OurVictorianLetter
Melbourne,April27,1920.
AcopyoftheRECORD,ofApril 24thisjusttohand,containingreportsoftheenthusiasticreceptions thathavebeenaffordedtohisExcellencytheApostolicDelegate.Itisa welcomesurprisetousinVictoriathat apparentlyallsectionsofthecommunityintheWestunitedinwelcoming Dr.Cattaneo,foroverherebigotryis sopowerfulthatoflateyears,hisExcellencyhasreceivednoofficialrecognitionwhatever.Evenonhisfirst visittoMelbourne,theLordMayor (anOrangeman)refusedtoaccordhim anofficialwelcome,althoughthatcomplimentwaspaidtothefirstDelegate (Dr.Cerretti)ontheoccasionofhis firstvisit,bytheLordMayorofthat year.TheOrangeMayorgaveashis
excusethathewasgivingnocivicreceptionsinwartime,butitreallywas aclimb-downtothebigotswhoprotestedagainsttheStatecarbeing madeavailableforhisExcellencyby theRailwayCommissioners.However,thelamenessofhisexcusewas apparentwhenArchbishopMannix pointedoutthattheLordMayorhad inthepreviousweekgivencivicreceptionstoapartyofbowlersfroma neighbouringState,andtoanoted swimmer(theHawaiianPrince).Also hisGrace'statedthatitwouldbethe Councilandthecitythatwashonour. edifsuchadistinguishedmanasthe Pope'spersonalrepresentativewere givenapublicreception. BigotryatBallarat.
Sincethereisapparentlysolittle ranksectarianismintheWest,itperhapscomesasasurprisetothereadersofthisweeklylettertofindsuch constantandcontinuousreferenceto bigotryandintolerance.YetthisexactlyreflectstheconditioninVictoria. Everyweeksomefreshactofreligious biasisrevealed,andsomeslanderous attackismadeontheChurch.One instancewillsufficetoshowhowrelentlesslytheCatholicpeopleareper.-- andhowtheireveryactionis oundfaultwith. Itwillberememberedthatveryre centlytheCatholicBoys'Orphanage atBallarat(inchargeoftheNuns) wasdeclaredbyamagistratetobenot a"charitableinstitution"withinthe meaningoftheexemptionclause,and wasliabletotheCouncilforrates.This decision,thoughprobablysoundin law,wasnaturallyobjectedtobythe friendsandsympathisersoftheNuns, andatlargemeetingsofprotests,deputationswereappointedtowaiton thecouncillorstourgethemto"spring apoint"andexempttheOrphanage fromrates:evenifitdidmakeafew oddpoundsayearbysellingsurplus farmproduce.Thiswouldseema harmlessenoughactforanybodyof citizenswhoappreciatedtheeffortsof theNunsinBallarat. Butthebigotsofthatcitywouldnot hedenied.Itwasapparenttothem thattheCatholiccitizensweremoving, anditbehovedthemtoalsomoveandintheoppositedirectiohSoa fewofthemhaveformeda"Ratepayeis'DefenceLeague."Thisseems astrangenameforanOrangeLeague, vetthatisthenameadopted.It wouldbethoughtthattheauthorities oftheOrphanagewouldbethefirstto joinsuchaleague,fortheysurelyre quiredefenceinthematterofrates. Butthisisnoordinary"Ratepayers'
Government.Attheblessingof thefoundationstoneofaChurch. schoolatBrighton,ArchbishopMan. nixcommentedonthisinthe
ingterms. "Youhavebeenreadingagooddeal aboutMountjoyPrisoninDublin. knowitwell,thoughIhaveneverbeen init.(Laughter.)Itisoneofthe defectsinmyIrishrecordthatIhave neverbeeningaol.(Laughter.)If youhavebeenreadingthepapers,you knowhowtheunfortunatepeoplewere treatedwhowereconfinedinMountjoyPrison.InIreland,justnow,men areroundeduplikeamobofcattlein Australia,andthrownintogaol. (Shame!)Andforwhat?Perhaps forwavingflags,justasyouaredoing hereto-day.(Shame! Hundredsare keptinprisonwithoutatrial,without evenadefinitechargelaidagainst them.(Shame!Thesemenhaveto submittotheordinaryprisontreatmentgiventoconvictedcriminalsor murderers.(Shame!)Ishouldlike toknowwhatwouldhappeninAustraliaifhundredsofmenwererounded up,consignedtoprisonwithoutatrial, andthentreatedasiftheyhadbeen convicted.Why,Australiawouldnot standitfor24hours;andAustralia wouldberight.(Applause.)Yetthese thingsarebeingdoneinIreland, (Shame!)Andthenpeoplewonder whyIrelandisdisturbed!Butthe wonderisthatthereisnotmoredisorderandmoreoutrage.(Applause./ Thepolicysystematicallypursuedby theBritishGovernmentinIrelandwas boundtobringaboutastateofaffairs thatwealldeplore:itcouldnotbe otherwise,aslongashumannatureis whatitis.(Applause.)
