The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-24 00:00:00

THE RITUALIST REBUKED.
(From Punch.)

SCENE—Before St. Jamea's Chapel, Briahton. RITUALIST
PAHHoN and JOHN BULL.

John Bull. Now, you young Sir ! What is that outlandish
gilt and braided frock of yours, and what arc those petticoats
you have on, and all that lace?
Ritualist. Vestments, Sir? The vestments proper for this
day's feast.
J. Bull. Feast ! Why Goose Day's past, and All Fools' is to
come. Aml what do you do with that smoke-pat that you
are swinging about there?
lilt. Celebrate mass, Sir.
J. Bull. Mass ! Why who are you? What do youcall yourself?
Bit. A priest, sir, of the Catholic Church.
J. Bull. Catholic Church ! I should say Catholic Chapel.
But you, as a Roman Catholic Priest—what business have
you with that Oxford hood, I should like to know?
Bit. oh, Sir ! lam a Catholic priest; but not, you see, a
Roman Catholic.
J. Bull. I see no such thing, if you are not one, why
do you dress like one? Vestments for this day's feast,
indeed One would think this day was Guy Fawkes' day.
You a priest? Does your Mother know you're alit?
' kit. I really can't say, Sir.
J. Bull mimicking him . Can't say, Sir ! She ought to
know you are out, for she ought to have turned you out by
tins time, if your Mother Church is the Church of England.
Ecclesiastically speaking—Who's your Father?
Bit Well, sir, really that is--a—a—question—which---
J. Bull. A pretty fellow you are, not to be able to answer !
, Is it the Holy Father—the Pope? Does lie own you?
Bit. Um— lA'hy, Sir unfortunately, the fact is--
GENERAL PRIM'S CAREER. J. Bull. That you are, a parson, and the Pope disowns you,
and says you are none of his. Who's your Bishop ? Dr.
The following short sketch of General Prim's career, is What's-his-name, Bishop of Southwark, or whatever he calls
copied from the Exprea:— himself—or the Bishop of ('hichester ?
Prim's earliest training was in civil war. At the If it. Chichester at present.
accession of Isabella IL, then an infant of three years J. Bull. You may well say, at present. Does the Bishop of
ich, then, allow you to wear those
of age, Prim was a lad hester l
of nineteen, and drew his sword Csanetion your ceebration of your things? Does he
Mass? Eh ?
on behalf of the child Queen against the Carlists. Bit. .N-n-u-no, Sir.
Maturity of judgment in so young a man is not to be i J. Bull. Ni,, Sir? I should think not, S. Ilan he not in-
looked for, and, perhaps, it was not unnatural that hibited you from officiating at all?
personal loyalty to his sovereign should have converted Bit. Ye-e-s, sir.
him into a partisan of the Queen-Mother, in spite of J. Bun. And of course you will obey him ?
Bit. !sulkily,.
the measures in restriction of municipal liberties which No I won't.
J. Bull. Y'ouAnd you say tids, it you? Why
marked the close of her rule. During the constitutional who hut you, and such as you, have heen always preaching
regency of Espartero, which followed the successful up the duty of submission to Bishops ? That is what you
insurrection against Christina's goverment, Prim was S. have all al, mg been hammering at—all very well for the
constant conspirator and fomentor of disturbances oliPosite party : but the moment your Bishop forbids
Ritualistic munnueries, you it), in his face. Go along with
against the Duke of Victory. and was a party to the
alliance between the Christinas and the Pn,gressistas, Ylit. Where to, Sir
which ended in the return of the Queen-Mother to J. Bull. Rome, Sir; where every honest man of your whole
power. Under her administration, Prim, raised to the ,lsst, except a few fools, has already gone. The Pope has
rank of general, was appointed governor of I invited you. But, mind. he has invited you as a stranger,
Madrid. Sent to suppress a liberal rising in as a Protestant, as a heretic. You a priest? You pretend
Barcelona, he is accused of having connived at roZnst :!=eulittreX,rL uses,
iL and fanned the disturbances which for a year ! :II this while you are eating the bread t.of the Church you
made Catalonia the seat of civil war. The work undermine—mischievous rat ! No ; 's not falling, or you'd
which he was affecting to do made him hated by the leave it fast enough. you 'II stay, while there are any loaves
popular party; his failure to do it disgraced him at and fishes—will you? Not if I can help it—you humbug,
court. He was deprived of his command, put on his 3,55‘ impostor. Be off
trial for a conspiracy against the government, and , (Flourishing cudgel about Rin'AUST'S ears, drive' him out.
Sentenced to six years' imprisonnient, from which after ,
six months, he was released, at his mother's prayers. !
For nine years he lived in retirement. In 1853 the out-
break of war with Russia afforded a vent for his sot-ice
moirit He was appointed to a command on the Danube
and the first successes of the Turks at Oltenitza and
Silistria are attributed to, his skill and daring. The
insurrection of 1854 summoned him to Spain. He
associated himself with the Progressist party. under
Ins old rival Espartero. Though elected to the Con-
gress of Deputies for Barcelona next year, and raised to
the senate in 1858, Prim's military career was more illus.
trims than the part he played in polities. His brilliant
services in the war with Morocco m 1859 and 184i0 made
him for a time the national hers,. His separation
as the leader of the Spanish force from partner-
ship with the policy of France in Mexico, and his pro-
tests in favour of the independence of that republic,
earned him a truer title of esteem. Intetpreted by the
light of his conduct on this occasion, it is possible to
believe that an impulse of patriotism and of resent-
ment at the opposition and degradation of his country
urged him to the insurrectionary movement which he
set on foot in ' renewed in 1867, and after these
unsuccessful a m ttepts, has carried to a successful issue
in 1868. So far as the Spanish revs dution is the work
of one man, Prim may claim to be author. The
youthful soldier of Isabella, and the partisan of Chris-
tina, has been in his maturity the instrument for ex-
'wiling the last of the Bourbons from Spain. It re-
mains to be seen whether years and experience have
converted the adventurer into a statesman, and have
strengthened generous impulses into a steady Patriotic
purpose.