Untitled

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 45, 9 March 1894, Page 7

The death, at Stirling, of Mr William Jenkins in bis 94th year recalls the Radical days of Scotland 74 years ago. Mr Jenkins was " out " in 1820, when the Scottish Radicals rebelled against the Government. Pikes, swords, and muskets were privately supplied to bis party, and he cast the ballets for them. Scared by a failure of the Radicals in Glasgow, Jenkios concealed his ballets in the historic battlefield of Bannockborn, where they are supposed to still remain. Jenkins continued a Radical till the end, and his latest political act was to vote for the Home Bale candidate in Stirling two years ago. It is noteworthy that the Qrathdanin thinks it desirable for Muscovite readers to learn that it is all up with British naval supremacy. " England has lost her opportunity — it it too lrte, is tba refrain of a recent article, written, in a somewhat malicious strain, on that subject. The writer tays that it whs only after Admiral Avellan had left hiß card on the officials at Toulon, as chief of the Russian Mediterranean squadroD, tuat the imporUnce of that harbour was appreciated in England. The Biitish public then took an inventory of their fleet, but finding it too weak for the protection of tbeir coasts and commercial interests, they raised a cry of alarm. "Thecry/'hesays, " has come too late— the opportunity has been lost." The much-coveted distintion of being created a Chevalier of the L;gion of Honour has jost been conferred on Madame KoechlinSchwartz, »n Alsatian lady, and president of the Association do l'Union des Femmes de France, a political and social body wbioh is developing considerable influence in France. Only some twenty ladies are privileged to wear the Red Riband of the Order, and of these the greater number are nurses and Sisters of Charity, for aeeds of heroism whilst attending the sick and wounded. Amongst the other "decorated" ladiee, the most noteworthy are the veteran artist, Md le. Rosa Bonheur, Mane. Dieulafoy the explorer, and Mme. Marie Lauren 1 , the acres?, foundress ot a charitable institution known as the Orphelinat de^ Arts. The year 1894 will mark a new era in the industrial, profes ional, and literary history of Manchester. The opening of the Ship Oanal is only one of a series of magnificent undertakings which the new year will see inaugurated. Among the others are the opening ot tht Toirlmere waterworks at a cost of £2 500,000 ; the drainage system of this grent city has been improved at a cost of £600,000 ; the hydraulic power in connection with its vast warehouses and pubic institutions will be established at a cost of £150,000 ; the electric light is being perfected at an outlay of £150,000. Literature will worthily uphold the dignity of these memorable undertakings by the opening of tbe Ryland'a Library. Owen's College will have added to its scientific chairs one of medicine, and in other ways improvement and extensioo goon apace. Incense has come to be s > much used in Aog ican churches that that the servers and acolytes and other assistants, who»e province it is to light and swing tharifers, have seriouely proposed to form themselves into a society entitled the " Thorifers' Guild." This bai forced tbe high members of the Church to consider the matter very seriously. A telling exposure of Tory clerical intimidation in Scotland at tbe last general election is emphasised by a "correction" made by Sir James Ferguson, M.P. He denied that a certain instance of intimidation took place "in his ptrisb." Tne locality could be corrected, but no explanation removes the fact that a Protestant divine in Eirkmichael, from his own pulpit, warned the people that if they returned tbe Liberal candidate, they plainly showed that they could not "conscientiously remain members of their church." This cleric, the Bey Mi Fairlie, added that it was the " duty "of Liberal churchmen *' to abstain from voting at this election alto* gertier." As an elder declared. "Mr Fairlie's words were to the effect that no one who voted for the Disestablishment candidate should remain a member of the Church or joiu io the Oommuoion." All tbe Disestablishment candidates in Scotland were Home Balers, and the words of Mr Fairlie explain why many Scotchmen ware intimidated into supporting Unionists — a work wbicb ttoottisb privileged clergymen will not find bo successful at next election.