Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 14, 3 August 1894, Page 3

Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

ODDS AND ENDS.

Nothing, more than the manner in which the Government have carried their Bill for forthwith collecting the land tax, Bhows their strength. The measure was one of which, without doubt, a great deal might be made — and, as a fact, the various leaders', or would-bt leaders, of the separated oppositions ihowei a readiness to Beiie upon the opportunity. Sir Robert Stout entered an indignant proteit ; Mr Earnshaw had a contradictory word or two to say ; Mr Dutbie, Mr Allen, and omne id genut expressed adverse opinion!, and Captain Russell declared himself amazed. The Government, nevertheless, were easily victorious. The feebleness of the opposition, under the circumstances, proves their strength. For a wise man, not to cay a philosopher all out, Sir Robert Stout is sometimes accountable for very foolish sayings. Sucb, for example, seems to have been his explanation on Friday, in the debate on the Land for Settlement Bill, that the signification of the Bill was that freehold was practically abolished in the colony. The principle in question ia no more involved in the Bill thin it is in those Acts of Parliament, which, from time immemorial, hive provided that laud may be taken from private owners— if not for settlement— for other public purposes. The traditional school-boy understands this, and surely Sir Robert Stout is not ignoTant of it. We nny, nevertheless, congratulate Sir Robert on his not being arrived at the extreme views of the period. Sir Robert, we perceive, still bdhevea that small holdings may be made to pay. How does he happen to diff j r from the riper scientific tnindp, by whom we are assured that machinery has made this impossible ? Small holdings, they assure us, will not pay, under the new conditions. Large holdings, meantime, they swear, are monopoly and landlordism that mar be burßt up by taxa. tioo. Sir Robert Stout, however, strange to say, has not advanced so far. We agree with Sir Robert that, if, as he says it does, the Bill provides for or makes possible the acquisition of additional land by men who are already large farmers, it needs amendment. Its obj ct Bhould be that of placing smaller settlers on land now kept idle, or wi b-held from its full u c e, by monopolies. Although, in short, Sir Robert Stout sometimes, or perhaps often, cays foolish things, he is capable also of sensible observations. But we hope Mr Buick ib not a true prophet. In the debate alluded to be predicted that Mr O' Regan would die a single-taxer Mr Buick also committed hinaßelf to theita'eineatthat Mr O'Regan bad been born a eingle-taxer — but thut ia another matter. Even (supposing Mr Buicktobepossessed of the traditions of the Hon Member's nursery days, some want of sense may beallowed to a baby. Toat for wtmh he was accountable before they graw can not fairly ba thrown in the teeth of any man. But if Mr O'Regan diea a giogle-taxer with him will die also the wreck of a promising career. We rather admire Mr O'Regan's enthusiasm. It is a good sign in a young man — but he should not allow it to get the batter of his common sense — still lcit to make him a bore. A very wise man too, a man very much wiser than others, and far before his age, can be a very great bore. What else, for example, was Socrates— and what else led to Sooratea' death ? It was a horrid nuisance to the sophists of the time to be continually tntt by a man who aired h*iß ignorance. No wonder they could not stand it. And what the ignorance of Socrates was in his day the wisdom of Mr O'Regan — though we admit it to be quite another thing may now become. He also has to do with an impatient worldCan he not see that ihe generation is b'jhind-hand and rath-r 8 upid ? If only for his own eak- 3 , he Bhould be a little more indulgent to it. Years upon years are yet needed b f >re it can be placed upon the height where the hon Member now stands, so that it may see, even Indistinctly, the beautiful prospect that lies clear and smiling before more fortunate gaze. Let him, therefore, take the world a little easier, and, since he cannot enforce perfection, Ut him be satisfied with second best. In effect, Mr O'Regan would keep the people off the land until he could place them theru in his own particular way —or that ol Mr Henry George. But let, us once more recall the

memory of that estimable physician of Moliert's, who would rather let his patientß die, than cure them by any remedies of which the Faculty did net approve. Let us hope, again, that, contrary to Mr Buick's prediction, Mr O'Regan may survive his craee. Mr Dick finally escaped from the head of King Charles I.

