Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 52, 26 April 1895, Page 3

Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Plausibility; tbat was the note of Captain Russell's address the otber night in Dnnedin. " Cod* lin's the friend not Bbort "—that was the speaker's text — rather a threadbare one we admit— and he stuck close to it throughout — dwelling rather on the vices of Short, than on the virtues of Codlin. Captain Russell at one point of his speech alluded to the fact that the Hon John McKeneie had a little before addressed an audience from this very platform. His object we maj remark in passing, was to show that the Minister had, in a most flagrant manner, given bis own colleagues the lit. But that is a matter of course, and may be taken for whit it is worth. Possibly the Hon John could pick as big a hole in Captain Russell's coat. Otherwise, however, it must be confessed that the contrast between the two speakers was marked. There was nothing at all, for example, of the style tbat distinguished Captain Russell about the Hon John McKenzie. There we had a plain man telling a plain story — and who, if be had no plain story to tell, must have held bis tongue. Captain Russell bad an easy flow of words at bis command, adaptable to any subject — but which, it struck us while we listened, would be much more in their place if reserved for social occurrences. la making a speech at a fashionable wedding, or proposing a toast at a meeting of a four-in-hand clnb, or oo any similar occasion, Captain Russell would be in bis true sphere. There be would be, as it were, a gold-fish in its appropriate globe of glasßAttempting to address, in a familiar strain, a popular assembly, he seemed, in some sort, a fish out of water. Captain Kussell spoke of himself as more of a farmer than a statesman— but while we acknowledge tbat perhaps he could hardly be less of a statesman than be is> we must take exception to his a66umptioo of the bumble name of farmer. There is very little indeed to confound the Captain with an ordinary tiller of the soil. And, by the way, as to «hose young men of whom the speaker spoke as having come out from home with letters of introduction to him, but so much alarmed at what they saw here as to turn tail and run of! with their capital to otber climes> were they "farmers " too? Or were they not youths of the colonial experience type 1 In old times the fool of the family — the family of rank of course, was intended for the Church. Of more recent yoar 8 he bas frequently been gifted with a few hundred pounds and sent out to the colonies to make the best use of his folly there. We fancy the departure from our shores of the p mic-stricken colonial-experi-ence youth — even to the amount of some half-dozen or so and currying his capital with him— is not, after all, so heavy a misfortune to the community in general. Captain Russell also was deep in figures. There is where, as a rule, the speaker excels. The worst of it is, however, that the speakers on both sides, or on all sides for the matter of tbat, excel with equal effect. For onr own part, when the dealing with figures begins we surrender at once to the enemy. Who in the world — except a calculating boy, to the manner bom and fit to be shown in a Bhow— could without a tlate or even a morsel of slate pencil— go, in s jifiey, through all the rules in the arithmetic book ? The speaker has the audience complttely at bis mercy—and, then, bb we have said before, and as we shall probably often say again— the man to check these statesmen in their contradictions i a the man, and no other, who himself bas access to all the books and documents in the various State departments and ie qualified to under, stand and explain them. Facts are what the ordinary listener should want, and about figures he need not care a jot. The sum that the Conservative works out on the platform to-day, the Liberal can work out ther.i with totally different results to-morrow. He not only can do it, but he does do it, and tbat is where the mischief comes in. A fact or two, meantime, we had from Captain Russell. We had, for instance, at an early passage, of bis speech, the significant fact that he, too, found it necessary to shelter bis party behind the glorious fortification of tbe Education Act. Mr Bowen, a Tory of Tories, he said, had givea them this omnipotently beneficent institution, there, then, was tbe weakness of the speaker's etanding placd made evident atonoe. His appeal to popular prejudice betrayed him.

CAPTAIN BUSSBLL IN DUNBDIN.

