Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 51, 19 April 1895, Page 1

Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

A SHADOW CF COMING KVEKTS ?

CATHOLIC FKELIKG IN FBAHCE.

ODDS AND ENDS.

A YANKBB SPECIMEN.

The Ne*» York World gives a sketch of a lady who ia described as the richest woman in America which necessarily makes her very interesting. Her name is Hetty Green, and Bhe appears to be somewhat peculiar. Her looks as described are not very prepossessing ; her dress iB not fashionable, — but then she explains that she is a Qaaker, and goes to church once in a while when ehe can, — and Bhe is not rery choice about her speech. Bhe is not one of those Americans who go to London to make matrimonial investments in May Fair. Yet she is not wholly wanting in regard for the amenities of life. She had her gaities when she was young, she 6ays, and Bhe likes young people to go into society. " What," tbe asks, "do you have, anyhow, in life, except your food and your clothes and your friends f" "But," she adds, "I don't know anything about the Four Hundred and I don't want to." Mrs Qreen has two great occupations, — the one going to law. For thirty years she 6ays she has never been free of a law suit, and in this respect she likens herself to a horse kept for that length of time in the front of an omnibus. Mrs Green's other occupation is dodging the tax-collectors— not, she explains, that she resists paying taxes, but that she does not want to pay them in the wrong place. In Chicago ore* she got an opinion from a lawyer that she could Btay in tbe town 364 days in the year without being a resident, if ehe was absent on the other day. The lawyer evidently would have earned Lie 6s 8d only, unfortunately, his opinion did not hold good. The people Mrs Green was fighting with wonld not, Bbc eaye, believe him. They were about to put the " screws "on her but she balked them. How, she relates as follows : — " I had money in five banks there," she continued with a chuckle, " and I went to all of them and told them I was going to take my money out. They got together and had a meeting, and they went to tbe people who were egging the tax man on and said : 'Here, do you know what you're doing 1 Tou're driving capital, millions of capital, right out of this town. If you think that's a good thing for Chicago, go right ahead. But you'll have to get some other banks to do your business lor you.' "—On tbe whole, then, Mrs Hetty Green Beemß to be an interesting person, chit fly interesting, however, as we have said, becauae ehe is the richest woman in America. A cubious disposition of the day is to recall and dwell upon the memory of Napoleon. — Absit omen : may there be no casting before of shadows by future events. And yet tbe circumstances of the world are such as to make it n eh for any self-inspired seer to predict that there wonld be no return of military despotism. In fact, eucb a despotism already exists in part, for recent utterance! of the German Emperor make it impossible to doubt that the powei his Majeßty holds, bo far latent, in bis hands, ib such, to all intenti and purposes, acd only neids tbe necessity to be brought into play Napoleon, at any rate, iB in the air. We do not, of course, in com. parisoD, think of Sir Boyle Eoacbe's rat. Something of the glamoui that went out from him during bis life-time seems to revive, and the literature and art of tbe day are full of him, We have had pictures too, of him during recent years that might seem calculated to dispe illusions, or to prevent them from coming once more upon the world la history Tame bas applied a truthful pen ; in fiction Erckmani Cbatrian baa made a life-like sketch. He (tbe Emperor), fo: example, comes at full gallop, shut up in his carriage, through th< town of Pbalsbourg on his way to Geimany— and Leipsic. One r, the dragoons, bis outriders, goes down, man and boiße, in contac with a post before a butcher's door. They lie broken and lifeles man and horse together. " A head leant out of the carnage — a bif head, pallid and fleshy ; a tuft of lair over the forehead ; it wai Napoleon. He held his hand up as if to take a pinch of snuff, anc said a word or two brusquely. The officer who galloped beside tb< carriage door stooped to answer him, He took bis pinch and turned the corner, while the cries redoubled and the cannon roared.'

THE CHANCE OF BAFBTY.

