Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, 21 July 1910, Page 1129

Current Topics

For Some Australian Catholics One or two Catholic politicians in Australia—and notably Dr. W. Maloney, M.P.—apparently in ignorance of the nature of Mr. Joseph McCabe's writings, got somehow into tow with that gentleman, and showed him a considerable amount of public attention. We say apparently in ignorance of the nature of our visitor's writings, for Dr. Maloney frankly confesses that—strange as it may appear—he had no idea that Mr. McCabe had written anything hostile to the Catholic Church. Dr. Maloney professes—and from all we have ever read of him we believe professes with perfect truth— he loves his Church as much as his critics do. That being so, he will perhaps be interested to know how he, and those like him, impressed the ' distinguished visitor.' In a letter to the N.Z. Times, in the course of which he rather chides New Zealand Catholics, Mr. McCabe makes the following contrast between New Zealand and Australia— though he uses the term 'Australasia,' the context clearly shows that the reference is to Australia: —' Much as I had resented the English notion that customs are antipodeal in New Zealand, I must confess that the ways of some of your citizens gravely puzzle me. . . . I have met many Roman Catholics in Australasia, and their geniality and manliness led me to think that they no longer suffered their clergy to substitute bluff and insolence for a painstaking inquiry into facts.' When the man who loves his Church' so much sees the nature of the impression he has made on his distinguished friend, it will surely make him put on his considering cap. The King and the Oath In spite of the overwhelming preponderance of enlightened public opinion throughout the Empire in favor of amending or abolishing the Declaration Oath, it would seem as if the reform is not to be accomplished without a certain amount of noisy, if insignificant, opposition. Mr. John Kensit, with an eye to business, is appealing for a £IOOO fund to carry on an agitation against the proposed change, and it is reported that the Kensitites and the other small fry of Protestantism have appealed to every member of both Houses of Parliament to resist any proposal to omit the gross insult to Catholics. They have announced also that, if they can manage it, they will present a petition direct to George V., and an effort is being made to secure signatures from every parish in the country. The petition to the King can only reach Rim through a Secretary of State; but, according to the London correspondent of the Liverpool Post, even if it were presented direct, ' it would not affect his personal opinion, which is known to be strongly hostile to the Declaration.' * In the meantime it is interesting to note that, on a review of the King's legal position, it seems clear that he is under no obligationas was erroneously imagined in many quarters— make the Declaration on the first day of the next session of the present Parliament, so that there will .be plenty of time in which to alter or abolish the objectionable formula. In discussing the question of the Declaration in a recent issue, the Manchester Guardian said: 'The question arises, Is the King constitutionally Sovereign till he has made the Declaration ? No certain answer can be given. Logically, on the strict wording of the Act, King George is presented with a dilemma. An Act changing the Declaration requires his assent; but, if he has not made the Declaration already, is he legally entitled to give his assent to any Act whatever?' The point has been taken up by Mr. Swift Mac Neill, K.C., M.P.— acknowledged authority on Constitutional Law—who in an interesting letter to the Manchester daily contends, strongly and convincingly, that King George is constitutionally Monarch of Great Britain at the present time. The obligation upon him with regard to the Accession Oath is that he shall make that declaration either at his Coronation or on the first day of his first Parliament, 'which shall first happen.' Neither of these events has yet happened. The King's Coronation is still well away in the future, and the first day of his first Parliament has not yet come. Parliament has met since the death of King Edward, but, according to Mr. Mac Neill's contention, that was simply a meeting of the last Parliament of King Edward the Seventh, and not the first of King George, since it was elected during the reign of the late King, and not during the reign of the present Monarch. It is true that King Edward took the oath on the first day on which Parliament met after his coming to the Throne, although that Parliament was not the first Parliament of King Edward, but the last of Queen Victoria. As to that, Mr. Swift Mac Neill points out that at that time he wrote, arguing as he argues now, that King Edward, in making the Declaration when he did, was doing

