The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-01
Lord Russell's "No Popery" Meeting.


From the London Times
If a mere display of the vigor of English
"NO popery' sentiment can be OF service
| to Prince Bismarck in his present contest
in st. james, Hall will not disappoint the
| intentions of it's promoters. There was
an abundance of strong Protestant enthu-
siasm the familiar watchwords were
eagerly applauded and tho greater par of
the speaking, in short, was nothing more
than vehement attack on the abomlna-
tons of characterization, and was judici-
ously kept free from any definite express
sion of opinion on the precise merits of the
German policy. If the speakers had real
ly attempted to explain to their audience
the bearings of the present ecclesiastical
'uggle on the Continent, they would
have had to confine their observations
within n limited range but there is no
easier subject for Protestant defamation
than the general iniquities and delusions
of Papists."
The Dean of Canterbury, in moving the
first resolution, afforded prolonged fore
taste of the three successive hours OF platl-
tudcs which were to follow. 1t is well
sometimes to tell the truth about public
performances, especially as speaker is
invariably complimented by his successor
upon having $50 ably" acquitted himself;
and we must needs say that the general
| character Of the speaking was very bad
compliment to the cause it was designed
to support. The struggle in Germany is a
matter of real Importance, and Dean
who voluntarily discusses it in public
might be expected to be at least CO
llerent. Sir Thomas Chambers then made
himself and the audience merry over the
alleged discrepancy between the assurances
offered by the Irish Catholic Bishops and
Theologians in 1927, and the recent utter
ances of the Vatican Council and the
Pope.
1t was q very good speech to be delivered
before q Protestant Institute in Maryle-
bone, and it served to recall the fact
that, after all, the meeting was only CEN
vencd by the Protestant Educational Insti-
tute. This iocosity had, however, the
relief the funeral solemnity of subsequent
soliloquy by Mr.. Newdegate. He was
received with an enthusiasm which suhi-
GENTLY showed the temper of the audience,
aud, ia spite of some symptoms of weari-
ness they were reused into raptures when
he finally pointed the moral of his interest
in Germany by calling on them to insist on
Monasteres and Converts in this country
! being brought within the purview of the
! law" When once he had warmed to his
subject, 1t became necessary to remind him
rather pointedly that the afternoon was
advancing, and at length he made way for
| Sir Robert Peel. OF course, such Il name
WAS Nclcomcu, anu DIT hODerL was lEClteu
| by his reception to n brilliant effort of elo-
| cutiOn. But it was net short f.; and at its
conclusion an irate Scotchman complained
Indignantly. that people who had been in
vited to speak ten minutes should speak
half an hour, and that thus, after travelling
500 miles, he had been deprived of any
practicable opportunity of addressing the
meeting. We hope it is not necessary to
tell the German people that meeting of
such a character is no expression Of Eng
lish feeling on this great question. 1t
would never, in fact, have been regarded
rs of material Importance except for the
interest which was lent to it by Lord Rus
sells injudicious promise to take the chair.
Sir Robert Peel earned a cheap applause by
could not signalize his last years by an ap-
pearance on the platform, but the public in
general vii be glad that so venerable a
statesman escaped the discredit of presid-
ing at an ordinary " No Popcry" demon
stration.
A new war of creeds, such as the meet
ing of yesterday tends to provoke, would
be the greatest of all disasters for the new
German Empire. 1t is not sufficiently con-
solidated to bear such a strain, and to Gre
ate bitter disunion by setting Protestants
| against Papists would be q suicidal mode
of aiming at national unity. Sir Robert
Peel declared that he hoped the cry of "No
|
in England and the storm of opposition
which this CLEAN of moderation evoked
was the strongest proof of the intolerance
which the meeting represented. 1t was
the evident desire of the majority to raise
that cry, with all it's old bitterness, here
and everywhere; and their approval of
Prince Bismarck was clearly prom pied
more by hatred of Popery than by love for
German nationality. The meeting will,
wo trust, he recognized in Germany as af-
fording evidence that the English public,
as whole, have no sympathy with this
intolerant spirit, and that they refuse to
identify the German struggle with an an
tagonsm between rival creeds.
1t the lesson of the meeting be inter
prcted in this sense,it may not be inoppor.
tune for, in spit" of the efforts of the more
temperate leaders, there is an inevitable
! danger lest the question now raised in
Germany should develop into little less
than Il religious civil war.