TheOnlyRemedy. "Itisyourduty,therefore,tomake thepoliticianstoethelinewhenever youcan.(Laughterandapplause.)Do nothesitatetoputtheacidonthem, astheysaythemselves,wheneverthe chancearises.(Laughter.)Atany rate,yououghttotrythatmethod, andseewhattheoutcomeofitwill beafterthepoliticianshavesubmitted tothetreatmentforatime.(Laughterandapplause)" --E.W.C.
EnforcedCalibaq
ThelawofcelibacyfortheCatholic clergyissowellknownthatthere needsnofurtherreferencetoit.But thepublicmaybeastonishedtohear, saysaLondonexchangerecentli. thatcelibacyisbeingenforcedby BishopsoftheStateChurchoncertainclassesofcandidatesforordination.ThismakesoneoftheGuardian'scorrespondents'bloodboil.He thinksitanoutragetoforbidmarriage,asisbeingdone,hesays,to youngcurateswhoseprivateincome willnotwarranttheminsettingupa domesticestablishment.Inhisexcess ofindignation,heasks:-"Whatright hasanindividualBishop,orthe Churchforthematterofthat,todictatetoanycuratewhetherlieshallor shallnotgetmarried?Isthegirl expectedtowaittenortwelveyears untilherfiance,attheageofthirtyfiveorforty,ispresentedtoaliving? WhydonottheBishopsfacethereal problemwithcourage,andsaythat,so longasChurchpeopleneglecttopaycuratesalivingwageonwhichitis possibletogetmarriedandliveina humbleway,theyareguiltyofthesin ofemployingsweatedlabour?"We leavethecorrespondent'soutburstto speakforitself.ButwhatwillProtestantsthinkandsayofthesetwo Bishops,whoarenamed.forintroducingcelibacyamongtheirclergy?For thatiswhattheirpracticecomesto. Ifayoungcandidateforordershasnot moneytoliveon,hemustbeacelibate orremainalayman.
ChangeofPolicy. Ifitwerenotsotragic,itwouldbe amusingtoreadthecables,andthe commentsoftheMelbourneOrangeorgan-)laughter)-aboutthehungerstrikeatMountjoyPrison.Afew daysago,thatwell-informedpapertold usthattheEnglishGovernmentwas "standingfirm"-(laughter)-that"to giveintothehungerstrikerswould betoabdicate,"thattheEnglishgarrisonmightaswellquitIrelandaslet outthedyingprisoners.Thesame evening,whenwetookuptheHerald, wefoundthattheGovernmentwhich was'standingfirm'inthemorning, wasstandingdownintheevening.(Laughter.)TheGovernmentthat declaredthatitwasnotgoingto changeitspolicy,within24hoursdid changeitspolicy,andallowed86dy. ingSinnFeinersoutofMountjoyPrison.(Laughterandcheers.) Thesemen.whoseliveswerehang inginthebalance,weretakentotheir ownhomesortohospitals,torecover ortodie.Youwillhavenoticedthat onlythosewereletoutwhowerein imminentdangerofdeath.(Shame!) Englindkeptherfingeronthepulse oftheprisoners,andletoutthose whosepulseswerejustabouttostop. (Shame!)Youwillhaveobserved, also,thatwhentheseprisonerswere beinghandedovertotheitfriends,the EnglishsoldiersandtheIrishpolice werewithdrawnfromthestreets,and themaintenanceoflawandorderwas lefttotheSinnFeinIrishVolunteers. (applause.)ThefactsseemtoindisatethattheGovernmentofIrelandsuchasitis-has'putcontrolinthe IrishVolunteersandthosebehind them.(Applause.)Inalatermessage,wehavelearnedthat24other prisonersweresetfree,lesttheirblood maybeuponthepriso.. Wearestillinconstantfearthatwe shallhavecablegramstosaythatsome oftheunfortunatemenhavebeenkept toolongandhavedied. Howlongisthisstateofthingsto lastinIreland?Weknownot.But wedoknowthatonlyonethingcan bringpeaceinthatdistractedland, andthatistoputthegovernmentof thecountryintothehandsoftheonly peoplewhohavearighttogovernit: intothehandsoftheIrishpeoplethemselves.(Cheers., TheEducationQuestion. Atthissamefunction,theArchbishopmadeanimportantpronounce- mentonthesubjectofourCatholic schools.He,ofcourse,pointedout thatCatholicspaidtwiceoverfortheeducationoftheirchildren,oncecompulsorilytotheStateforthepro. visionofschoolstheycouldnotin conscienceuse,andagainvoluntarily fortheCatholicschools.Thisisa greatburden,andisnotexpectedof CatholicsanywhereelseintheBritish Empire.InSouthAfrica,theCatholics(onlyone-seventhofthepopulation) havetheirschoolsprovidedoutofthe generaltaxes,andtneteacherspaid bytheStateforthesecularwork done.Asimilarsystemprevailsin Canadaandelsewhere.Yetherein Australianoattemptismadetorem-edyCatholicgrievances,andcom- plaintsseemliterallyunheard.His Graceisrepottedasfollows:"Thosewhodonotbelongtothe CatholicChurch,orsomeofthem, cannotunderstandwhywebuildall theseCatholicschools.Theyregarda churchasmoreorlessnecessary,but manyofthemfailtounderstandwhy Catholicsshouldbuildandmaintain theirownschools.True,agreat numberofnon-Catholicsarebeginning tochangetheirattitudeinregardto thismatter.