The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-17 00:00:00

CATHOLIC POLICY.

Now is the time for Catholics to show that
they are not Tories merely, nor Whigs merely,
but Catholics, pr pared to test political mea-
sures simply by Catholic principles. This is
not saying, as we were once accused by the
Saturday Review of having said, that Catholics
are to confine their action simply to the pro-
motion of their own immediate interests, and
leave the nation, if so be, to perish. Quite
the contrary. We believe the best way of
serving the highest interests of the nation is
the application of Catholic principles. to poli-
tics. Fortunately, politics is not so much a
matter of abstract discussion as a life of ac-
tion. At critical times like the present, when
grave measures, affecting vital interests and
involving essential principles, have to be set-
tled, Catholic politicians, in as far as they are
something more than Wings or Tories, appear
to great advantage. They have a clear and
certain rule of conduct to guide them in their
judgment of the measures propounded by
Tories or criticised and opposed by Whigs. In
the confident hope that Catholics will be
Catholic first, and Tory or Whig second, we
look forward to a bold and independent judg-
ment on their part, whether in Parliament or
out, on the policy already announced, or to be
hereafter developed by the Government in re-
gard to the Irish Church and the question of
education, both in England and in Ireland.
The manner in which the Government pro-
poses to deal with the Irish Church has not
the slightest chance of removing or remedying
a national wrong, or helping in the least in
appeasing the discontent of Ireland. The Go-
vernment, if it really intendi endowing the
Catholic Church, in order by this means to
resist the disestablishment of the Irish Church,
has committed the same kind of blunder
which Sir Robert Peel's Government did in
establishing the godless colleges. The means
will not answer the end. The Catholic hier-
archy have persistently and emphatically re-
pudiated any endowment out of the revenues
of the Protestant Establishment. Nothing is
more incontestable than their determination of
not entering in any manner into pecuniary
relations with the State. In their mature and
deliberate judgment they hold that any such
connection with the State under 'the peculiar
and actual condition of things in Ireland would
not be for the good of religion. Under such
circumstances, the proposal of the Government,
without consulting the ecclesiastical authorities
in Ireland, is worse than a folly ; it is an act of
insincerity and duplicity. Such is not a worthy
' or statesmanlike manner of dealing with a great
question. By such subterfuges or makeshifts
the present Government shows that it pos-
sesses neither greater insight nor greater
courage in dealing with a long-acknowledged
anomaly than the Whig Governments, which,
one after another for a long series of years,
have treated the Irish Church as a political
shuttle-cock, to be tossed to and fro before
the public eye whenever such a display of still
suited the exigencies of their miserable party
prospects. As far as Catholics are concerned,
the proposal, not of levelling down the Estab-
lishment, but of propping it up by endowing the
Catholic Church can only meet with simple op-
position. For us it is not a question to be
treated in the abstract ; we do not care to lose
sight of the practical remedy to be applied to a
long-standing abuse by a discussion as to the
principle of the relations which ought to exist
between the Church . and the State as to the
respective merits of endowment and the volun-
tary system, far less as to the obligation of the
Catholic Episcopate of accepting, whenever it
is proposed, endowment from the State. Of
what is required by the highest interests of
religion under existing circumstances in Ire-
land the Irish Episcopate, subject to the
Supreme Head of the Church, is the sole
judge. They have pronounced their opinion
deliberately ; it is for Catholics to show that
they are really under the influence, not of party
spirit, but of Catholic principles, by resisting
as one man, without reserve or after-thought
of any kind, the scheme proposed by the Go-
vernment, in spite of the known judgment o. f
the Episcopate, of endowing the Catholic
Church in Ireland.—West»linster Gazette.

MEG. By Mrs. Eiloart, Author of " The Curate's
Discipline," &c. 3 Vols.—" Meg is a book which is every-
where well written, which has many well-drawn and ori-
ginal characters, and which is pervaded throughout by a
tone of true, healthy, womanly feeling. It is humorous,
it is pathetic, it shows much originality ; it is full of ob-
servation. Some of the scenes which describe the diffi-
culties of a Ritualistic coterie are touched off with admir-
able spirit and humour. The story and fate of poor Meg
herself is all full of tenderness, and pity, and pathos. There
is a deep, clear moral in the whole book."—Star.

DEATH OF DR. LEE. The Rev. Dr. Robert Lee,
minister of Old Greyfriars' Church, Edinburgh, and well
known in connection with endeavours to introduce into
the Church of Scotland what aro called "innovations,',
died at Torquay on Saturday last. The doctor never
recovered entirely from a severe shock of paralysis by
which ho was attacked in May last, and he left Edin-
burgh for the south in October, for his health. Besides
being minister of Old Greyfriars, Dr. Leo was Professor
of Biblical Criticism in the University of Edinburgh, and
one of the Deans of the Chapel Royal. lie was in his
63d year.