something that the Constitution did not require from him; and so far, as Mr. Mac Neill says', his contention has not been refuted The position, then, is that King George has been acknowledged as Sovereign of the country in accordance with every constitutional requirement, and there is no obligation on him to take the Accession Oath either until IS p°™ nal . on °. Until the first day of the first Parliament elected in his reign. The Belgian Elections: Another Victory On May 22, 1910, the triennial elections for half of the Lower House took place in Belgium, but our cables were entirely silent on the subject-partly, perhaps, because their tme was taken up in . transmitting such important items as the death of the music-hall artist who first sang ' Tara-ra-boom-de-ay, and partly, doubtless, because the confidently anticipated de eat of the Catholic Party did not eventuate. Belgium Catholics have scored again, and scored well against the Masonic and sectarian misnamed 'Liberalism' which SSiTT 0 d heir sch , ools ' Persecuted the Church, and from i«<b to 1880 so grossly mismanaged the finances of the country and played such antics before high Heaven, that they courted and met with what seems to be their final over™SLi if" 1885 a Catholic Minis *ry has held uninterruptedly the reins of power. The recent elections did not Sn3f«2l Se T nate '^ ere I the Catholic majority of 16 remains unaltered. In all the elections the Catholics have lost but one seat. This decided victory is all the more noteworthy the tact that in several cases dissentient Catholics put up candidates in opposition to the official Catholic candidates and from the further fact that never before have the Catholics had to withstand, from the Liberals and Socialists, such a united and determined assault. Almost everywhere the number of votes given to the Catholics has greatly increased since the elections of 1906, and at a faster rate than has the population. Belgium— under Catholic Governments-is one of the stone-walls against which controversialists of the Dr. Henry type knock their foolish heads when they set forth to show that the lion and the lamb may he down together, but Catholicism and prosperity ™nnn r p ° + ut / f + a P°P ulation of 7,238,622, there are only 10,000 Protestants and about 4000 Jews. The fullest religious liberty and equality are enjoyed, and part of-the income of the clergy of all denominations is paid by a Catholic Government out of the National Treasury. * This most Catholic of Catholic countries,' says a Protestant writer has adopted from the very, first the most modern of modern Constitutions, embodying every popular liberty in its length and breadth. Freedom of conscience religious equality, freedom of the press, of meeting, of association, of education, parliamentary government, ministerial responsibility, universal suffrage, inviolability of person and house, equality before the law, permanence of judicial appointments, publicity of legal courts, trial by jury, have all not only been legalised, but protected in Belgium without any of the evasions which make similar legislation in some countries virtually a dead letter ' The ver n a T Cial T P l r o oSperity + ?f that **** little kingdom, is proverbial 7 % n population, according to the Statesman's I ear Book (1908), is 589 persons per square mile. 'lt is not an exaggeration,' says a writer in the Daily Telegraph some years ago to say that it is simply a huge garden that every available spot of earth is under tillage of the hnest sort and that every economist, from MacCulloch down to Mill, has lavished the highest , praise on the Belgian farmer and on the condition to which he has brought high husbandry in this happy country.' The Power of the Suppress We have already given in the pages of the N.Z. Tablet at considerable length and with much detail, the full facts in connection with the execution of Mr. McCabe's particu-u-i ■ th , e A narchist Ferrer To adapt the words of Mr Hilaire Belloc's summary of the case, it has been shown that a great number of witnesses were examined—about sixty altogether— Ferrer had ample opportunity of cross-examining and that it was precisely in cross-examina-tion that he broke down and injured his case. It has been shown that the fullest possible publicity was given to every part of the trial; it has been shown that, unless this host of witnesses were all in a conspiracy of perjury (and that was impossible for they were men coming independently from many places), Ferrer was proved guilty up to the hilt of plotting—as were so many others-the subversion of the Government m Spain. It has been further shown Chat the procedure was scrupulously regular following in every detail the procedure laid down by statute. It has been shown— far as the question of character comes in—that Ferrer was a man who had acquired great wealth by his influence over a woman not his wife, that he abandoned his wife, that he had refused to support his children, that he had entertained irregular relations with more than one

