The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-05

terest.
The bitter hatred of the Welsh press
towards the present government m
creases in virulence by exercise. FOR
some weeks past the violent diatribes
against the government OF Lord Sails
bury have been amazing. Tories Con-
servatives and Liberal-Unionists are
described as selfish. callouS and un-
lust" No credit is given to them for
the possession Of a generous sentiment
or the capacity to perform a just ac-
tion. The statements are made so un-
blushingly that one is astonished that
il is possible for sane persons to exist
who actually believe. THE gullibility
Of the readers of the papers," accord
ing to the Weekly Mail, must be great.
or the readers are few" The voting at
the last general election disclosed
large element of Conservatives in the
Welsh constituencies. 1t is unfair,
therefore, to assume that the bulk of
the Nonconformists of Wales sympa-
thize with the language used by the
editors Of the Welsh press. Their ac-
tion when untrammelled by the iniiu-
ence OF the preachers bear it out. We
have daily instances of the kind-heart-
edness of the great Welsh landowners,
and the respect, and almost affection,
in which they ere held by the populace.
The inevitable inference is that the in
fluence of the Welsh press is limited,
and that the views Of its conductors
are not shared by the bulk of the peo-
pie A remark that fell from the lips
of the chairman of the Baptist union at
Pontypridd-"that there was scarcely
n minister among them who had not
spent his early years as % manual lab
orer'-may explain the unnatural
hatred of the aristocracy and the
Church of England. Says the Mail:
Men seldom rise from a low social
standard to a higher one. Wealth and
circumstances may aid the change, but
II you pierce the skin the old condition
will assert itself. These are they who
control the Vernacular press. Water
will not rise above its level, and Welsh
Noncomformists will not become cul-
tured and gentlemanly until its min
listers are sought from higher social
scale" The reader must remember
that the Western Mail is the represen-
tative journal of the Church of Eng
land in Wales and its opinions on mat
ters pertaining to Nonconformity are
rather narrow.
Is WALES IMPROVING MORALLY?
This is another curdled opinion of
the Weekly Mail, the official journal of
the Church of England. This is q
question that is often discussed in the
columns OF the Welsh press, but the
answer is governed by the pre-con-
ceived opinions of the individual writ
ers When a great crime or scandal
comes to the surface 1t is attributed to
English influence and English immi-
grafton. and the Anglicised tendencies
of churchmen. But the most eXtraor-
dinary part of the matter is the way
the great gatherings of the sects iG-
more them. One would imagine, from
the official reports of recent meetings
that Wales is paradise of virtue and
godliness. a popularity of these
meetings. says one of the leaders, was
their healthy and happy tone. They
were better than three weeks at Liam
drindod.' A regular contributor of the
Huws' writes thus:
The preachers cook their sermons to
suit the taste of the age. The day for
the Gospel in its simplicity
and publishing the truth without fear
is past. The preacher has to measure
and weigh his words carefully, lest he |
should offend one OF the spotted sheep |
of his flock. A vclvety tongue. and a
tail trained to wag properly. are the |
chief requisites of the pulpit these |
days The Baner' publishes the fol- |
lowing in its editorial columns:-It |
would require whole pages to give bare |
of the misery of every kind |
that prevails in the Rhondda Valley. |
1ll-treatment of children by their par
ents is one of the blackest spots on the |
character of the inhabitants of this |
populous district, and some fresh crime |
In this direction comes to light every |
day And yet the editor says nothing |
Of the neglect of duty on the part Of |
the scores of chapels in the valley. The |
same paper refers to three similar |
cases at I.lanrwst, where the parents !
were sent to prison for their crimes, |
and adds:-'We are prepared to hear
our readers asking, In astonishment, |
how to account for such a state OF |
things in Il Christian villagc!' The |
'Genedl has the following. in the form |
Of leaderette:-'We are disgraced as
a nation by our illiteratc fellow-coun.
frymen. The United States have just
published tables showing the illiteracy |
NJ the European nations settled in
The Welsh stand tenth on |
The list! 1t was thought that the Poles.
Russians. and Italians were the most
ignorant nations or Europe. Who
would have thought that Spain and
ireland. with their low state OF educa-
lions and their religious superstitions.
stood higher than Wales? But such Is
The result of the inquiry. Yes, highly
privileged Wales, you must remain the
of the Turks and the Bo-
hemians! Where does the blame rest?
It is not want for knowledge is meant.
but their native language!' There are
more religious ministers in Wales-in
proportion to population-than any
other country under the sun, and yet
the state Of morality is lower than in
Spain and Ireland! 'Is there not
rotten In the seite of Dem
wark!" Yes, yes. Mr.. Western Mail.
how we'll could the question be asked.
rs there not something rotten in the