Sir Robert Stout very consistently champions the Bill for thf. establishment of a University College at Wellington. Nor ia it incon sistent that the hon Member shows a carelessness, aa he does, with regard to where the money is to come from. As to the argument} however, that the Bill is a democratic measure, that is another thing. It may be argued that Wellington, as a city, ia as well entitled to a college of the kind aa are Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland, snd against this we have nothing to say. But why on democratic prln* ciples is the son of a poor man in the town of Wellington moro entitled to aid in obtaining a higher education than is his equal in any of the smaller towns or in ths country districts ? We may pass over the consideration as to whether, in fact, it is the son or daughter of the poor man who anywhere obtains the banefii; of the college at hand. The chances, nevertheless, seem to be that, with rare exceptions, such is not the case. As a rnle the sons or daughters of wealthy or well-to-do people alone follow the University course. Another con» sideration also may be slightly alluded to, that as to whether, were the University really open to the children of the poor, it would be much to their advantage, or would not be misleading them by vain expectations to forsake pursuits more profitable for them. The point ip, however, that although Wellington, as a city of equal standing with the other three, may have a right to a University College, and may c'aim that public money should be provided ai elsewhere to furnish her wealthy and well-to-do clabS'S with more easy means of the higher education, the plea of democracy ia falsely urged in the case. That S.r Robert Stout should so urge it, moreover, may not be ! inconsistent.

Complaints are general that young men are shunning the bonds of marriage. This, if it be true, mußt go far towards strengthening the arguments in favour of the advance into public life of women. Certainly if men refuse to peiform ttu'ir duty towards them, and will not make homi 8 for them or give them protection or support, they must shift for thtmseivee. If, therefore, they cross the path of those who should be their protector?, and successfully compete with them in all the pursuits of life, no on- has a right to complain. On the contrary, they deserve all the aid and all the cheer that can be given them in the s ruggle. Should they fail, they must become the victims of a selfioh and cowardly section of the race, that has abandoned the finer feelings vi humanity, and given itself up to base instincts. Women emancipated because men have renoanced their duty towards them, take a different place and aeaerve all the encouragement needed to make them independent. Under the circumstances, every facility should be afforded them of competing with men in all worldly callings.

War has broken out between China and Japan. Immediately the matter 82em3 to have little interest for us. Japan, nevertheless, appears the more progressive and promising country, and anything to retard or iojare its progress is to be regretted. With respect to China, besides, the future seems uncertain. Circumstances might possibly arise under which its neighbourhood would b« a menace, or even a positive danger, to these colonies. Anything, therefore, by which its military spirit should be increased or its naval power^developed muat seem to us undesirable. On the whole Japan appears of the two the more deserving of our sympathies.

Mr Walter Hill contributes to oar contemporary the Charletton Herald a l^ng letter, in which he explains the objects of an association recently formed and entitled the " West Coast Mining Reform Association." The writer complains that, whtreaa successive Goverments have been eager in their efforts for the development of the agricultural aad pastoral resources of the country — the mining interest which is of no less importance, has bten left to look after itself. Aa railways, roads.Jand bridges, he says, are the works needed co promote the use of pastoral and agricultural lands, water-raoss, sludge channels, tail-races, and other works of the kind are neoetsary for the gold-fields. Bat while, for a given period, the money •xpended out of loan on the other interests mentioned has been a

«üm of £5,000,000, lees than £50,000 has been s^ent on the works in question. Thiß, argues Mr Jli.i — and most people who have the interests of the colony at he^ii will be inclined to agree with him— is quite an unsatisfactory n'atc of things. He goes on to argue fro-n the amount paid-in + sntion bj t! a settlers on the On st, as to their right Lo demand ILj *ii ihay ke^l. "Wo do no*," hj aaya, "want wealth for the few, but wo do want competence for the many, ai.d 1 am convinced it ia as much iho duty of tbe Stii" to foster and develop goldmiuing by mea-us of public money as to help and assist our wool kings to become rich. What we want is witer brought to a given point and a means of conserving water during dry periods, so that parties of miaers from one end of the Coast to tho other may get access to the soil and win at least a living if not a fortune." Mr Hill recommends to the support of the people of the West Coast the ntwly formed Association — by means of which they can more expeditiouily and effectually make themselveß heard. We may add that the provision ancounced by Mr Ward in his Financial Statement for giving aid to the mining iudußtry may serve to show the Association that the present Government is willing to lend them a sympathetic ear.