woman, that he was of that opinion called Anarchist, which especially attacks the rights and duties of citizens and which denies the right of one's country to command one's service his views upon human morals in general, though sincerely held, were such as would not be tolerated—in open propaganda, at least— any strictly governed country, and least of all in England. . 9 The facts, then, are well ascertained, and no one but the blindest partisan now thinks of questioning them. A feature of the affair, however, which deserves to have a little special attention directed to it, is the way in which a section of the press was controlled by Masonic and Socialist interests in Europe in order to suppress the truth and put forth incendiary falsehoods regarding the execution of their 'martyr.' Perhaps the most remarkable instance is that furnished by Mr. Andrew Shipman in the series of articles which have recently appeared m our columns. Mr. Shipman relates how on October 16, 1909, Senor Torcuato Luca de Tena, the owner of the illustrated paper A.B.C. of Madrid, sent at his own expense a telegram of a half-column to the Matin, Journal, Figaro, Gaulois, Temps, and Petit Journal, of Paris; Berliner Tagblatt, of Berlin Tribuna, of Rome; Corriere della Sera, of Milan; 0 Seculo, of Lisbon, and the Times, Daily Telegraph, and Daily News, of London, saying that such statements made about Ferrer's trial and execution were untrue; that 'Ferrer was judged by a lawfully constituted tribunal which proceeded according to legal methods, and that the accused had all the guarantees accorded by the courts of civilised peoples. He was not tried for his ideas, but as one implicated in the acts which the revolutionists and rioters committed in Barcelona, in arson, murder, plunder, and assassination of women and children. The sittings of the court-martial were public, and Ferrer freely chose his counsel, who had entire liberty in complying with his duty, etc' This telegram was never published except in the Gaulois, the Times, and the Daily Telegraph. The other journals to whom it was addressed suppressed it and continued their former statements. The owner of La Illustracion Espanola, of Madrid, also sent a shorter telegram confirming the statements made by his colleague, but it, too, was never published. « Even where there was every desire to be fair, the press was acted upon in spite of itself. ' Nothing was more remarkable in the Ferrer case,' says Mr. Belloc in his article in the Dublin Tteview, ' than the temperance and judgment of the English press. Elsewhere the strength of the Catholic Church and the strength of its opponents led to a sharp diversion. The Matin, for instance, in Paris made Ferrer a great martyr; the Eclair as vigorously made him out a mean and contemptible gambler who had lost. The English press was notable among the universal journalism of Europe for a singular restraint, with a few exceptions which will be noted. Nay, it was remarkable that certain journals quite alien to Catholicism printed in the matter of Ferrer a commonsense , so hearty as to be almost Catholic in its vigor. Nevertheless, that English press was acted upon like all the rest'; and Mr. Belloc proceeds to show how by exposing the quality of the ' news' that was at first sent to the English dailies. In the case of one of the London papersnotorious for its anti-Catholic prejudices— was unmistakable evidence of bad faith. ' As for the Daily News,' says Mr. Belloc, the present writer, who has in the past, had some connection with that journal, wrote offering to print in it the shortest possible summary of the evidence against Ferrer, and it was refused.' Such are the methods by which a man who was an enemy both to morality and to social order is attempted to be whitewashed, and the honor and reputation of a great nation is maligned and besmirched. A Scientific 'Oss The following story was told in the London Times by Canon McColl in the course of a strong controversial letter on the everlasting subject of Ritualism. 'A friend of mine,' the Canon wrote, ' once shared the box seat with the driver of a stage-coach in Yorkshire, and, being a lover of horses, he talked with the coachman about his team, admiring one horse in particular. " Ah;" said the coachman, "but that 'oss ain't as good as he looks; he's a scientific 'oss." "A scientific horse!" exclaimed my friend, "what on earth do you mean by that?" "I means," replied Jehu, " a 'oss as thinks he knows a deal more nor he does." ' * A ' scientific 'oss' now amongst us has been explaining to small, if select, audiences all about the origin of life, and of the universe, and of things in general. As to the actual origin of the first living organism even he is not yet quite sure— sagely suggests that it may be accounted for by a series of lucky accidents.' But in respect to the origin of all the existing forms of plant and animal life he has absolutely not a shadow of doubt. ' The scientists