Hardly a touching picture ; hardly a man over whose memory a poet of the people, for instance, like Beianger should strain his lyre— and yet bo it was. So it is now in a measure. They are celebrating big memory everywhere. What does it mean t Does the world perceive its danger, and insensibly prepare itself for the lener of the two evils,— the military despotism that is to save it from anarchy f The question of the admission of tbe Anglican Church to communion with Some baa, we find, been occupying a good deal of attention of late in various countries. At Borne itßelf, in France, and in America, many miodi have been occupied with it, and opinions have been freely given. Apart, however, from any likelihood o' success with regard to the Anglican Church as a whole, — of which, as we have already said, there appears to us to be very little probability —or, indeed, we may go further and say, of which there seems to us to be at present a complete impossibility, it is worthy of remark that* in a country where some fifty years ago the so-called Papal Aggres Bion was the innocent cause of such fierce demonstrations, the matter has been allowed to proceed so far in peace. What, notwithstanding of the English masses — the great body of the people, among whomi for any notable effect to be produced upon the nation, the change must be brought about. We do not know bow far, even supposing the Pope to make an offer that could be accepted by the Church of England as a whole, her acceptance of it would Bffctthe m Bases. Possibly it might separate them from ber more fully and widely than is even now the case. Much more doubtful does it seem as to the manner in which tbe submission of the section of the Church represented by the Chuicb Union would react upon tbe nation. But with tbe people lies the future, and the religion that is not theirs can make ite influence but little felt. The Pope, however, has acted consif. tently. He haß not ceased to warn the world of danger against which union in religion alone can afford them safety. The Papal Delegate in America, the other day, made very pointed allusion to tbe great trial that is approaching. To the East and to the West the Pope has stretched out his hands, appealing for the union that alone can oppose an effectual front to the enemy. His appeal may be fruitless— and not for the first time would a deaf ear be turned to the charmer. If bo, it will be for future generations to deplore the blindness and reproach tbe memory of their fathers with tbe fault. Wise mm— some even who are not Catholics — now see the wisdom of the Pope. But the worldly interests, the false persuasion?, the deeplyrooted prejudices. Verily the way of the Church of England to Catholic unity is sorely blocked. The way may, nevertheless, be cleared, Possibly the steps now taken may begin itecWarance for the feet hereafter of a penittnt people — a perple deploring the stubbornness and blindnees of tbeir fore-runners. No action taken by tbe Pope is likely, in the long run at least, to prove fruitless. We learn from our Noumean contemporary, L'Hcho de la France Catholiqiie, that in New Caledonia aho the statement that M. Felix Faure, the recently eltcted President of the French Bepublic, was a Protestant, had been a cause of some sensation. Our contemporary quotes from the Semaine Religieute de Rode*, an article in which the statement in question is refuted, and a very reasonable argument drawn from the feeling excited by it in France as to the true sentiment towards rtligion existing in tbe country, and the way in which it might be called into action. The Echo says that tbe statement alluded to aroße from an attempt made by the supporters of M. Brisson, M. Faure's opponent, to prejudice the Bight in favour of their owu candidate. The Congress of Versailles, says the Semaine in effec', had chosen M, Faure, whose honeety and probity were known to all, and whose line of politics was reputed full of moderation and wisdom. It was on this account tbat tbe Catholics in tbe Chamber gave him their support. Huw the neve President will justify tbe confidence placed in him, our contemporary says, the future must decide. The Semaine confines its argument to one point —namely, that most significant and suggestive one, as to how the people of France are at heart affected towards Catholicism. The incident of the election, it says, proves that the soul of France always responds to the appeal of Catholic duty. I his was the