Bat fact number one prepared us for fact number two. It seemed plain there was something to come, for which the speaker found it necessary to borrow strength. Fact Dumber two was the confession, not to he shirked, that Captain Buesell was the spokesman of tbe land monopolists, and that he bad no sympathy with the growth of settlement in the country — on which, neTertheless, the present welfare and the whole future of tbe Colony depend. It is theii sincere desire to promote this that must recommend the present Government and which may cover a multitude of their sins, if they have such. Captain Bussell neceasarilj spoke about bis fellow* feeling for the settlers. The man, he Mid, who settled as a farmer upon the land became to him as his brother. And, indetd, judging from tbe speaker's appearance and general tone on the platform, we should say be was of a kindly and amiable disposition and supremely good •humoured*. That he had a pretty wit seemed also palpable. We can believe that, for example, the batler attending oq him at table would find it quite as difficult to maintain bis gravity as did Diggory in attending on Mr Hardcaatle. On social occasions, as we have said, it seems evident that Captain Buisell must shine. We are, however not so sure that his humour as applied to political matters can stand the test. Tbsre, for instance, was his joke about Mr Ward's vieit to France to tbe effect that tbe Treasurer might have gone there to arrange for an exchange of colonial produce against Parisian nick-nacks. Captain Russell pnt it funnily, but our humour is more dry. Supposing, then, that Mr Ward was able to open a market in France for oolonial produce would it really be a aubjeot for ridicule ? Notwithstanding tbe brotherly love that enters into hit heart for the farmer, and, as we have said, we may take it as quite true thai be is very well disposed in a general sort of way towards hit neighbours, Captain Bussell, to all intents and purposes, openly pro* tested that all that be or his party would do in the way of promoting settlement was to provide for allotments near towns for the artisans. There we had the squatter revealed—his dummies, bis gridironiog, and all his time-honoured devices. That fact — fact another twoalone, we say, was sufficient to discredit everything else that the speaker had paid. Plausibili'y, no doubt, has its uses. It may naturally gain for a speaker an attentive hearing. It may give Codlin a passing advantage over Short— particularly when he deals with his rival's vices ratber than bis own virtues— but it is hardly a quality that, on calm consideration, can exercise much influence. We do not, therefore, on tbe whole lu:>k for very serious tfljets as likely to follow from Captain Buesell'a speech in Danadin. In tbe Revue des Deux Monies, of February 15, M. Ferdinand Brunetie c fjllows up the article to which we lately al udel by onj oq the difference bjtween education and iastruc ijn. He qjotes a claim made last year by Sir John Lubbock, the most determine! optimist, ha say*, wnom hj knows in all tbe world, to the effect that in England the progress of education and morality went together. H.ppy Englani, ha cries, anl above all, happy accident. Statistics have discovered nothing of the kind ia France, on anywhere else — in Germany or in America. There, on the contrary, we see ignoratnuiea who kao* ruthiag of antiqiicy, or the sciences, or the languages, or evan of orthography, aa i who, noa« the less, are very honest people. On the othar hand, we have proof that all their instruction has not preserved certain unfortunates from tbe worst failings, an i that neither certificates nor diplomas have kept them from yielding to the most vulgar temptation*. A pessimist might add that oo more than ona oooasion the criminal h*s made use of bis instruction only a3 an easier or a surer m^a* of committing his crime. The writer, nevertheless, does out receive ttiis as conclusive against ma ruction or tha v ilit/ of extaoJing it, but as proving that the relationship of iustraoioa to c Jucatijo U distant and irregular. Of all tha obligations that soc'uty impjaes, instruction, he Bays, recoguisea one only— that is, that each of us should work ont his own fortune. Its ideal is that;of procuring tba maani of rising in life. Woat is first dovelope 1, thin, is tha spirit of individualism, and, the consideration of suocesa dominating all others, there can no longer ba a question of making any sacrifice. If an object of education tbe writer goaa on to to say, w*s to farm among men, by obliging them to m*»kd reciprocal ooaoessioo*, at least aa

issrauonoN versus EDUCATION.