One of the latest stories frcm the smoke-room of the House of Commons (says an English contemporary) is attributed to a wellknown Irish member, and for bubtle humour it ia hard to beat. Borne Auatralian friends of a brother M.P. were boasting of the superiority of the Australians to tho people of the mother-country, when the Irish member quickly retorted, " Well, the Australians ought to be superior to üb, as mofct of their ancestors were sent over by some of our very bgst judges."

Writing on woman suffrage in practice in the North American Review for June, Governor Waito, of Colorado, speaks thus :— " In Utah the rights of women to vote under the Territorial laws did not injuriously affect polygamy, but polygamy there was & tenet of the Mormon religion, and a large proportion of the female voters were polygamists by faith or practice. In Wyoming and Washington to my knowledge, no extraordinary progress has been made in the line of political reform that can be traced to female suffrage, and in Colorado sufficient time has not elapßed to speak understanding^ of the result." "By way of compmaon," says Governor Crounse, of Nebraska, _" it may be remarked that the Nebraska laws relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors are far more thorough and far-reaching and are better observed than they are in the sister and adjoining State, Wyoming, where woman suffrage has obtained for quarter of a century." Governor Crounse qaotes, without answering for itstruth ( the following extract from a recent number of the Chicago Record . " At the capiul city of the btate (Wyoming) gambling-houses ara abundant and open Baloons are as frequent as any o1o 1 her kind of stores, and the charge is made that 'n t a single act of legislation aimed at the betterment of the human race haa been pissed through woman's influence.' "

In a notice of Mr Wilfrii Wara'a ■ Witnesses to the Unseen,' 1 contributed by Mr W. S. Lilly to the Nineteenth Century for June, the writer describee the Zeitgeist —Vac intellectual tone— of the age as ecepticiem, Thiß scepticism, he explains, arises in great degree from an intenee devotion to physical science, and lhe use of us methods in departments where they can proJuca only a negative result or no result at all. '• Payaicai science, 'he goes on to say, "is net the only science, nor ara its facts the oaly facts. There is without its sphere a vast number of facts of which it can give no rational accoutu. Among these are two great facts of human nature, the sense of the Absolute and the sense of Bin. If we want an explanation of these facts, — snd who does cot ? — we must go for it elsewhere than to tho profetors of physics." Mr Lilly, in effect, sends inquiiers to the clean of heart — to those who think like tbe saints.

The report received here some weeks ago about the loss of a steamer at Westportis explained aa applying to the capsize of a fishiDg boat carrying harvester! from Achill. Tbe boat was over-loaded, and in trying to jibe abjut was struck by a gust of wind and went over. Boats from a steamer wai ing in Westport dock for passengers to Glasgow rescued 75 of the unfortunate people, and 35 were drowned. As every one wrK> ia acquainted with Clew Bay knows, sudden squalls and gusts of wind make it very dangerous.

The same tactics as those employed for the rej.-ctionof the Home Bule Bill are now being m ide nea of to throw out the Bill for the relief of the Evicted Tenants. Wuich has passed its second reading in tho House of Commons. It 11 being blocked by amendments in committee. Its summary treatment by tbe L >rds is ulso confidentally predicted. Whether the Government will patiently submit to thie repetition of contempt and insolence remains to be seen. But if tbe country pats up with another di play of arrogance by the House of Lords, the meaning; of the democracy of the period will be plainly visible.