reception given to the report that M. Fanre was a Protestant. Not only professed Catholic?, but many of those who declared themselves independent of all belief— if not Freethinkers— were chilled by the aonouo cement. M. Faure'a friends bestirred themselves to give it a contradiction. Eia baptismal register has beeo pnblisbed. Felix Faare, born at Paris, January 30, 1841, and baptised February Ist, in the parish church of St Vincent do Paul. Onr contemporary recalls the events attanding on the succession to the throne of France of King Henry IV. The timeß, it eayß, are not the same. Tbero would now be no call to arms as in tbe sixteenth century. But tbe simple hesitation produced oo the 17th of January at Versailles shows that there is still a groundwork of Catholic belief in tbe French conscience, with which a reckoning mart be made. It is, adds our contemporary, a symptom, and at the lame time a lesson, Public feeling will have no apostatts. The Semavne, therefore, argues that reeolnte action on tbe part of the Catholics of France is all that is needed to vindicate the rights of religion and save the country. If Catholic France, says onr contem. porary, vigorously insisted on its resolution and demanded from its statesmen Christian Government, its voice would certainly be heard and obeyed. Our contemporary continnes :— Thus a brave writer lately said that if some Catholic deputies, in imitation of Socialist manifestation, bad boldly affirmed, on tbe.r part, the social rights of our Lord Jesus Christ, and had placed in the urn tbe name of a brave man who would represent these rights, this affirmation would have found in the country an immense echo ; for the country loves justice, hone3ty, honour, and probity. Hitherto these great virtues have not been tbe patrimony of politicians who insult the idea o God in Government. From their programme there have come forth* hitherto, only moral disorders, material disasters, catastrophiea of al 1 torts, because the social edifice does not rest upon the corner-stone' which is Our Lord Jesus Christ, ia Whom alon* is safety. Ntverthe. less, there is still Christian sap enough in the soul of France to rendtr her capable of returning to the right way. The Semaine concludes with the following exhortation :— Let her then make haste and not wait until there are ruins only round about those who would be capable of resolution and sacrifice. Were there the will, there would be still time to cry halt upon the Blope of ruin, and a generous exertion would Btill permit of the restoration of the thousand institutions which are the life of a people because they are the safeguard of all rights and of all interests, In connection with this article from the Semaine Eeligieuse de Rodez, the following passages, which : we take from a conversation with Napoleon, translated for the Boston Pilot, seem to us very much to the point. In some degree we see in them the Tain ambition of the speaker, marked by his failure, as in his presumption to control the world through the Pope, — his most notable •tumbling-block— anl that especially by which he fell in the snows of Russia. Bat, where he alludes to the proposal made to him to turn France Protestant, his words seem full of wisdom — as are also those he 6 peaks generally regarding the n^ed mankind have of a religion. Would a merciful God, we may ask in passing, have made them subject to this need without providing them with the tine means for its satisfaction ? But tbe passages are as follows :—": — " In proclaiming Protestantism what would I have obiained ? I would have created in France two powerful parties about equal, whereas I wished to put an end to all parties. I wou'd have brought back the furious religious quarrel?, when the spirit of the age and my own wish was to see them disappear for ever. These two parties, in their quarrels, would have annihilated France, and would have made her the slave of Europe, whereas I had the ambition to make her tbe ruler over all. With Catholicity I would the easier reach all the ends I proposed. With us the greater number would absorb the less, and I proposed to treat them both with the samejequality, that in the end they would become satisfied. Abroad Catholicism would give mi the Pope on my side ; and with my influence, and our army ia Italy, I did not despair, sooner or later, by one means or another, to obtain the control of this Pope, and witb this influence over him, I would control the world. I am all-powerful to-day ; but had I Dten disposed to change the old religion of France, she would have risen up against mo, and she would have vanquished me. If I had openly declared myself the enemy of religion, the whole country would have gone over to her ; I would have changed the indifferent believers into sincere Catholics. I would have been, perhaps, less jeered at bad I favoured Protestantism than in attempting to make myself the patriarch of a Gallican Church, but I would soon have b«eu hated by the people. Is Protestantism the old religion of France? Is it not the Catholic Cburcb, who, after long civil wars, after a thousand battles, finally conquered her enemies, in conformity witb tbe genius and habits of the nation ? It would have been a vain attempt to have usurped the place of a whole people, in creating for them new tastes and new habits, together with recollections other than those that already existed. The charm of a religion is in its attractions and souvenirs. The Catholic religion is the reli-

NAPOLEON ON PBOTBBTANTIBM IN FBANOH.