The newspapers are teeming with references to econo-
my tu tea by co-operation. Llorninan and Co. have fo:• 30
years co. operated through Agents to supply tea on more
advantageous terms than by the ordinary channel; their tea
reaches the consumer in the same pure state (I's it /fares the
grower, as it is rocurod iu packets.

EwsPArE
THE "arm CHURC •
In connection with the debate on Irela 61WitU1,2,\\t''
stated that during the existence of the P
Administration the question of Irelan
Church was twice brought forward by Mr,:_
the 19th May, 1863, and on the 28th March,l6s. npn s
both occasions he was met by the strenuous opposition
of the Whig Government, who succeeded in preventing
any vote being taken upon them. In the debate on the
last occasion Sir George Grey, the Whig Home
Secretary, said : " Her Majesty's Government deem
it their duty not to give their assent to the resolution
proposed." Later in the debate Mr. Gladstone, then
Chancellor of the Exchequer, said, against the expediency
of Mr. Dillwyn's motion : " The first question for a Govern-
ment is whether what they can do will tend to the good of
the people over whose interests they are in an especial
manner appointed to watch. The answer to that question
must govern their conduct, and it will not do for a Govern-
ment to shape their conduct according to anything ex-
traneous to that answer. If they could see their way to
the attainment of a satisfactory end it would be their duty
to grapple with all the difficulties of the case. It would
be their duty to consider—whether surplus or no surplus—
what obligations of the Act of Union remain to be ful-
filled, and how they ought to be performed. It would be
their duty to consider whether, in the event of any change
—any modification in the Established Church, the pro-
perty of the Church ought to be applied in one way or
another. But it is not their duty to consider these ques-
tions at all—it is not their duty to propagate one opinion
or another on this subject, unless they see their way by
casting their influence into the scale to bring about a state
of things in consonance with the general principles of jus-
tice, the welfare of the whole community, and particularly
with the feelings and happiness of the people of Ireland.
The dictates of propriety and good sense must govern the
proceedings of any Administration which means to do its
duty to the country. These principles must govern us
on Ws occasion, whether or not we may be able to deny
the proposition of the hon. gentleman with reference to the
position of the Irish Church ; and I, for one, am not able
to deny it.. We therefore feel that we ought to decline
following him into the lobby, and declare that it is the duty
of the Government to give their early attention to the sub-
ject ; because, if we gave a vote to that effect, we should
be committing one of the gravest offences of which a
Government could be guilty—namely, giving a deliberate
and solemn promise to the country, which promise it would
be out of our power to fulfil."

THE GOV 3 RNMENT AND THE
ZLEGRAPHS.

In one of the recent reports of the administrators of
the Belgian telegraphs the following passage occurs ;
" Our reduction of tariff has a double object. First, to
place the means of communication within the reach of all
classes of the people, and to make it serviceable in all the
relations of life ; and secondly, to increase telegraphic
correspondence to the largest possible extent, and by thus
stimulating the system, to make even those lines which
are now unproductive yield a fair profit." The Chancellor
of the Exchequer can require no better text than this when
he introduces the bill which proposes to place the tele-
graph system of the United Kingdom under the manage-
ment of the Post Office. Until the intimation conveyed to our
readers some weeks ago as to the intended opposition
of the railway companies reached us, we were under the
impression that the question of the transfer would be
mainly a financial one, and confined to the telegraph com-
panies and Government, and we are still at a loss to under-
stand on what ground the threatened opposition is based.
Doubtless railway telegraphic systems and those of the
companies are based on a plan of mutual help, and we
apprehend that they would have to be so continued under
the proposed Government regime; but beyond this, and
probably the fear that if the telegraphs go the rail-
ways may be expected to follow, we can see no reason
why railway companies should set up an opposi-
tion to the unanimous approval which the project.
has met with at the hands, not only of the press,
but of the highest commercial authorities in the country.
Did we not remember how a sore break-down and disap-
pointment were predicted when the penny post was inau-
gurated, and how wondrously the elasticity and vigour of
the postal system met and conquered all the obstacles and
difficulties which hedged it round, we should doubt whether
a department which transmits upwards of 800,000,000 of
letters, which manages a money-order business amounting
to upwards of £40,000,000 a year, which has within a
few years added to its cares the management of an
enormous savings bank business, and more recently
that of life insurance, could efficiently bear the
additional strain of the work connected with the
telegraphs. But we have seen all these various
systems worked out with a precision and rapidity
which has won the admiration, not only of the people of
this country, but of every civilised nation in the world.
The defects and shortcomings of the administration of the
telegraph companies have too frequently been experienced
by the public to require any proof now. If the amalga-
mation takes place the Post Office authorities would be in-
duced to consider the vexed question of a Sunday delivery,
and would send out no letters save those which bore a
" stamp of urgency," say of at least sixpence, a boon
and w
which
/to e. se
3:
whichwo d
thebe public conferred
would on tnhoet
g2Or
u, odo;9e
would deeply appreciate.—Eastern Morning News.
hard-worked
them,

