BISHOP MORAN'S LECTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 3799, 28 April 1875, Page 3

BISHOP MORAN'S LECTURE.

To the Editor, I have read in the ‘ Guardian ’ this morning Bishop Moran’s lecture on “ Tho Bankruptcy of Liberalism.” and to my mind the Bishop has signally failed to show how Liberalism is bankrupt ; he has rather confirmed me in the fact that, if it had not been for Liberal ideas, the peoples of Europe, Asia, and America would have been a century behind the present in all that is good and noble. Does the Bishop forget that it was Liberalism that gave Catholic emancipation ; does he forget that Liberalism gave the abolition of the corn laws, and docs be forget that Liberalism has been the root, the growth, and substance of the greatness of Great Britain—a free Italy—a free Germany —free American Republics—and freedom from slavery, so far as the body is concerned ? Liberalism may be abused, as it has been in France; but what is there called liberty, equality, and fraternity are the worst features of democracy, and not Liberalism. The Liberalism of Britain, Germany, and Italy has been the means of ennobling the races, ami that through centralisation, notwithstanding what the Bishop may say to the contrary. The bishop says Liberalism might be defined as “ That doctrine which maintains the perfect independence of human liberty,” to which I say “Amen” Hut what is Despotism ? Well, it would be a pity if by such lectures as the specimen before us, we are compelled to analis and rake up “the ashes of the um.” We know what it has been in the past. We know what the Vatican has done under the rule of men styling themselves Christian bishops, and we know even in this nineteenth centmy what rhey would do if they had the power. Men's consciences would be under the power of a fallible man claiming infallibility; and we in Otago would require to give in to every dictum that might emanate from Bishop Moran, he being the mouthpiece of the Vatican—which he evidently believes is the only authority for our guidance in matters either spiritual or temporal 1 may trespass on your columns again, but would rather refrain from doing so. I can only regret that a man of education, like the' Bishop, could have given utterance to such retrograde ideas as he has done, and hope that his next hj cture will be one characterised with more liberality.—l am, &c., A Liberal Conserva” ive, Dunedin, April 28.