A cablegram recently received here relative to some slight departure in Fiji from Christian methods— such, for exam pit, as a return to cannibal tastes— takes credibility from certain details, as to the nature of Protestant Christianity among the natives, given in Eng,

land, at the recent Anglican Missionary Conference, by Lord S'anmore—who had been for some time Governor of the Islandi. Strict Sabbatarianism and a wearing of Euiopean clothes, said the speaker, seemed the principal Christian ordinances, "According to Lord Stanmore," says tha Catholic Timet, " the naive clergy are the worst offenders in this reep-'ct. They devote all their energies to the senseless aping of Western habits, e;o abmt in greenes 1 -black swallow-tail coats, and inhabit woo lea huta ma 1; hideous with pn ten tioua antimacassars and gaudy china ornaments. la certain villages visited by the Governor it was punishable by fine and imprisonment to wear native garments or garlands of flowers, to smoke tobacco, to drink the native beverage kara, to pl.iy at ball, or io bathe on a Sunday. All these offences, so the natives are taught to believe, are infractions of tha fundamental doctrines of Christianity. As a resnlt these naturally joyous and childlike people go silently and listlessly about their occupations, wearing on their faces an expression of sullen digcontent." These detaili may also be usefully read in connection with a recent case of libel ia which a Mettudist missionary came off, on a technical pom*, victorious— most undeservedly so, the Chief Justice said — and of which we have heard something in this colony. There is nothing, we say again, to surprise us if Fijians have actually returned to their pagan practices.

It is to the credit of the French Academy that M. Zjla in his recent candidature did not receive a single vote. The learned body also have evidently placed him upon an index enpurgatorius. Their decision should have weight where that of the congregation at Borne must fail. Possibly they perceive that M, Zola writes trash as well as filth.

We are unable to ccc how Mr Walter Bentley, who is a strong ajapporter of the moral baannga of the stag^, consistently choae "The Silence of Dean Maitland" for the purposes of the drama. The play we have not saen, bat with the book we are acquainted. It is a night* mare story, false to life, slanderous towards religion, unwholesome on the whole, and not particularly well written. Mr Walter Bentley is a clever man and a good actor, and we have no doubt that the one part of his work haa been well done, and that the other is ably carried our. But so much the worse. Moliero's apology for bringing upon the stage the character of tbe hypocrite was, in effect, that ha would defend religion against those whose interested mockery disgraced it. Ridicule was the means he chose, beciuae, he said, men were willing to ba wicked, but not to be ridiculous. We may claim it, perhaps as an improvement on the former age that now-a-days what is wicked and detestable has a deterrent influence as well as what is ridiculous. Bat this story to which we allude is ill-chosen for the purpose. Iti plot is wholly improbable— nay— almost impossible. In the particular matter treated of, moreover, no such warning is needed. At tbe present day but Httla temptation offers itself to religious hypocrisy Aa to the trea'mmt of religion in thia book, it is insidious and insulting. Molii»r-3 chogj tor his tartufe, the mare plainly to separate religion from its false professors — a m m of criminal life, who made a ridiculous counterfeit of piety. The hypocrite in this book is a man brought up amona; religious influences — amoDg the pure and happy surroundings of a pious home. He is the son of an English clergymm ; he himself becomes a clergyman. Religion has entered into the very essenca of hia being — he has been wont to protest, and, no doubt, sincerely, againit freethought as expressed by the man who becomes his victim. Yet, in cold blood, for a long succession of years — and still, without intermission, under the influences of religion, he plays his detestable put. Where, then, is the class on whom the lesson of thia case, which is at least uniqup, and which we may claim as impossible, is to proiuca a mor*l influence, or who need the warning to be derived from it? A% to the nffcont offered in particular to the Church of England, that is hardly our concern. Still, from a Citholic standing point, an institution whose influence, sj far as it goes, is for gooi, which in many respects preserves a knowledge of Catholic truth among the people, and teaches Chris 1 ian doctrine, and whose ministry as a body are men of eminent virtue and distiu' guished merit, deserves more respectful usage. We had lately occasion to protest against the representation here of a play that was an outrag* oa the Catholic Church. The book to which we allude — for as we hive said, wa have not seen the play — is scarcely less offensive to all forma of Christianity. Mr Bsntley, therefore, we repeat, however ably be may have done, or may still do his part, has not acted consistently in the choice made by him.