PBEBEBBIONAL

gion of oar con o try, that in which we were born ; she baa a strongly organised government, which prevents disputes, or at much to m is possible to prevent them, considering the wrangling disposition of mfn. This government is outside of Paris, for which we should be thankful. — No society can exist without morality ; there are no good morals without religion ; cnnsrqcently religion alone can give the State a firm and lasting basis. Society without religion is always agitated, perpetually threatened by the clashing of violent passions, and undergoing all the effects of intestine war, wbich ends in great evils, and sooner or later infallibly ends in its destruction.— Last Sunday I was walking in the solitnde and silence of nature, in the park of Malmaieon ; the sound of the bell in the church at Benll fell upon my ears. I waa overcome by it, so strong is the power of our earlier habitß and education. I said to myeeH : what must be the influence of tbe Ohurch upon simple and believing men ? Let your philosophers and dreamers answer this 1 Mankind must have & religion 1 " Ik an address delivered by him at Lawrence on Thursday evening, the 11th inst, the Hon Mr Larnach gave a general support to the Government: tie ma not, however, accept all the acts of their administration as perfect or incapable of improvement, With regard to the Bank of New Zealand, for example, he regretted that they had not asked Parliament for larger powers. He thought, moreover, that they should have provided a better system of audit. The advances to settlers, he said, would be a failure or a success according as they were managed, but the measure was one for whose introduction the gratitude of the Colony was due to tbe Ministry. Mr Larnach proposed that a further step in the direction should be taken by providing for advances on mining claims, especially in the way of the conservation of water. This, he added, might also be turned to account for purposes of irrigation, by which frnit-growing might be encouraged, and land now barren might be made available for settlement in small sections. In speaking of the Lands for Settlement Act tbe speaker pointed to a large estate in the valley of the Molyneux, whose owner had lately died. The Government, he thought, could not do wrong if tkey acquired a portion of that land, and no injustice would be done the heirs if they were compelled to sell on fair terms. Mr Larnach condemned the denial given to tbe assertion that borrowing was going on. It was, however, he said, borrowing of a sensible kind, and be advocated an open loan for the completion of reproductive works. The Otago Central railway, he said, could not otherwise be finished nor could the Heriot-Boxburgh line be touched. The speaker made a significant reference to tbe education question. Provision, he said, should be made for the inspection of schools outside those of the Government. These schools were excellently conducted , and the people who supported them contributed also to the maintenance of the public schools, If there were not sufficient inspectors for the purpose tbe Government should have more appointed. It seems also significant that this claim of the speaker's was received by the audience wit 1 ! applause. If tbe old motto Le ridicule tue holds good, M. Zola should have but a short time to live. Fun of all kinds has been poked at him because of his late campaign in Borne and bis abortive siege of tbe Vatican. Tbe Debats, for example, gives a selection of entries from the en terprising author's note-book, in which be is represented as obtaining, in each case for a consideration, from Papal officials and servants, various deta'ls concerning the person and habits of the Pope and matters relating to the Papacy and its associations. For instance : " A guard who told me the curious fact that the Pope never leaves his palace — 2 lire. . . . Dr X, one of tie special physicians of tbe Pope for telling me his Holiness' age — 1 lira and a copy of 1 Pascal.' " At any rate, however it may fare with the writer himself, it seems evident that the abi^e has been, in advance, taken oat of his promised work on Rome. Strindberg, an author who has made for himself some reputation in France, protest?, in a laic number of a French periodical, strongly against the dominant position to which the women of the day aspire. He declares that their inferiority is written in their blood, which, he says, is that of the immature being. Their skulls, also, be say?, are of a lower type aod their brains are to match them. Woman, he says, if she wants equality, must drag man down to her level, for she can never attain to his. The fact that women claim euch an equality — rebelling against the necessary sacrifices demanded of them— says this writer, in itself proves their unworthiness and no fitness for taking any part in the direction of the great social/ system. The Pope has offered two gold medals, respectively, for the beßt essays on the inscription of Abercius — a Christian epitaph of tbe second century ; and the secular games of the Emperor Augustus— for wbich Horace wrote his wel'-known verses. The competition is open to the scholars cf all nations and the essays, written in Latin, ItaliaD, or French, are to be sent in before tbe last day of the current year.

The famous Murty Hynes, the hero of one of T. D Sullivan's songs, and a land-grabber of th. earlier years of the Home Bole movement, has recently departed this life. The celebrity gained b y the unfortunate man is said to have b<en iy no means to M 3M 3 tar,tc •nd bis hf» ever rincr wbs somewhat unseUled and uncomfortable It would be harsh to refuse him pity The warning given br his case, however, m»y probably have «taid, in some few instances at least, the hand of the evicfer, As a specimen of the gross ignoraoce and the generally d* based condition in which a man may exist, notwithstanding the fact that he has learned, in some degree, to read and write, wo may take a passage from b letter published last week by our contemporary, the Otago Daily Times. The subject is the Passion Play at Ob P rammergan, wh>cb, says the writer.-a deponent who signs himself Covenanter "-i 8 « represented by the hulking villagers of an obscure place with an unpronounceable name in Bavaria." " These villagers," be adds, "too lazy to work, thrive on their impious captures of the mostaacred mystery of our religion. They attract crowds of idle sightseers, who, without religion themselves, gloat over what they are pleaeed to call the artistic element in the ' play "• We agree with onr contemporary. The production was really woith publishing as an exposure of what m y exist in company wi h a certain knowledge of the three R',. That, we conclude, w* B onr contemporary's reason for publishing the letter, unleas, perhaps, he ■lyly meant to offer an apology for Claverhouae.