of the world,' lie said with great impressiveness, and, we may add, with a most unscientific disregard for the truth, ' are at one as regards the -opinion that all the higher animals and plants of the world have been developed frqm early living things.' In other words, in the case of man, as of all the other existing forms' of animal and plant life, there has been no such thing as creation at all —it has all been a mere matter of development from one form of animal life to another, till the ape became man. Apropos of all this sort of glib talk and so-called ' explanation' of the origin of plant and animal life, Monsignor J. S. Vaughan in his volume of essays entitled Faith and Folly, tells the following legend, the moral of which will be obvious to every reader:—'A mighty king, possessed of absolute power, holds undisputed sway over the whole world. His wealth and resources are exhaustless, and his subjects are at once the most able and the most obsequious that the earth has ever harbored. Now it so chances that among the plants and flowers adorning his palace is one for which he has conceived the highest admiration; it is a perfect specimen of the common lily of the field. Its beauty, delicacy, and sweet fragrance have captivated his heart, and he determinesfor kings sometimes have strange fancies—-to get this flower accurately reproduced with all its parts and properties.' • - A proclamation is accordingly issued. ~ Couriers are despatched to every part of the kingdom, summoning before his dread presence the wisest and most learned of the land. In due time all are gathered in the great hall of the palace his majesty then enters. With gratified pride he rests his eyes upon the renowned assembly. All the intellect of the age is there. Scientists, naturalists, mathematicians,, biologists, geologists, and botanists by the dozen, as well as renowned explorers, observers, students, and philosophers; some have brought the books they have written, others the instruments they have invented, or the specimens they have bottled.' * 'As soon as silence is secured, the king, turning to his dutiful subjects, addresses them in the following words tMost learned and illustrious Signors, I demand of you a simple thing. Confer, therefore, among yourselves unite together m earnest consultation strain your vast intellects to the utmost and construct for me an exact and living copy of this small flower that you see before my throne. On my part, I promise to provide you with all the materials and appliances you need. You shall have an unlimited supply of chemicals, machinery, laboratories, retorts, alembics, etc.; in a word, whatever you desire. No expense or •trouble will be spared. Take this lily, and make me a perfect model of it in form, texture, tint, scent, and in every other particular. It must be so constructed as to be able to grow and to reproduce itself, etc. success will be death*' rewarded failure will be visited with instant Cl6cluil. # 'Their countenances fall. Impossible! As well bid them construct a continent, a world; yea, an entire universe. The king, noting their dejection, adds these-con-soling and reassuring words Observe there is no question here of creation— I know belongs to God alone; Ido not ask you to create so much as a grain of dust or a particle of fibre. The flowers of the field are not created such; they are produced from matter already existing. Every element which is destined to enter into the composition of next spring's flowers' already exists in earth, air and water; indeed, you scientists assure me that nothing is created or destroyed, though all is changed. All the elements, therefore of this flower are at your disposal and within your reach, if only you know how to get at them and extract them. All I request of you is to select and to build up the existing materials into a simple little plant' But he might as well have commanded them to encircle his royal fingers with the rings of Saturn. They are obliged to acknowledge their inability, and are marched off, at a brisk trot, to execution.' As ,we have said, the moral of Monsignor Vaughan's parable is obvious: and it will serve to bring better, perhaps, than an elaborate dissertation —both the impotence and the essential ignorance of 'all the scientists of the world regarding the origin of life, even in its humblest form.