The Dunadin Star continues to ornament its columns by publishing the letters of its beauty at Keokuk. Bat the synagogic element seems to have carried the day. Even Protestantism now is thrust aside in favour of unbelief. The German people, wa are told, have all the virtues though their country is " Bimply saturated with infidelity." To the credit of Protestantism we may hail it as due to. the |ascendancy of the atheistic synagogus that the letter io question contains the following— a gross assumption, at least, if we must call a spade a spade. Aluding to certain advocates of a religious education, " Further," writes this corresponded, " nearly all those peopla in American cities whose infidelity and irreligiousness are deplored by Dr Terry and his co-thinkers were educated in creed schools, and Dot in the American public schools." Bat with the utter unscrnpu-

lousaeas of this man we have long been acquainted. He goes on to deduce an argument from resistance against the Church in Catholic countries. Thie, however, ia a lina of argumeat, as we have already had occasion to point out, which might bring home the treason of Judas Isca.ul L» the personal teaching of the S_viour, „_•, no doubt, the element now apparently victorious in the uaholy alliance represented bj the Star would be eager to do. Finally the correspondent quotes an article evolved from the Inn3r consciousness of some bigot wbo writes in Saribner'a Magarine on the il^ic-m enterprise of the unfortunve Maximilian. The tone is one of triumph over not only the tragic death of 'he Imperial adventurer, bat oven, more brutally •till, over the mainess of his uabappy widow. Oae statement alone illustrates the worth of the assertions. It is tbat which attributes to the Empress Eugenic the accountability, in opposing the advance of Protestantism, of the French expedition. This statement is on a par with that so confidently urged with respect to the Empress and the German war, until Prince Bismarck recently threw off the veil and claimed the accountability a% his own. All the rest, also, is a tissue of misrepresentation and arbitrary assumption. As to th« effect, meantime, of the action of Juarez on the Catholicism of Mexico, Lady Sykes, as an eye witness, has recently contributed an account of it to the London Tablet. " The Catholic," she writes, " who visits Mexico thirty years after these events have occurred, and when ' La Riforma ' has become more or less a matter of history, finds that gome of the results of that revolution have been similar to those which the 1 Reformation ' of the sixteenth century had upon the Catholic Church in general. The same spirit which called forth the foundation of the Order of the Jesuits, and brought a succession of unworldly and saintly Pontiffs to the Chair of St Peter, has replaced a wealthy and politically powerful bjdy of ecclesiastics by a humble, self-denying, poor, and holy clergy, thoroughly and entirely devoted to their flock." God, you see, can, and sometimes does, make the devil do His work. Possibly some such explanation may yat appear of these letters from Keokuk. The readers of the Star may possibly b3coma disgusted with perßistant bigotry and falsehood,

The Hon Mr MacG egor in * porting tbe Divorce Bill in the Legislative Council is reporteJ as qao ins? a pamphlet by the late Chief Justica of New Sjutb Wales, iq which t ie following passage appears:-" The claim (that of th-» Ouho'ic Church to be the custodian of purity in families) doea indeed appear to be somewhat exaggerated when we rtfl;ct upon thi state of s>cial morality in Roman Catholic countries as compared with those in which Protestantism prevails." Tbe reflection alluded to, nevertheless, must be somewhat ill informed. T*ke, foreumple, the cjmpanson rece-itly reported by the Scottish Leader aa mala at a meeting of the C>mmission on the Religious Condition of the People. A line of 1$ inches long represented the state of illegitimacy in Irelan J. One of 5 inches long represented that of illegitimacy ia Raglan i. Toe condition of things in Scotland needtd for its representation aline of 8 inches, and that in Banff -hire one of 16 inches Tna Churca, moreover, as tbecustodian of purity may claim —notwithstanding worse conditionsof material life-to have preserved the peasantry of Ireland from anything approaching the state quoted, for instance from a competent authority by Mr Hyndrnan in his "Historical Bans of Socialism" He accounts for this by the faulty nvure of tha co tage accommodation, but with worse accotnmjia'ioa, as we have saiJ, no'hmg of the kind is to be founl in Irelaai. r«ie Catholic Cburch caa produce abundant evidence, boh fasta an 1 fi ,urds, m support of her claim. The passage referred to was not wisely penned by Sir Alfred Stephen nor has it been wisely cited by Mr McGregor. '