Lord Alfred S. Churchill and Sir John Lubbock,
Bart., F.R.S., have become vice-presidents of the Public
Museums and Free Libraries' Association.
RATING BURDENS IN LIVERPOOL.—A crowded
meeting of Liverpool ratepayers has been held, when reso-
lutions protesting against the present very heavy rates and
urging the corporation to practise the strictest economy in
its expenditure were agreed to.
DEATH OF CA NON O'NEAL.—We regret to
announce the death of the Very Rev. James Canon
O'Neal, Vicar-General of the Roman Catholic diocese of
Westminster, which occurred on Sunday night. The de-
ceased had been for many years one of the pastors of the
Church of Our Lady, Grove-road, St. John's-wood. He
was one of the leading men among the Catholic clergy of
the metropolis, and a zealous promoter of all works of
charity connected with the communion to which ho
belonged.
THE REPRESENTATION OF lIVDDERSFIELD.—TIIO
greatest interest is felt in the election, and both parties
express themselves sanguine of success. It is felt, however,
that the withdrawal of Mr. Wright Mellor and the unity
of the Liberals places Mr. Leatham's chance of victory be-
yond all question. Mr. Sleigh addressed three meetings on
Monday. In the evening the meeting held in the Theatre
was a very disorderly one. Mr. Sleigh admitted that he bad
contested Lambeth on Liberal principles in 1862, but said
his views had since been considerably modified. A resolu-
tion in his favour was negatived by a large majority.

AN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION FOR WORKING
MEN. —The Duke of Rutland, Earls Spencer, Lichfield,
and Ducie, the Right Hon. W. F. Cowper, M.P., and If.
A. Bruce, M.P., Sir John Bowring, LL.D., the Hon. G.
Denman, M.P., Messrs. A. H. Layard, M.P., D. C. L. , T.
Hughes, M.P., A. S. Ayrton, M.P., C. S. Butler, M.P.,
J. B. Smith, M.P., J. Stansfeld, M.P., Wingfield Digby,
Alderman J. C. Lawrence, H. Cole, C. 8., Titus Salt,
Hugh Mason, and Elihu Murat, have consented to be
vice-presidents of the Workmen's International Exhibition,
1869.

A gentleman named Leach, of Alexandria, nas
forwarded to the Museum of the Hartley Institution some
specimens of arrows used by Abyssinian warriors. They
are above three feet long. The sticks are made of vino
branches and other tough woods. The heads are of iron.
Some of the heads are of the ordinary lance shape—others
are shaped like a flattened fish's head, and are barbed.
One of the heads is an ugly weapon consisting of a sharp
iron spike about six inches long, with a twisted serrated
edge. Some of the heads are inserted into the sticks ;
others are fastened very securely with a cord made of the
skin of some animal, which is twisted round the stick
when wet. Mr. Leach writes word that the Abyssinian
spear is five feet six inches long, and is a formidable-
looking weapon.

LETTER OF MR. COBDEN. —The following letter
was written by Mr. Cobden at a season which wasperhaps
one of the greatest political depression which the Liberal
party has experienced since the Reform Bill of 1832. It
was addressed to Mr. W. D. Christie, who sat in the House
of Commons which repealed the Corn Laws, and voted
with Mr. Cobden on that, as on all other questions of
Liberal policy, throughout the struggle : " Midhurst, Dec.
12, 1863.—My dear Christie, I am at this moment over-
whelmed with communications about my correspondence
with the Times, and the plague of answering people must
be my excuse for making but a brief reply to your letter.

It would give me great pleasure to be able to help you in
your views on the House of Commons. There is a sort of
freemasonry always with me that identifies me with
all those who took a part in our League struggle ;
and, with regard to political principles, I dare
say we should now agree pretty much as we
did on the corn question. But I really think lam
about the least potential man alive in election matters. I
am never consulted by anybody. There seems to be no
principles at stake anywhere, and the usual result is that
the constituencies give themselves up to some rich man in
their neighbourhood, or to the influence of a great railway
or steamboat company. It is always so, that when great
public questions are in abeyance the mean and unworthy
motives grow into a force. Now, such a state of things is
very unfavourable to my influence, for I am neither a
rich man nor a railway or steamboat proprietor. How,
then, can I be of any use to you ? This is really my
whole case. I am willing, but incapable.—Ever yours
truly, CODDEIf,"

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EVENING, will be performed ROB ROY. Mr. T.
Powrie, Mr. Phelps ; Messrs. Harrison, E. Phelps, W. M'lntyre
Barratt, C. Harcourt ; Mesdames E. Cross and Fanny Huddart.
To conclude with THE WONDER. Mr. Barry Sullivan; Mrs,
Hermann Vezin.

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