Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, 28 June 1917, Page 17

Current Topics

Monsignor Szeptyck! This prelate was taken away from his see of Lemberg in the early days of the Russian invasion of Galicia, and all appeals made on his behalf by the Holy See were ignored. The Pope asked that he should be sent to Canada or England, or to the Vatican, but his request was refused. After the recent changes in Russia Cardinal Gasparri lost no time in putting the case before the Russian Legation to the Holy See, with the result that Mgr. Szeptyckl was at once released.

The Pope and the War The following letter from Baron von Hertling has been received by Cardinal Gasparri, Secretary of State to his Holiness: “ I have the honor to make known to your Eminence that the efforts of the Holy See towards a satisfactory solution of the question of the Belgian workmen have not been unsuccessful. According to absolutely reliable information which I have just received from Berlin, the competent authorities are disposed, first of all to abstain from further forced deportations of workmen from Belgium into Germany, and to allow to return to their country all those who through - possible errors were unjustly deported. It gives me special pleasure that in this way satisfaction has been given to the desire of his Holiness the Pope, repeatedly expressed to me by your Excellency, and which 1 have been careful to represent most warmly to the authorities of the Empire.”

The Censorship in America In the press and in the House of Representatives there was determined and uncompromising opposition to the censorship section of the Espionage Bill. The objections were based, on the unconstitutionality of the Bill, on the fact that it attempted to deprive citizens of their right to a fair trial and made it possible to inflict severe penalties for presumptive and not proved acts, and that it gave the President power to punish men on his own individual judgment. By 260 to 105 votes the Bill was rejected, and a new one providing for trial by jury and leaving the press free to publish news and criticise the conduct of the war was introduced and passed. What the determined attitude of the American people won was the right of every democracy, and if the English people had stood firmly for their rights there would have been far less bungling to conceal during the past three years. The oligarchs who have retarded the winning of the war by their breach of faith with the Irish people have certainly displayed no qualities of genius, or even of ordinary common sense, which would warrant the blind trust which they expect from the British public. Why do not these people make known the reports of the investigations into the Dublin atrocities ? Why do they forbid the publication of a book by the officer who was dismissed for bringing Colthurst to justice ? These are things the British public has a right to know, and will know one day; for a lie is short-lived.

The German People President Wilson said that the people of the United States had no quarrel with the German people, who are not responsible for the war. A great number of people in this country would find it hard to accept so true a statement as that. We may blame for the rabid- racial hatred which exists in the mind of many a press which has set itself from the beginning of the war to inflame the worst passions, which stopped at no enormity of misrepresentation and never had the grace to retract statements proved false. The American President is quite right. The people of the Central States had as little to do with the war as the British public had to do with the tearing up of scraps of paper by.., Lloyd George, or in remoter times, with the crimes committed by Henry VITT. The German people and

many other nations to-day are suffering because the right of the people to govern themselves has not been allowed. The war and events connected with it in most countries concerned in it ought to teach nations that it is better for them to die than to allow despots, tyrants, or oligarchs to deprive them of their freedom. As the Bishop of Limerick points out the men who were affectionately called “Our German cousins ” did not change their nature by the fact that war was declared between them and their English kinsmen. The hymn of hate has been sung just as loudly by some of our newspapers as it is reported to be sung by the Kaiser’s troops. Our loyalty would be a more beautiful quality if there were less froth and more Christian charity attached to it.

The War The congratulations that the submarine danger was diminishing appear to have been premature. The latest list of losses shows that more ships were sunk daring the week ending on June 17 than in the preceding week. The sinking of neutral vessels still goes on, and as they carry cargo for the Allies the food question is as serious as ever. The Italians have been progressing in their drive towards Trieste, particularly in the south where they have secured new positions along the seashore. More important is the news that the Gulf of Trieste is in the hands of the Allies. If the latter statement be true the fall of the city ought to be in sight at last. A rumor says that Germany urges the Austrians to abandon Trieste to the Italians and that the Austrians refuse. On the other hand it is not at all unlikely that a strong German force will come to the assistance of Austria and that a vigorous offensive against the Italians may begin any day. In the west the chances of reaching a decision seem remote now. Midsummer has come and the German lines are still unbroken. Here and there the Allies have smashed through or bent the lines at fearful cost. Observers who have penetrated the German trenches say that their new lines are immensely strong, and that the elaborate system of dug-outs and trenches they have prepared show clearly that their retirement was deliberate and not hurried.

