THE TABLET

A W eekly Newspaper and Review

Dum vobis gratulamur, animos etiam addimus ut in incceptis vestris constanter maneatis.

From the Brief of H is Holiness to T h e T a b l e t , June 4, 1870.’

Vol. 48. No. 1897. L o n d o n , A u g u s t 19, 1876.

P rice sd. B y P o st s l i d .

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

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C h r o n ic l e o f t h e W e e k :—

The Prime Minister. — The Leadership of the House o f Commons.— Changes in the Cabinet.—The Education Bill.— The Merchant Shipping Bill.— Prorogation o f Parliament.— The War in the East.— The Turks in Servia.— The Servian Emigration. Health o f Murad V .—Official Correspondence Relating to Bul•garia.— Debate in the Commons. — The New Slave Circular.— The Bravo Inquiry.— Richard Banner Oakley .................................... 225

C 0 N T

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L e a d e r s :

The Past Session . . .. .. 229 Prohibition of Open-air Religious

Functions in Italy . . . . 229 An Illustrious Episcopate.. . . 230 Political Position of Bulgaria . . 231 The Balham Inquiry .. . . 232 R e v ie w s :

Bishop Ullathorne’s Sermons . . 234 Franz Hettinger on Dante . . 234 The English Cathedrals .. .. 235 F. Caswall’s Latin Instructor . . 236 S hort N otices :

A ll Round the Moon . . . . 236 Story of a Vocation . . . . 236 Power o f St. Joseph . . .. 236 He that Overcometh .. .. 236

E N T S .

S hort N otices (continued):

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Cyclopedia o f Costume.— Part 14 237 New Testament . . .. . . 237 C orrespondence :

Catholic Eschatology . . . . 237 The Persecuted Polish Priests . . 237 Registration of Catholic Electors 237 P a r l ia m e n t a r y S ummary . . 237 R om e :— Letter from our own Correspondent .........................241 D io c e sa n N ews

Westminster........................ . . 242 Southwark . . . . . . . . 242 Beverley . . .. .. . . 242

D io ce san (continued);

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Hexham and Newcastle . Salford ........................ . . . 242

I r e l a n d

Letter from our Dublin spondent ..

Corre

F oreign N ews :—

Germany . . . . . M em o randa :—

Religious Educational . . Fine Arts G e n e r a l N ew s

CHRONICLE OF THE WEEK.

THE announcement that the Queen had been pleased to raise Mr. Disraeli to the peerage by the title of Earl of Beacons-

field took the world by surprise at the end of last week. It was unexpected, but now that it is done every one sees how appropriate it is. Accordingly, there is a chorus of approbation not only from Conservative but from Liberal journals It is felt to be the legitimate crowning of a great career. And what a wonderful career has been that of Benjamin Disraeli. When he first entered the House of Commons he was disliked, laughed at, almost despised. He has not only long ago lived down that feeling, but he has risen to be the head of a great party, and the leader of the House. In that capacity he has, by his tact and good temper, gained an immense popularity; indeed, if we leave Lord Palmerston out o f the question, he is certainly the most popular leader of the House that we in our time have seen. Mr. Disraeli’s triumphs have been won in the House of Commons; it is there that he has re-united a great party when it was reduced to a state of disorganisation even greater perhaps than that of the Liberal party at the present time. To him is due the far-seeing policy by which the Conservative party, animated by him with new hopes and new ideas, was re-organised, educated, held in restraint, until the favourable moment should arrive; and then, taking advantage of a false move on the part of the leader of the Liberal party, he led his party on to victory and to the position which it now occupies. Mr. Disraeli, then, has been essentially a typical member of the Lower House, knowing perhaps better than any man its traditions, its customs, its privileges, and its temper. Nevertheless, his elevation to the rank of the peerage has nothing incongruous in it. He is more “ aristocratic” than the haughtiest aristocrat. As has been said, his spirit has always moved amongst peers if he has not been there bodily. The robes of the peer will sit as naturally on him as on any that have been born in the peerage. “ In spite of race,” says the Times in a most complimentary article, “ he is a thorough “ Englishman, perhaps the most English of our politicians, “ . . . he succeeds in presenting himself as one to whom “ the old traditions of England, its ‘ Church,’ its nobility, “ its system of land-tenure, and every social peculiarity of its people, are parts of his very being.” As Catholics, we can never quite forgive Mr. Disraeli for writing Lot hair, but we are ready to acknowledge that the policy of the Ministry of which he is the head with regard to Catholic questions has been fair and more favourable than we perhaps could have hoped for. We can therefore honestly offer our congratulations on the great honour which has been conferred upon him. The Daily Telegraph can hardly find words in

! which to express its admiration for Mr. Disraeli’s persona! ' qualities, and concludes a characteristic article by sayingJ“ Of this renowned statesman, as of one of the greatest of

“ his old opponents, it may be truly said, in spite o f “ abatements here and there, ‘ We are all proud of him.’ ”

But the departure of Mr. Disraeli from the m n n w iP Lower House creates an undoubted difficulty of the for his party. Who is to lead them? Who is house of to lead the House ? Such a position demands commons, great qualities, besides those of mere ability and readiness in debate. A leader must have good temper, tact, the power of conciliation, self-restraint, knowledge of the forms of the House and of its traditions, ability to govern. It is not easy to find all these qualities in one man, and yet if any of them be wanting, he will fail to be an influential and popular leader. The choice of the party is limited to three, Sir Stafford Northcote, Mr. Hardy, and Mr. Cross. Of these the first-named is probably the best qualified, as being the best-trained, and it is almost certain that he will fill the post. Lord Beaconsfield as Prime Minister will of course lead the Upper House, but that is easy sailing after steering the vessel in the stormy seas of the Commons. We believe that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is undoubtedly a man of great abilities and of long training, will in the present consolidated state of the Conservative party be quite equal to the position and duties of leader of the House.

Lord Malmesbury having, through failing;

™ health resigned the office of Lord Privy Seal, cabinet. ^ has been conferred upon Mr. Disraeli, who will hold it in conjunction with that of First Lord of the Treasury. There is precedent for the Premier holding two offices, and that of the Privy Seal has no onerous duties attached to it. This makes a vacant seat in the Cabinet, and one of the outsiders in the Ministry must be called up. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Chief Secretary for. Ireland, will in all probability fill the vacant place.

The Education Bill has passed through the the educa- j i ouse 0f Lords without any alterations beyond i i o n b i l l . Q n e o r j WQ verjjaj amendments. A new clause was moved by Lord Stanley of Alderley, to the effect that “ nothing in clause 14 of the Act of 1870 shall be con“ strued as excluding the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s “ Prayer, and the Apostles’ Creed from the teaching in “ schools provided by School Boards.” Lord Stanley pointed out that though clause 14 was was not intended to exclude the Ten Commandments, &c., yet that it had been so interpreted in many cases. Only a few weeks ago a member of the London School Board handed in a protest against the Fourth Commandment having been asked for in an examination of boys for some prizes, and the chairman had re-

N e w S e r i e s , V o l . X V I . No. 406.