ODD 3 AND ENDS.

appearance of peace and ooncord, who does not gee that instructions ■neb a» is now given, can resalt only in promoting a spirit of oontentloo and strife f If we accustom our pnpils to consider ins'ruction aaan enchanted weapon only, whose possession will ensure to them the certainty o! victory, let us no* bs surprise 1 that according as the part of instruction increaaas that of education diminishes. la conclusion, M. Brunetiire quotes a sentence from Lamennaia :— *•• Human society is founded on the mutual gift, on tba saorific, of man to man, or of each man to all men, aad sacrific3 is tba essonce of all society." Withont that, says the writer, thera is no society— no education, if •dacation shoald form man for society. His contention throughout his article has been that the instruction, of which the existing systemi of education consist, results in forming the individn alism which is the enemy of education, as it is that also of social order. Pabtiottlabb of the death of Dr Maunsel], formerly of Dunedin, who died in London on March 21st have been received. We learn from the correspondent of the Star, that the deceased had found a lucrative practice in which he bade fair to rise to eminenceHis death is tht more to be regretted since it has prematurely ended a career that promised to renew in London the fame of the Dublin ichool of medicine of which the doctor was a graduate. The cause of death was broncho-pneumonia following on itflueDza. Verily that traditional hundred pounds in the Bank for the man who minds his own business seemt deßtineJ still to lie there. Here is now a correspondent who tells us, in the Daily Times, that there are many who "regard with objection the undoubtedly solemn services at St Joseph's at Easter." There are folk that will never get a penny of the money in question. Their objection, too, cannot be of much value or they would not thus throw it away. Somebody has sent our '• Oivis " a paragraph from the New York Sun, on which our festive friend discourses in a somewhat contradictory fashion. The paragraph touches jubilantly on a plan for the partition of the British Empire between America, Russia, Germany, and France, First our logical friend declares, a propos of the American disposition towards England, that thickness of blood never yet prevented a family quarrel or a civil war. Then he virtually takes his oath that nobody but a " rabid Irish Yank " could be guilty of such an utterance as that quoted by him. The fact is, nevertheless, that such utterances are quite common among Americans who have not a drop of Irish blood in their veins. Anyone who reads the American papers must be familiar with them. But our ''Civis' 1 goes on to answer for Irish Australasians. '• As for Irishmen on this •ide of the world," he says, " they would give the reptile writer thei r oead mUlefailthe with the thick end of ashtick." And 'ow 'appy our ••Oivis" would be to see 'em it 'im in tbe heye ! Meantime, we ■bonld perhaps return thanks for the good opinion expressed of Irish colonists. Let us hope it is not in keeping with the contradiction to which we have alluded. When it was reported here some little time ago that President Krnger of the Transvaal had sent the Pope the biggest diamond that ever was found, we caw some reason to doubt the report. From what we had read of " Oom Paul " and his people, we hardly thought he Would so dispose of even the least of his jewels. Tbia report is now contradicted. Tbe Vnita Cattolica says there is no truth whatever in it. Theologians are making a new beginning in the United States. The Bey J. F. Beid, an Evangelical minister of Portland, Oregon, has shown bis rev brethren a bright example. He bailed up a casbie r in a bank there the other day, and was making away with a very fair swag, when the police appeared oc the scene. The rev gentleman now awaits his trial. Peace seems now to be virtually concluded between China and Japan. The principal terms are the payment of a large indemnity in money and the cession of territory, Formosa especially—by the Chinese. Five Chinese ports besides are to be opened to trade and the Japanese are to have the right of running cotton factories in China. Here, however, England is affected, as a rivalry with Manchester must ensue. P ssib y also these colooi s may feel something of this, as an increase to the pioper population at home cannot but add, in some was or another, to our undesirable immigrants. Japan too, emerges from the struggle a naval power of some strength— able, we are told, if itsuitherto exercise a considerable influence in the matter of Chimsj immigration— and, in any cas?, capable of being a useful ally in war to any European Government. The developments now to appear are, therefore, of no light interest. Some bensafcion bas been caußed in France by the refusal of th c Cardinal Archbishop of Paris to permit of the religious burial of a mau who bad be«n killed in a duel. The victim was a journalist named Percber, but writing under the no >n de yhime of Harry AHb The Cardinal, however, as has been shown, was simply obeying the' law th 3 Oburcb, Pope Benedict XIV. having decreed that, even when a man mortally woun-Jed in a duel had survived to receive the last