Federation Sunday Sunday, July 1, is Federation Sunday. In the past there were many who regarded the Catholic Federation with apathy, more or less approved it, but were not even mildly enthusiastic about it. We take it for granted that the events of the past year have demonstrated to every Catholic that it is a matter of solemn duty to the causes we hold clearest to become a member— and an active one — of the Federation. We are strong enough to maintain our rights against all the forces of bigotry, and to prevent a coterie of politicians who are devoid of all sense of duty to their Creator, and for whom the interests of religion mean nothing, from persecuting us. We have proved that much to the Government. In the past some men were too much inclined to be guided by the wishes of their political leaders. We shall never forget the scandal given at the last elections by some Catholics who voted for a Bible-in-schools candidate who happened to be nominated by a man who never made any appreciable return for Catholic support, and whose want of courage where Catholic interests are affected has become a byword. The events of the past mouths have opened the eyes of all to the character of most of our politicians, and taught us how little we may expect from them—even when we have their written promises. The Federation is not a political machine in any way, and the more completely it is independent of parties and politicians the more efficient. We Catholics are not getting fair-play from the Government; and the stereotyped prattle of the Minister of Education is an example of how reasonable representations made by us are received. One thing only appeals to men like Mr. Hanan and his colleagues ; and that is neither reason or fairness, but strength. The Federation alone can

give us the strength to bring to their senses those people who have so long trifled with us. Our unity is already admirable ; but it will not be satisfactory, and we will not have done our whole duty until every Catholic man, woman, and child in the Dominion is a member of the Federation, prepared to act, and vote, and fight as one man whenever the cause of religion and the rights of sound Christian democracy demand it. If you are not already enrolled, become a member at once. And if you know of any among your neighbors who are not yet members get them to come forward now. It is no light matter that is at stake. By becoming a member of the Federation you will help us to secure for Catholics the rights of common citizenship, you will aid in building a bulwark for the defence of the Church, and you will contribute towards an organisation which only needs to be perfected to compel the Government to apply the taxes wrung unjustly from us- to the only system of education a conscientious Christian can tolerate.

For the Old Land They are not forgetting the old land in America. Balfour said it 'would be deplorable if American Irishmen agitated for Irish freedom just now. So it would, from his point of view, which is still that of Bloody Balfour who opposed and killed every movement to restore Ireland s rights. Therefore during his recent mission, or begging tour, in America the following circular was strewn about his footsteps whithersoever he went :

“ ASK MR. BALFOUR—"WHY HE WAS CALLED ‘BLOODY’ BALFOUR: WHY CASEMENT WAS HANGED AND CARSON EXALTED: WHY 150,000 ENGLISH SOLDIERS NOW GARRISON IRELAND: WHY HE DEFEATED HOME RULE: IF A FREE POLAND WHY NOT A FREE IRELAND." Under each of these heading answers familiar to every man who knows recent Irish history were given. It is no wonder that he was leceived coldly, and that he was constrained to explain his stuttering and stammering by telling the 3 Co/- York Times that he was nervous. In Eton they called him “Nancy’’ Balfour and he lived it down; it was in Ireland they called him "Bloody” Balfour, and evidently that will live him down. The following circular is being signed by millions of the friends of the small nation which most closely concerns Britain : -—-

PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF IRELAND. We as American citizens, respectfully state to the Government of the United States that Ireland is a distinct nation, deprived of her liberty by force and held in subjection to England by military power alone. As Amei ica has entered the war for the preservation of democracy and the freedom of small nations, this Government is in honor bound to apply this principle impartially in all cases of people held in subjection, whether they bo under jurisdiction of Germany Rike Belgium, 01 of England like Ireland. As America cannot be a party to any scheme of world-peace which withholds from any nation the God-given right of freedom, the only final settlement must be the complete independence of Ireland. America has the right, by her entry into the war, to demand it from England, not in the Peace Conference at the close of the war, but now. We therefore respectfully urge upon the President and the Congress the necessity and f'ood policy of giving a great example to the world by insisting that England shall grant Ireland complete independence. We earnestly hope that, like Cuba, Ireland will be made free by the action of America.

