THE TABLET. A Weekly Newspaper and Review.

DOM VOBIS GRATÜLAMUR, ANIMOS ETIAM ADDIMDS ÜT IN INCCEPTIS VESTRIS CONSTANTER MANEAT1S.

From, the B r i e f o f H is Holiness P iu s IX . to T h e T a b l e t , June 4, 1870.

V o l . 84. No. 2845. L o n d o n , N o v e m b e r 17, 1894. P rice 5d. by p o s t 5« d .

[Registered at the General Post Office as a Newspaper

Chronicle of the Week :

Page

The Situation in Madagascar — Madagascar tc be a French Colony — The National Federation and the Government— The Unity of the Empire— The Dublin Corporation and Mr. M o r le y— A New Railw ay to London— Prospects of Peace — Proposed Mediation of the United States— An Atlantic Mediterranean Canal— The Retirement of Mr. Schnadhorst— Arrival o f the Queen at Windsor— Mr. Balfour a t N e w c a s t l e — T h e Imperial Chancellor and Prince Bismarck— Lord Rosebery on the 'N ext Election..................................757 Leaders: M . Dalbus and Anglican Ordina­

tions . . . . . . . 761 Catholics— To the Polls . . . . 762 Rural Organization in Italy . . 762 Secular Canonesses.........................763

C O N T E N T S .

Leaders (Continued) :

A Dominican Professor in a Dutch

Page

Universtiy . . . . . . . . 764 N otes . . .. . .. 765 The Story o f the South Hackney

Election . . . . . . . . 767 Reviews :

Sir William Gregory, K .C .M .G . 768 Matthew Austin . . . . . . 769 Heroes in Homespun . . . . 769 Eighteenth Century y ignettes . . 770 The Imitation of Christ . . . . 770 Sir Philip Sidney . . . . . . 771 The Portfolio . . . . . . 771 Books o f the Week ............. 771 M. Dalbus and Anglican Orders . . 771 Correspondence :

Rome :— (From Our Own Corre­

spondent) . . . . . . . . 773 News from Ire la n d ...................... . 775 Letters to the Editor :

L ’Abbé Duchesne and Anglican

Orders ......................... . . 776

Letters to the E ditor (Con­

tinued) : The Infinite Substance and Panthe­

Page ism ............................................... 776 Bibliography of the Rosary . . 777 A Pilgrimage to Holywell . . . . 777 The Rev. Stewart Headlam and

Religion .. . . . . . . 777 St. Cuthbert’s Bell and St. Cuthbert’s Well . . . . . . 778 Provincial and London School

Boards . . .. ., . . 778 The Liquor Traffic and Parish

Councils . . . . . . . . 778 Surreptitious Communions.. . . 778 New Church of Our Most Holy

Redeemer, Upper Cheyne-row, Chelsea, S.W . , . . . . . 778 Ransom o f Slaves . . . . . . 778 A Question of Law . . . . . . 779 The Bishop o f Limerick and Mr.

T . P. O ’Connor, M .P . . .. 779 “ The Leinster Leader” on Mr.

T . P. O ’Connor . . . . . . 780

The Medal of the Immaculate Con­

ception .................................... 780 Re-opening o f St. George’s Cathe­

dral ............................................... 7Po Memorial to Father William Barry 781 News from the Dioceses : Westminster . . .. ... 782

Southwark . . . . . . ..782 Nottingham .. . . . . . . 782 Salford ......................... . . 782 Marriage .. . .. .. 782 Social and Political .. .. 784

SU P P L EM E N T . N ews from t h e Schools :

London School Board Election . . 789 The Bishop o f Salford and the

School Board Election . . . . 790Plymouth Schools .. . . . . 791 The Christian Brothers’ Schools.. 792 St. Peter’s School, Woolwich . . 793 Victory^ o f the Voluntary School

Candidates at Royton . . . . 793 Halifax Catholics and the School

Board Election . . . . . . 793

* * R e je c te d M S . can not be r e tu rn e d un le ss accom panied w i th address a n d postage.

