which they are placed, we should attain to a better understanding. The bare fact that Archbishop IrJand has authorised an experiment, therefore, does not necessarily make us confident of its success or

THE FABIBAULT PLAN.

nooamend it to as as worthy of trial elsewhere. We should say that any proposals made to them for a denominational grant in New Zealand wonld be considered by our prelates quite apart from the Faribanlt plan, or any other experiment tried in America.

SCIENTIFIC KONBBNBB.

anthropologists have worked out bo finely, is in some degree received among ourselves. It has, however, been urged on behalf of the pre-haman ancestors, from whom modern criminals •re supposed to derive their exculpating atavism, that they were not really so ferocious and exclusively wicked as, for the purposes of science, they are represented to have beeu. It is, indeed, explained that, on the contrary, they displayed a god deal of kindness among themselves. Bat scientists will have their way.— We much prefer the term scientist to tbat of man of science. It seems perfectly adapted to present requirements.— Failing the primeval beasts, tbey insist upon it that tbe newly developed race of mankind was monstrously wicked, every man Jack of them. One enterprising theorist, indeed, went recently bo far as to declare that a condition of incessant crime even now was man's normal condition. Men, he said, by abnormally joining; themselves together In society, were actually engaged in punishing their fellow men for fulfilling the obligations, or perhaps even the duties, of their nature. This theory was found rather too advanced for the times and was rejected, mildly nevertheless, and w ithont any great show of reason as opposed to other theories held by the body. It has, meantime, been gravely proposed that the law courts should be re-moddled . And, here, by the way, is a new consideration fot Sir George Grey to take into account in connection with bis Law Practitioners' Bill. Tbe old judgf s and the old lawyers, we are told, are not now, if they ever were, a ha'p'orth of good. They most all be tamed adrift and a completely different set of men employed in their stead. Tber* will be no study of law necessary, and doubtless Sir George will find this additional enfranchisement of immense benefit. Candidates will only be required to be expert judges of tbe shape of a man's head, tbe size of his jaw, tbe expression of his eye, and such like. Given a m&D, the son of a criminal father or mother, and possessed of the tell-tale jowl or scowl, cf long arms, or short arms, or arms neither short nor long, according to the calculations of Bignor Perri, and his guilt will at once be cbvious to the discriminating eye. Accusation in such a case will carry with it condemnation. Will Sir George Grey introduce a clause into his Bill providing for these law courts of tbe future, and making the trained eye all that is necessary. It bas been remarked, in fact, tbat the branch in question of the advanced science of the day is retrogressive in the direction of tbe condemned theories of Gall and Spurzieim and of Lavater. A hang-dog look, in fact, wou d be as good as a halter to a man -that is, if any sucb thing us a gallows were any longer permissible. But tbe irresponsible criminal, as we b«ve Been, is not to be hanged, or punished in any way. No man mus be punished for tbat for which he is not accountab.e— unless, cf couise, old Joe Millar spoke the truth with something of prophetic vision, and an atavistic necessity —also excluding free will, be laid upon ihe haad weilding the sword. That, indeed, would seem tbe chief solution of the difficulty. Tbe criminal has no free will, and must cot be punished— but neither, says the j sttr, bas the executioner, who, iherefore. muat punish him Wbat is t>airt in jeet, we have been told, is often meant in earnest, and, as we perceive from certain phases of the science of tbe day, what is said in earnest mi?ht ocieionally be meant in j^-st. tio mucu for the latent fad of which anfljctiou has beou caught amjng curfae'vus.

A DOUBTFUL SWIMMING MABTEB,

country in which every man may call himself what he chooses, no one can object to tbat. The congregation held a teameeting the other night and its particular ♦• stick " on the occasion took the shape of an essay read on the part of one Mr Floyd, who, it appears, was too ill to attend in person. Let us charitably hope the gentleman in question has now recovered from his indisposition. Good people, as we know, are scarce, and Mr Floyd, if we may judge by the scanty report of bis essay we find in the Otago Daily Times, is a very good perben indeed. But fancy anyone, even good Mr Floyd, quoting at this time of day as an authentic work, D'Aubigne's •• History of the Reformation." Mr Floyd, we are told, quoted this work in explanation of tbe rise of the Papacy and then went on to make seme remarks of bis own on the subject. "The essay continued to say that in all the abominations of the latter God did net forget the people. Hence He raised up such men as Luther, Calvin and others to do a great and much-needed work of reformation." But then, of course, there is a difference of opinions and a good deal depends on wbat are looked upon as abominations, Luther, for exaanple, looked upon chastity as an extreme abomination, and Calvin was not of a very different mind on the subject. Luther wallowed like a hog in filth, and all reformed Germany followed bis example. We doabt if even a member of the " Church of Christ," supposing him to understand his language, coa ld now be so shameless as to listen to five minutes of his conversation Possibly even th.9 good Mr Floyd himself could not do so, although he is apparently engaged" in teaching a congregation to quaff from the fountains opened by him, if not actually to swim in the sea of iniquity whose flood gates he unloosed upon tbe world. For good Mr Floyd's own sake, and that of the congregation trusting themselves to his guidance, we will at least hope so. O berwise, either as cup-bearer or swimming master, good Mr Floyd's efforts must be attended with evil consequences. Meantime, is it not a pity tbat a religions body, even a •' Church of Christ," Christian sisters as well as brothers piloted on inflited bladcteia among questionable waters by a good Mr Floyd, cannot meet to take a quiet cup of tea without wanting a Btick in it. Or at least tbey might take their stick in a more wholesome form than that of a tissue of ignorance and C-llumDy.

