The Evening Star SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3427, 14 February 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1874

The telegraphic news from Sydney, brought by the Phcebe, is interesting on many grounds. It tells of political, religious, and warlike movements in the old world—in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The phases differ in each division of the globe according to the intelligence and civilization of the inhabitants of the country in which they took place. In Great Britain, it is an election movement j in Germany, a continuance of the struggle between Ultramontanism and Monarchy ; in Spain, civil war ; on the Gold Coast, driving back barbarism ; at the Cape, a Caffrarian insurrection; in Acheen, Dutch successes for the maintenance of Dutch monopoly. _ In England, as in Germany, religious differences are at the bottom of the political movements, and seem likely

for a time to arrest the progress of sound social advancement. From the nature of the sentiment, religious enthusiasm is conservative. It assumes the perfection of the principles on which it professes to be based, and of the institutions that have arisen from traditional ideas of their bearing upon social life. Other classes of knowledge may advance ; other teachers may adopt methods of instruction better adapted to the advancement of sound and intelligent ideas ; but reverence for the past will not admit the necessity for change in imparting knowledge of religion. W hen, therefore, an Executive attempts to mould existing institutions into accordance with the spirit of the age, and to adapt them to existing wants, the cry of the “ Church in danger” is raised, and generally the first successes are on the side of those who would perpetuate ecclesiastical bondage. Pharisaism and its persecuting spirit take form and movement in all countries under different names : it is Ultramontanism in Germany; State Churchism in England; religious educationism in England’s offshoots. Mr Gladstone has done much for English freedom ; more than any Minister that ever yet moulded the destinies of an Empire. But the tone of the English newspapers either indicates a change, or what is more likely, the journals from which our telegraphic summaries are taken, or the telegraphists are opposed to the Ministry of the day. If we are to believe those telegraphic intimations, the Conservatives are gaining ground, and the fall of Mr Gladstone’s Ministry is likely. We are informed that 106 Liberals and 136 Conservatives have been returned. Possibly this may he true, but as we are not informed what constituencies are represented, experience in such matters is quite sufficient to lead to hesitation in accepting it as true, or, if true, as an indication of the final result of the election ; especially as only one of the Ministry has been rejected, and he may be elected for another constituency. At the same time there are powerful parties at work who may unite to oust a Government daring enough to resist change when it is merely for the sake of change, as with the “ Home rule ” politicians; or to initiate it where needed, as in the extension of the county franchise, or the .disestablishment of the English Church. Each of these parties seeks to place men in office from whom they can wrest concessions as the price of support. Conservatism has thus been made the tool for obtaining what it has opposed ever since the passing of the Keform Bill, and even prior to that period. From Conservatism, Catholic emancipation, free trade, and other great movements, were wrung, Not from its strength, but from its weakness. M r Gladstone may not continue to hold office, but, in opposition, he may do what in power he was unable to effect; and the result will be that, if he lives, he mast return at the head of a party better organized and stronger through escaping the divisions that must necessarily, at no distant date, break up Mr Disraeli’s motley army. Germany is doing its work in its own peculiar way. It is consciously or unconsciously asserting religious liberty, and driving back the Homan hierarchy into their proper domain. We may not admire the arbitrary style of military Governors, but necessity has no laws, and when men, lay or clerical, step out of the sphere of their duties, and assume to meddle with other matters than fall within their range, they must not be surprised if they are somewhat gruffly told to mind their own business. It may be very unpleasant, but it is necessary. We find it so here; and if the hierarchy would only learn the, lesson they would becomeaware that, whether in Germany, England, or England’s Colonies no such outspeaking would be possible were it not supported by widespread public opinion. The King of Ashantee has had to pay dearly for his belligerent freaks. The indemnity is a mere trifle, scarcely a fifth of the cost of the nasty little war, but it may render his Majesty so poor as to prove a heavy bond to keep the peace in future. The Caffre affair may yet prove troublesome, and as for the Acheenese the only wish we have is that the Dutch may be soundly thrashed ; but we fear they are too strong and wealthy. Spain is as turbulent as ever, and seems not likely to improve.