THE TABLET A W eekly Newspaper a n d Review .

DUM VOBIS GRATULAMUR, ANIMOS ETIAM ADDIMUS UT IN INCCEPTIS VESTRIS CONSTANTER MANEATIS. *

From Ike B r ie f o j H is Holiness P iu s IX . to T h e T a b l e t , June 4, iS/O

V ol. 91. No. 3013. L ondon, F e b r u a r y 5, 1898.

P r ice sd., b y P ost sJ£d.

[R e g is tered a t t h e G e n e r a l P o st O f f ic e a s a N ew spaper.

C hronicle o f t h e W e e k ! Page

President Mackinley and the Gold Standard — Action in the Senate and the House — The Coming Session— The Revolt in Uganda — Strong Indictment for the Trench Naval Department— The End o f the Engineering Dispute — Evening School Grants — The Course of Events in the Far East — Last Details o f the Position There— Public Opinion Abroad— Steamer Wrecked in the Channel — LordW . Nevill Committed for Trial— London Municipalities . . 193 L e a d e r s :

The Vindication and “ The Stan­

dard ” ......................... . . 197 Sir Benjamin Browne on the Late

Strike .................................... 198

CONTENTS.

L eaders Continued):

Page

The Bread Riots in Italy . . 199 The Ambrosian Liturgy . . . . 200 N o tes . .. - . . 202 Rome and Prayer for England . . 204 R ev iew s :

Beati Petri Canisii, Soc. Jesu,

Epistolae et A c ta . . . . .. 204 The Life of Sir Stamford Raffles 205 H .R .H . the Prince o f Wales . . 206 Within Sound of Great Tom . . 206 “ The English Historical Review” 207 For a K i n g .................................... 207 C orrespondence :

Rome :— (From Our Own Corre­

spondent) . . . . — — 209 News from Ireland — — 211 News from France . . . . . . 213

L e t t e r s to t h e E d itor :

Pentateuchal Questions Father Wyndhamand “ The Free

Page

-- 215

mason ” Controversial Methods .. British Law and the Religious Com­

munities . . ......................... School Board Religion Sacred Well at Cardiff Books of the Week . . . . . . 219 O b it u a r y . . . . ... . . 220 Social a n d P o l it ic a l . . . . 221

216 217 217 219 21Q

SU PPLEM ENT. N ews from t h e S chools:

The London Univeisity Question 225 The Relations of Primary and

Secondary Schools . . . . 226 St. Aloysius’ School, Springburn,

G la s g o w ......................... . . 226

N ews from t h e D ioceses : Page

Westminster Southw a rk .................................... Birmingham.......................................221 Clifton ......................... L i v e r p o o l ......................... Northampton Salford ....................... . . . — Newport .......................................228 The Irish Catholic University Ques­

226 227

227 227 228

tion . . . . . . . . . . 229 Catholic Truth Society’s Publica­

tions .. ^ . . . . . . . 229 The Church in Rhodesia . . . . 230 John Stuart Mill and Puseyism . . 230 Notre Dame Des Missions . . . . 230 The Roger Bacon Society . . . . 2 3 0

* Rejected MS. cannot be returned unless accompanied with address and postage.

CHRONICLE OF THE WEEK.

questions clear and conclusive for all time, we are bound in good conscience to undertake, and if possible realize it. That is our commission ; that is our present charter from the people.” The President’s uncompromising language was the more significant because even while he was speaking, the Senate was discussing a resolution declaring United States bonds to be payable either in gold or silver.

PRESIDENT MACKINLEY

AND THE GOLD STANDARD. T

HE silver question has entered into a new phase during the week, and the Republican Party is now definitely committed to the sound money cause. Speaking at a banquet at New York given by the National Association of Manufacturers of the United States, the President spoke his mind with unequivocal decision. After speaking of the commercial prospects of the country and the necessity for seeking new markets, he went on to declare that another duty resting upon the National Government was to “ regulate the value of its money by the highest standards of commercial honesty and national honour. The money of the United States is and must for ever be unquestioned and unassailable. If doubts remain they must be removed; if weak places are discovered they must be strengthened. Nothing should ever tempt us — nothing ever will— to scale down the sacred debt of the nation through a legal technicality. Whatever may be the language of the contract, the United States will discharge all its obligations in currency recognized as the best throughout the civilized world at the times of payment, nor will we ever consent to wages or frugal savings being scaled down by permitting payment in dollars of less value than the dollars accepted as the best by every enlightened nation.” Under existing conditions, continued Mr. M’Kinley, citizens had no excuse if they did not redouble their efforts to secure such financial legislation as to place their honourable intentions beyond dispute. All who, like his co-banqueters, represented the great conservative yet progressive business interests of the country owed it not only to themselves but to the people to insist on the settlement of the great question now or else face the alternative of a further submission to the arbitration of the polls. This was a plain duty to the voters who 15 months ago had won the great political battle on the issue, among others, that the United States Government would not permit a doubt to exist anywhere concerning the stability and integrity of the currency or the inviolability of its obligations of every kind. Such, said the President, was his interpretation of that victory. “ Whatever effort is required to make the settlement of vital

New Series Vol. LTX., No. 2,322,

Mr. Teller’s resolution was to the effect

— a c t i o n i n tha.t to pay the bonds of the United States t h e h o u s e . in S1*7er dollars is not a violation of the public faith, nor in derogation of the rights of the public creditor.” This resolution is word for word the “ Stanley Mathews resolution,” which alter two months’ debate passed both Chambers in 1877 by majorities of two-thirds ; President McKinley, at that time in the House of Representatives, voting “ aye.” Senator Teller was successful in getting the resolution carried by 47 votes to 32. Twelve Senators who are, or have been, Republicans voted in the majority. Only one Democrat, Mr. Caffrey of Louisiana, voted with the minority. The centre of interest now shifted to the House of Representatives, in which both parties were eager to join issue without delay. No doubt was entertained that the House would throw out the resolution, but there was much anxiety and speculation as to whether the Republicans would be able to keep their ranks unbroken. In the event it was found that loyalty to the President had prevailed over every sectional feelmg,and the House of Representatives defeated the resolution by 182 to 132. In the debate, Mr. Dingley said that the Teller resolution, no matter how innocent technically or ineffective, was an attack, and meant to be an attack, on the financial honour of the country, meant to prepare the way for free coinage at 16 to 1 and for the payment of United States debts in depreciated currency. Such, he said, was the intent of its final clause. He denounced that as an act which the moral sense of the world would regard as one of bad faith, which would injure the credit and standing of the nation, and would end in making the United States a silver monometallic country like Mexico and China. For the present, therefore, the President and the House are arrayed against the Senate.

THE COMING

SESSION.

Mr. Chamberlain made a spirited speech before the Birmingham Jewellers’ Association on Saturday. Happily describing the Government’s legislation on schools and agricultural rates as choses jug'ees, he passed on to the legislation which