Ouco before, when America had her by the throat, England gave independence to Ireland. Lord Derby recently made a speech which makes it plain to everybody how dependant on America England is at the

present moment. After witnessing English statesmen deliberately disregarding a Bill passed by the democracy of Great Britain, and seeing that the present Premier unblushingly repudiates his promises and breaks faith with Ireland, many of us have come to expect nothing from English politicians unless what is wrung from them by fear and selfishness. Therefore, while the attitude of the Irish in America embarasses Mr. Balfour, and all the more for that reason, we have cause to rejoice that the men who vindicated their own freedom are now pleading for the small nation that has the first place in our hearts. Dhia Saor Eire! As an instance of how the wind is blowing in the States take the following extract from the Louisville CourierJournal: “If Roger Casement deserved to be hanged, Edward Carson deserves to be drawn and quartered! Carson lias all his wits about him. He is a conscious, deliberate, cold-blooded villain and traitor. Yet he is made First Lord of the Admiralty . . . Ireland is the single grief which thinking Americans have against England.” The irony of the entire Irish situation is that, while lackadaisacal poseurs like Balfour say that Ireland is not fit to govern herself, Ireland is at present governing England through the gentle rule of Northcliffe and Carson.

Home, Sweet Home

You have, returned. At the last election the majority of voters nominated your party, Sir Joseph; while owing to the general rottenness of the electoral system—all in your favor—you were placed in power, Mr. Massey. Your position was untenable in honor. In fact it was so ustable that you took your fellowtraveller into the Cabinet to buttress your Government during war-time. And then both of you left the country at the time it had most need of you if you. had any pretence at all to statesmanship. Do you realise what has happened since your flitting? Your representative, whom you left practically along to do your work, has so dominated (he Cabinet that it is intelligible to outsiders how he came to think that he could similarly dominate the country. To do that he has tried strenuously. He has been told again and again in the press that he no longer represents the country, and that he represents a beaucracy if he represents anything at all except Sir James Allen, K.C.B. lie has apparently forgotten that this is a democratic country, and that he has had no mandate to. assume the authority of a Sultan ; and so far have . matters advanced towards this despotism that it has recently been maintained for the Crown that the Military Regulations put it in (he power of the authorities to say to any man “We decide that your speech or letter is seditious. It does not matter whether it really is or no : anything we say is so must be so ; common-sense and reason and common law have nothing to do with the case at all. This, according to Sir John Findlay, is the instrument of tyranny which the man you left to represent you has made for himself. The result is that he has alienated and embittered a loyal people, and disgusted even his own supporters; and by the neglect of wounded and maimed heroes, and by his refusal to answer certain questions put him by patriotic boards he has drawn from sane and moderate men scathing expressions of public condemnation. 1 ” In a word, in your absence we have had an experience of incipient militarism that this Dominion is not likely to forget. Moreover, it is not likely to allow you to forget it. You will have to explain why you-were not here to safeguard the rights of the democracy of New Zealand in a period of such acute crisis as is never to come again. You have been stigmatised as shirkers and cowards who left to Sir James Allen the "dirty work you had not the pluck to tackle yourselves. You may have a justification of your absence: the sooner we hear it the better we shall be pleased. To come to a matter that concerns ourselves more directly: before you went away you gave a pledge that if our Hierarchy allowed the Bill to go forward without opposition the exemption of clerics would become a matter of form. Are you aware that Sir James Allen

did all he could safely do to conscript tile clergy ; and that he exasperated the Catholics of this Dominion by his pitiful shuffling and equivocation on the matter; and that he deceived the bishops by giving them to understand that he would issue certificates which would secure exemption, and which he later told the boards had no binding force at all. We do not hesitate to say that he almost drove the Catholics into a state of active opposition, and fostered a spirit hardly less bitter than has been produced in Ireland by similar stupidities and breaches of faith. It became necessary to show him very plainly that Catholics will never tolerate from any beauracracy any attempt to trample on the laws of the Church; and we beg to point out to you also that it worth your while to remember this in future. If one of you finds that the day is gone when Catholics will support a man who has not the moral courage to defend the rights of the Church he has only his own supine silence to blame for that. Sir James Allen did us a good service: he taught us that we can expect no fair play if we are not able to fight for it; and if we are not mistaken politicians will find in future that if they get the Catholic vote they will have to give more than empty promises and idle platitudes in return for it. You have come back, gentlemen. Your reception is not going to be flattering. You have both a lot of leeway to make up at present; but you have also statesmanship enough to do it if you have the courage to devote yourselves singly and sincerely to the democratic interests of New Zealand in the future. The clearing out of the Augean stable is work for men ; it is also a splendid chance for you to regain the good-will of the people of the country from which you have so long absented yourselves.