The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-21
FOREIGN MAIL NEWS.

THE BENEDICTINEs RETURN TO SCOTLAND.
The Beuedictines, after an absence from
Scotland of three hundred years, are
about to return to Fort Augustus, in liver
ness shire. A gift Of Lord Lovat's to the
Order has given them a home there, and is
thus atfording the monks the opportunity
of settling down there under the dire ction
of the Right Rev. Abbott Burchan The
buildings placed at their command form a
large quadrangle, which will now be
transformed into a monastery, college, and
hospitium for guests. Like the Arch Alb
hey of Monte Casino, the spot is strangely
seQuesteEed, hid away, as it is, in the midst
of mountain solitudes 1t extends over
about sixteen acres, the Fort having been
built there for the accommodation of q
garrison of some 800 of the soldiery. Look
In eastwards from it's ramparts, you be-
hold the four miles length of Lochness.
Looking Westwards, you note the ragged
range OF the Giengarry noun tains. There
it was, in Fort Augustus, that, after the
battle of Cullodon, the Duke of Cumber-
land-the Butcher Cumberland, as he is
called-established his headquarters, send
ing forth his troops in all directions to
carry fame and sword against the heroic
Hlghianders. 1t was from Fort Augustus,
for example, that went out the order for
the massacre of Glencoe. Henceforth, the
place will be turned to nobler uses. The
emssaries of charity, not the instruments
of cruelty and death, will soon be going
forth continually from the portals of Fort
Augustus into the surrounding neighbor-
hood. 1t will be sanctuary of prayer
and Psalmody, and a home for the cultiva-
ton of learning, house of spiritual re-
treat for the clergy of the northern dis
tTlcts, and monastic seminary and insti-
tuition.
WoMAN's SUFFRAGE IN ENGLAND.
The annual debate on female suffrage--
or rather on the admission of spinsters and
widows to the franchise-came off on Wed
nesday. The speech of the sitting was
Mr.. Brights, and the expression of his ma
tured opinion was all the more interesting
because nine years ago he voted with Mr..
Stuart Mill in favor of the proposal. He
denied that he so voted, as Mr.. Mill had
said in his Autobiography because he was
advanced in that debate on the contrary,
he voted with extreme doubt" and far |
from sympathy with the mover than from
liking for the motion. Since then Mr. |
Bright's doubts have hardened into con-
scientious opposition, and his sledge- ham
mer strokes on Wednesday completely |
demolished, in our opinion, the pretentions |
on which the bill was based. It was found
ed, he said, on an assumed hostility be-
tween the sexes, which does not exist, in
fact, and the allegation of which is libel
on the men of England, who for the most
part are working, enduring sacrifices, and
confronting peril for the sustenance, COM
fort, and happiness of women and children.
1t wes founded on an assumption that wo-
men are class, which is monstrOus and
absurd. And, as a measure, it would be
utterly illogical and incomplete unless
Parliament were prepared to go further,
and give the franchise to the remaining
nine-tenths of the female population who
are married, and generally older and better
tilted to exercise it. 1t would degrade and
,aint women to subject them to all the
evils and humiliations of political contests,
md in their interest, not in the interest of
men, attached as he was to wider suffrage,
md dlsinclined as he was to separate him
elf from men with whom he usually
greed and whom he loved, Mr.. Bright
declared himself, amid loud cheers, Obliged
n conscience to vote against Mr.. Forsy the
ill. The mover waived his reply, feeling,