C H R O N I C L E O F T H E W E E K .

THE SITUATION IN MADAGASCAR. O 1 NE of Reuter’s representatives has had an interview with an Englishman who has just returned after a long residence in Madagascar. He reports that when he left there was no special excitement and the condition of affairs at Tamatave was normal. The feeling of the people, however, both there and at Antananarivo was as anti-French as possible, as was confidently expected. This observer says it is incredible that the French Government can have thought of sending a military expedition at this time of year. Not only are the coming months fearfully unhealthy, but the rains will make the routes to the capital absolutely impracticable. I f they mean to wait till the spring it was hardly wise to have virtually declared war now, and so have given the Hovas six months in which to get ready. Already the Hovas have evacuated Tamatave and, as they did eleven years ago, have entrenched themselves a few miles from the town. As the French are well aware that the Hova power is weakest on the western side of the island, they may advance by way of Luberbieville to the capital. Under ordinary circumstances, and for small parties, this journey would take about twelve days. It is about half as long again as the Tamatave route, but then there is a water-way and the road is not so difficult. In the opinion of this observer the crisis will be over before the French troops come in sight of the capital, a final and decisive fight will take place somewhere between the capital and the coast, and if the Hovas are beaten, their power will be broken. They have never really faced European troops, and it is very doubtful how they would come out of the ordeal. But to destroy the power of the Hovas will be an easier task than to govern the country without them. The Malagasy are intensely loyal, and if the French could arrange to govern in the name of the Queen many difficulties would be removed. But if France attempts to oust the Hovas— whose Government has been in many ways a blessing to the people and, rough as it is, is a great improvement on former Administrations— and to govern the island herself, she will have to encounter endless difficulties. The eastern route to the capital takes only eight days but is regarded as almost impossible for a large body of men.

New Series, Vol. LII., No. 2,154

On Tuesday M. Hanotaux, the French - “ R Minister for Foreign Affairs, made his long- f r e n c h c o l o n y , expected statement about Madagascar, He began by recalling the events which preceded the Treaty of 1885, and recited its chief clauses. The Hovas, he said, never respected the treaty, and always refused to recognize the clause dealing with the exequatur question. Several Frenchmen had been assassinated, and even the official representatives of France had been in danger. Such a state of affairs could not last. The French President in Madagascar had declared that it was indispensable that his countrymen should withdraw from the interior. M. le Myre de Vilers had been therefore sent out to demand the complete execution of the treaty of 1885. He was also told to stipulate for an increase in the permanent escort of the representative of France. The time allowed for a favourable reply had now elapsed, and the Government accordingly were about to ask the Chamber to grant the necessary credits for securing the full realization of the French Protectorate. The Minister then went on to say : “ We have established in the island a centre of commerce, and the first results of our colonization permit us to augur well for the future. Madagascar will become a flourishing French colony. It is essential that we should have a sufficient military force at Antananarivo. The expeditionary column must be strong enough to go straight to the Hova capital. The operations will not take place immediately, but we want time to prepare for the expedition, and we ask Parliament to vote the necessary credit. We estimate that 15,000 men and 65,000,000 francs will be sufficient. We are free from all engagements towards foreign Powers. We have complete liberty of action.” In conclusion, after refering to the general condition of Europe and to the death of the Tsar, the speaker said the Government felt that it could without fear detach a portion of the army, for Europe was in a state of profound peace. “ The death of him whom we regret, makes no change in the political situation. We can give ourselves up in all security to the consideration of our interests and our honour.” The end of this speech was received with general cheering, and the Chamber has appointed a Committee of eleven members to examine the proposal. General Duchesne, commanding the Belfort Division, will command the expedition.

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION AND THE GOVERNMENT. While the body that represents the Irish capital was thus busily engaged in proclaiming its want of confidence in the Government, the National Federation