Wa generally get tbe fag end of the fads of the period out here. We perceive, for example, that the irresponsibility of criminals, which Italian

necessarily be a matter of intense interest to his readers. Of course it is of immense importance for as to know, and we never could have gnessed, that he is more cleanly in his habits than an Irish Protestant old lady. Will he kindly return to the subject at an early date and give us a little information, for example, as to his requirements in the matter of soap ? And if be knew anything about another old lady which woald serve to bring oat in a brighter light the effects of his lather he might mention it as well. A subject for a Pear's soap artist indeed, would be our " Nemo " in his wash-tab, presenting himself' as a pattern to the dirty old Irish Protestant ladies. We do not know tbat the good " Nemo's " little joke at the expense of Ireland was very brilliant— but, as we see, it has opened out to ns a whole aeries of useful and interesting reflections.

A CASE FOB PEAK S 80AP.

cockney friend justice. He deals with the country impartially, so fir, at leabt, as religion is concerned. The dirty old lady to whom our friend refers, was evidently a Protestant old lady, and a pious old lady according to her ligh's, in-o the bargaic. Cur wcll-wathed friend takes Mr Labouchere to task fur making a protest agaiDst the use of the cold tub, and. among the rest, quotes the case of an old lady—" Irish, I fancy," be says, " who, when told that cleanliness was next to godliness, thanked her Maker that that was not in the Bible." Perhaps we should leave the Protestant old ladies of IrelaDd to defend themselves. Indeed, there are some Piottstant men in tbe country who seem to have a holy horror of c^ld water— for tbat, we say agaio, is the only way in which we can account for the delay made by the Orangemen in taking to the ditches, as they have dec'ared, with all sortß of fee faw fums and sniffings of blood, they are ardently bent on doing. They are just waning for the weather to clear up and the ditches to dry. There may, therefore, be Protestant old ladies who are quite as careful of themselves. But, sbioing as tbe excellent " Nemo " does in contrast with the dirty old Irish Protestant lady— and there may be a good deal in a contrast -his particular experiences under the pump must

DRIVELLING PHILOSOPHY.

still more vivid light, the stupid, silly, and shallow nature of a writer to whom a place has, nevertheless, been allotted among the foremost thinkers of the day. Tbat expression of satisfaction repeated by him, for example, that although be will not be there to see, tbe work of eternity will proceed, has it not arrived by this time somewhere close upon the stage of mere clap- trap J But even, although there had ever been any suspicion of sincerity attached to it it never was truly based, so far, at least, as the race of man is concerned. " Science especially will continue to astound as by her revelations, which will replace, by the infinity of time and space, a shabby cieUionism which cannot any longer satisfy even the imagination of a child." But science bas revealed already that, where every form of earthly life is concerned, there is no sucb thing as an infinity of time and space. It points out to us inevitably the approach of universal death, with a suggestion of horrors unimaginable. Silly, stupid, and shallow is the pretenca of rejoicing in what cannot concern the man making it even most remotely. Tbe man so sensitive a? to enter vividly into the joys of generations, to come on y after xjdb had passed away, could not possibly lire in view of tbe miseries of tbe present. The man who pretends to rejoice in what he knows to be impossible is at best an afftcted fool. Where M. Benan, however, most betrays bimself is in bis stale frivolity touching another life. If there be such a place as hell, he says, " I shall manage to get out." Why, even a jester like Charles Lever bad been beforehand with him, as well as more witty. In Mickey Tree's father breaking bis way out of purgatory there is

Ova good friend " N'-mo " ut tbe Dunedin Keening Star, like other cockney scribblers, enjoys his little juke at tbe expense of Ireland. But let us do our

There is a congregation in Dunedin, it seems which, as the saying ib, likes a " stick in its tea." ' Tbe congregation goes by the name of the " Church of Christ," and, pace Bishop Nevill, this being a

A forecast of another volume of "Souvenirs' aboat to be published by M. Renan, which has appeared in one of the London papers, reveals in a

no doubt profanity, but there is also some wit. " Paradise seems a place where people must b« very much bored." Had M. Benan, then, with all hi* literary pretension*, never read Dante. Those who can see in the infinite mirror of, the Beatific Vision all the works of God, even to the inmost thoughts of men, may suTely find enongh to occupy them — yes, throughout eternity itself. Stupid, again, is that picture of an otiose, dreamy purgatory— a land of the lotus-eaters— again M. Benan has been forestalled— where souls to be purified may dote along into thin air. " Wliere loves commenced on earth will be purified, pending complete ethenalisation "— false and affected sentiment again. Finally, M. Beoan has a contemptuous word to fling at devont old women, •' who, we are told, wil 1 form the majority of the elect." Can we not see, if we rightly and deeply consider it, and this needs the greater depth of thought, the power of God as wonderful in a withered blade of grass a* in a mountain, with all Its peaks and all its glaciers ? The fault of the man who cannot discern in the sonl of the old woman and its destinies an object of contemplation as awful and sublime as he can find in toe soul of the philosopher lies in his own sballownew. But what brilliancy of style, what beauties of language can justly acquire for a man who chatters like a pol-parrot the place of a leader of thought T Little to be envied is the country or the world in which Buch can be supposed to be the case.