Current Topics.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 44, 19 August 1892, Page 1

Current Topics.

AT HO ME AND ABROAD,

The Tories are out ; Lord Salisbury has resigned. On what a dreary drama has the curtain fallen, in the events of the past six years. Still we can afford a little pity, and it would ill become us to cry vce victis. Indeed we wish them no evil ; we have never wished them such. On the contrary, even for their own sakes, we have desired that they might order differently their counsels and their doings. But the record of coercion is a sad one to look back upon. Its evils are unrelieved by any tempering features ; the slight degres of good that accompanied it is spoiled and deserving of little gratitude. The few concessions were forced from (ear, rather than granted of good will. Tbe assistance given to the famine-stricken was palpably a mitter of display, there was no heart in it. The Land Purchase Act was rendered nseleeß because it imposed no obligation to sell ; the proposals for local Government were abortive owing to their absurdity. All we can look back upon is six years of ill-treatment and cruelty— the strengthening of every ill-duposed hand, and the crippling; and shackling of every hand that would have given aid. It is hard to believe that some motive reaching farther than the oppression of Ireland— dear as that may be to tyrannous and Darrow minds, did not influence Lord Salisbury and his colleagues. Yet we can hardly believe them stupid enough to suppoß^ that they could do anything effectually to check the rising power of the people. But, apart from all bigotry and hereditary prejudice, the fact that tbe cause of Ireland is a popular cause must weigh heavily with them. A victory of tbe people anywhere must be odious to the great class over whose interests they keep especial watch. A record of come trifling service done grudgingly and marred in the doing — of much cruelty carried out with a lightness and cheerfulness that showed a particular fitness for the task, and a thorough rejoicing in it, a record of a heavy tyranny is that of these six years of Tory rule in Ireland. Let us not foiget, besides, the appeal so recklessly and hotly made to religions bigotry — nay, to rebellion, that worst of all rebellions— an outbreak inspired and sustained by religious fanaticism. We do not know what the result may be. Perhaps the Tories go but to return. A few months may see them reinstated and inspirited by their triumph to resume their wicked course. But sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. Hope, meantime, is permitted to us, and it would be pusillanimous to refrain from rejoicing in tbe present relief. At long last they are gone, and they are well gone — profitably even for themselves, could they bat see i f . May it be for ever.

A QUEER ABGCMENT.

Mb Bollestoi* doeß not give us a very high idea of the usefulness of the Legislative Council. In an interview with the Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, the bon gentleman has expressed himself very desirous that the Governor Bbould reveal all his communications with tbe Secretary for the Colonies respecting the appointment of Councillors. Mr Rolleston, of course, does not wish to embarrass the Governor, or to fin'l fault with him for refusing to make the appointments in question. Oa the contrary, he wants to bear bis Excellency out by showing that he has acted on a rtcom- / mendation made fome five years ago by a committee of the Council, to the effect that such appointments should not be made unless the number of members had been reduce ! to less than one half of those of the Lower Chamber. Mr Rolleston ha 9 a full belief in tbe services of the council :—": — " The fact is," he says, " that we have been using the Legislative Council to throw out the absurdities of the Lower House. For instance, the women's franchise would never have become 80 much talked about if people knew that there was no Council to defeat it after it had passed tbe House ; and so with other measures.' But, according to tbia view, does it not 6cem as if the Council had

AT LOHG LAST .

been encouraging the country to talk nonsense,iand to waste a good deal of time oa very profitless discussions. Belying on the salration that lies in the Council, it would appear, the people have been giving themselves np to idle dreams In this particular instance, we have nothing to object to what Mr Bolleston promises. Indeed, we would fain hope that he is correct in his prediction, and that the Council will, in fact, throw out a very undesirable and ill-judged measure. But would it not be better if the people were to rely on themselves and curb what, if Mr Bolleston is right, must be a very vain and foolish desire to talk for the mere sake of talking. The people, besides, by such talking, encourage or oblige the Lower House to do the same, and thus time that might be expended in a much moie profitable manner is wasted. According to Mr Bolleston, therefore, the usefulness of the Legislative Council is evidently a very doubtful quality. It prevents the people from acting an independent and manly part, and coming once for all to their own conclusions. It weakens the authority of the lower but more important Chamber, and retards tbe translation of busiaess. Mr Bolleston, then, in arguing fo r the retention of the Upper Chamber, suggest* Borne reasons for ita abolition.

ANOTHER VAIN ATTEMPT.

A Bible-beading-in-sohools Bill has been rejected in the Legislative Council. Tha H<m VV. T. Stewart, nevertheless, who moved the second reading, bad a sensible word or two to say as to the effects of irreligious teaching on the rising generations. Whether a few vereos read daily at bap-hazard, by way of a mere show and a salve to ea9y consciences, would produce different effects and bring about those filial and conjugal changes alluded to as desirable by Mr Stewart may be questionable. But the hon. gentleman's allusion to a motion disapproving of secularism moved by Sir Bryan O'Loghlen in the Victoiian House of Assembly would give us some ground to hope thsit he takes a more intelligent view of the matter lhan bis speech would otherwise authorise us in supposing. Sir Bryan O'Loghlen certainly did not suggest that a mere flinging of a few versos to the murcy of the children would work marvels. Why, again, does Mr Pharazyn believe that teachers in the future would be worse than teachers in the past have been 1 The Bible has been taught in the past, and, as a rule, Protestants have had, or have pretended to have, a profound reverence for it. Were there no unthinking teachers in those days who gabbled the text they taught as Mr Paarazyn protests there would be in the future ? Mr Pharazyn should be an authority as to bygone times. Or is it only of extreme antiquity he has made a study? He tells us, for example, that morality was observed long before the Bible was known Evidently, Mr Pharazyn, admitting him to be versed in the habits of the ancieat world, is not difficult to please where morals are concerned. A retrogressive lapse towards the morals of the ancients might, perhaps, be interesting from an archaeological point of Tiew, but it is open to doubt whether it would do honour to the secular By&tem by proving its fruits profitable to the modern world. We, however, agree with M. Phamzzvn that such a condition of morals may be f.tcained to quite independently of religious teaching, and, in fact such a state of morals is the inevitable fruits of secnlariem. Sir George Whitmore, in the debate alluded to, displayed the chivalrous spirit of the brave soldier. He opposed the Bill oat of consideration, as he said in effect, for the rights of Catholics. The slight flaw in the hon and gallant knight's argument— or, indeed, in his chivalry— was that he betrayed a fear lest equ.l privileges might be conferred on the people he pretended to defenJ. Verily, an honest enemy is to be preferred to a false friend. As to the Hon Mr Oliver, his support of the motion was given rather from an intellectual point of view Mr Oliver, as we all know, goes in for culture, and art, and all the rest of it, just as the amiable Mrs Boffin went In for fashion — such is his hobby, and he bestrides it most gracefully. None of the other hon Members are reported at any length. The Bill, however, was thrown out by a majority of one. Nor is there much reason to regret its defeat. At best its object is a vain pretence, or even a piece of hypocrisy— and there are, besides, several more sinister aspects in which the matter may be regarded.