sacraments, his remains matt not have a religions burial. The intention was palpably that of checking— if it were impossible altogether to prevent, an un-Obristian custom. There teems little room for hostile criticism on tbe part of any one who abhors bloodshed and violence. Many people in Prance, however, as elsewhere are now-a. 1 days annouq to avail themselves of any pretext to cavil at religion or [ its ministers. Th« support reported hero, as given in the House of Commons 07 the Ulster Members to tho Lied Bill is easily explained by the action of the farmers. Even ia districts noted for their Orange associations m-ctinga wore held to inaiat on the necessity for the proposed Ac. We must not, however, become too sanguine as to the conversion of this poou'atnn to Home Buie. It might, no doubt, seem that they would be more favonrably disposed towards an end agitation to procure which had so far resulted to their interests. This w§ might expect from thnir own common Bense, and no doubt it would ba the cvn if religion bigotry, the mo3t hardening and blinding of all motive*, did not enter into the question. As things are, the passing of th 3 Bill will, in all probability, strengben these farmers in their opposition by removing the grievances that press upon them personally, and satisfying the want of which they themselves are conscious. We need hardly look to them for much sympathy for the grievances remaining throughout the other parts of the country. United Italy still sends out her emigrants in increasing numbers. The severity of the past winter was cruelly felt in the unfortunate country— where even death from starvation was, if not the rale, hardly the rare exception. Madame Modjeska, the Polish aotress, has been forbidden by the Bussian authorities to fulfil an engagement made by har to play at a theatre in Warsaw. The cause is certain lectures on Bußsian methods lately delivered by her in Chicago. The lady, however, may possibly regard the simple prohibition aa an act of clemency. It would appear more en regie to let her visit the city as arranged, and then send her off to Siberia. The improvement is, perhaps, due to the milder frame of the young Czar. If the report be true that Count Caprivi has given a hint as to a desirability of making Egypt neutral territory the situation may be regarded as serious. Great Britain, says the Count, should withdraw from there and not wound the dignity of Germany. Count Caprivi's opinion, it is true, is not now of quite so much weight as it was while he was still Chancellor. It may, nevertheless, disclose a tendency to encourage in France a more friendly disposition. Nothing however, seems plainer than that the interests of the British empire will permit of no measure of the kind. The dignity of Germany, no doubt, is aa important matter, but it might be possible for people outside Germany to pay too much for its maintenance. How, more- [ over, in the present instance, it is affected, it is not very easy to see. Btbaws show how the wind blows. That is traditional, Here is the fag end of one from a leader in the Dunedin Star, The forbearance of Captain Bussell has recalled to the writer quite another sort of thing in connection with O'Oonnell. « When Dan O'Connell," he Bays, " told Sir Robert Peel tint the smile which occasionally, but rarely, found its way to his extremely grave face was • like the silver plate on a coffin ' the violenca of the laaguags did not rest upon a moral basis. It was a mere offensive personality by no onans redeemed by its wU." The m>ral ground, meantime, on which our writer bases his own mild words is the chagrin caused by his percepMon of tho r-omplete fifties* with which Captain Russell's speech baa fallen in Dunedio. This his tuned up all of hia kind to swearing pitch, and they must out with it. They era mad enough to strike out at random. Theunreasoningfuryofthedelirious Anglo-Saxon naturally ? eeks an Irish mark.