(Applause,)Protestant synodsandassembliesareheldfrom timetotime,andatthesegatherings regret,sometimesforcible,sometimes feeble,isexpressedthatnon-Catholicshavenotestablishedtheirownschools, asCatholicshavedone.But,sofaras primaryschoolsgo,wedonotsee thattheyaremakinganyeffortto remedythedefectwhichtheydeplore. TheymarvelatwhattheCatholicpeo- plearedoing,butitstopsatthat. Iamnotsurprisedthattheyhesi- tate.FortheburthenofCatholic educationisbecomingmuchheavier. moreintolerable,andmoregalling everyday.Thecostoflivingseems tobeeverincreasing,andbuildingmaterialsandschoolapplianceshave goneupconsiderablyinprice.Every householderknowsthatthepositionis verydifferentto-dayfromwhatitwas sometimeago,and,nodoubt,ifwe canbelievethePrimeMinisterand thosewhooughttoknow,theprofiteershavesomethingtodowiththe upwardmovementofprices.(Ap- plause.," HisGracethenreferredtoincreases recentlymadeinthesalariesofthe Catholicschool-teachers,andwenton tosaytheteachersshouldnotbeexpectedtoworkfornothing."Wehave torecognisethegreatclaimsofthe NunsandBrothersandthelayteachers.But,ofcourse,wehavetotake intoaccountalsotheheavyeducation. alburdensplacedupontheCatholic people.(Applause.)Ihavenohope thatfulljusticecanbedonetothereligiousandlayteachersuntiltheCatholicpeoplegetjusticethemselves fromthepeopleofVictoria.(Applause.)BeforetheCatholicpeople canputapennybyfortheirown schools,theyhavetopaytheirshare fortheStatesystemofeducation,and so Therefore,shoulderaheavydoubleburden. ourteachershavetobereasonableintheirdeMands,andmake uptheirmindsthat,inpresentcircumstances.Catholicteachersmustbe preparedtomakesacrifices.(Applause.)Theymayrightlyexpecta livingwage.(Applause.)ButtheymustnotoverburdentheCatholicpen ple.Thenewschemethathasbeen putintoforceaimsatdoingthefair andjustthingbetweentheteachers andthedouble-taxedCatholicpeople ofthediocese.(Applause.)Ifthe burdencannotbebornebythepeople ofanyparish,andiftheteacherscannotgetfairplay,then,inmyopinion, theschoolshouldnotbekeptopen.It wouldbeunjusttokeepaschoolopen unlesstheteachersarepaidareasonablesalary':(Applause.) Idonot believethatanyCatholicschoolwill beclosed,becausethepeople,when theyunderstandtheposition,willact justlyandgenerously.(Applause.)The nunsareoftheirownfleshandblood, andareentitledtoalivingwage,like themselves.(Applause.)TheChristianBrothersshouldnothaveto worryaboutto-morrow'sdinner,and thelayteachersshouldreceiveasalarythatwouldgivethemopportunitiestoliveindecentcomfortandto havereasonablerecreation.(Applause.)IrepeatthatuntilCatholics geteducationaljusticefromtheirfel. low-citizensinVictoria,wecannotdo fulljusticetoourteachers.(Applause.)
TheNewHomeRuleBill
ProfessorEoinMacNeill,T.D.E commentingonLloydGeorge's"Home Rule"Bill,saysthatitsuppliesagood examplificationofthewell-established politicalaxiomthattheGovernmentof onepeoplebyanotherisimpossible. TheproposalsofthePremierdonot reflectthewishesofanysectionofthe Irishpeople.LloydGCC:',;3andhis colleaguesarenotthinkingaboutbet tergovernmentforIreland,butofextractingthemaximumadvantagefor Englishimperialismoutofadifficult combinationofcircumstances.That iswhytheplanseemsnothinglessthanmalignant. ThesettlementoutlinedbyLloyd Georgehasthreemainfeatures.The firstis,thatDublinCastleremains. Second,taxationofIrelandremainsin Britishhands,andiskeptatitspresentstandard.Third,IrelandpartitionedbyDublin*Castlemeanstheappointmentofirresponsibleofficials workingasa