The Evening Star SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3802, 1 May 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1875.

persons, we imagine, will be inclined to find fault with Dr Moran’s recent lecture on the “ Bankruptcy of Liberalism,” so far, at all events, as the manner in which his Lordship stated his opinions is concerned. In this respect, indeed, the lecture might well serve as a model for all persons who wish to lay before the public their views’ on any political or religious question. The Bishop did not mince, matters in the slightest degree: his opinions were .given in the clearest and most unmiatakeable language ; but at the same time there was not one single expression in the whole lecture which could justly give offence even to those whose political and religious views are in every respect diametrically opposed to^those of the right reverend lecturer. But we are prepared to go even further than this, aud to admit that the discourse was thoroughly logical—that, in short, it is impossible to avoid coming to the same conclusion as his Lordship did if only we can be induced to give bur assent to his premises, We have, indeed, the highest respect for Dr Moran’s reasoning powers, but at the same timo we feel bound to state our opinion that he was very unfortunate in having to found Bis reasoning on an exceedingly weak set of premises. It is not possible, within the limits of a single article, to deal with more than a very small portion of these premises we shall therefore content ourselves with endeavoring to show that the principal pillar of the edifice which the Bishop has constructed is so thoroughly unsound, that the slightest test applied to it must infallibly bring the whole building down to the ground.

It seems to us that the main argument of the lecture is briefly this—Liberalise has promised to do great things for hummity. Dr Moran saysr liberalism commenced its career by promising a glorious future tolita votaries. Tliere were to be Liberty, Equality, and, Fraternity ; education was to oe spread abroad,, and the material interests of man were to be promoted wonderfully; universal chanty wturtb prevail; nations were, to become as brothers, and wars were to be at ah'eM. A glorious prospect was held out before the eyes of' humanity’ and now it was for them to see whether or not this had been realised.

In the next place, then, an attempt is made to show that not one of these prospective benefits to humanity has yet been realised, and that with regard to most of them any alteration that has taken place has been for the worse. The conclusion is inevitable Liberalism is bankrupt. It has entered into an obligation to confer certain benefits on humanity. It has been unable to meet its engagements, therefore it should file its schedule with all convenient speed, but this question naturally arises: does Liberalism,: which is defined perhaps correctly enough as “ that doctrine which maintains the perfect independence of human liberty,” make any such absurd promises as those contained in the quotation given above ; or are not such promises characteristic rather of some ideal Liberal, whose.archetype is to be found only m the imaginations of the party whose champion Dr Moran is ? Of course we do not wish to deny that Liberalism has its fanatics as well as Roman of these have undoubtedly entertained extravagant notions with regard to its nature and objects, but it is as unfair to consider these the representatives of the Liberals, as it would be to make Guy Fawkes, or Gerard, or Charles IX. do duty as representative Roman Catholics. To us, indeed, it seems that it is not Liberalism that can be justly charged with bankruptcy, but rather Conservatism Indeed it would give us very great pleasure to hear a man of Bishop Moran’s calibre lecture on the “Insolvency of Conservatism.” If there is in the world a country in which the views of the Ultramontane party have had a fair opportunity of being thoroughly carried out, that country is Spain. It has never been infected with heresy for the last three centuries or with Liberalism; even now the country is thoroughly loyal to the Papal See ; here then, if anywhere, we might expect to see some of the good results which Bishop Moran thinks unquestioning faith and subservience to authority are capable of producing. But whut do we see? Is not Spain the most backward country in Europe, arc there not at this present moment two Catholic sovereigns engaged in carrying on a destructive war within it? Where is its literature ? Can Bishop Moran point out one eminent scientific Spaniard ? Where, in short, are the fiuits that Conservatism produces ? But this is by the way. Liberalism does not profess to make all crooked matters straight with a single turn of the wrist, so to speak. All its “votaries” claim is to he allowed when they are con-: vinced that a thing is palpably and irretrievably wroug to say so,, and to endeavor to set it right. They refuse to be governed by principles that were laid down generations ago by persons who had not, and could not have any knowledge of

the practical needs of this present time, when it is plain to them that these principles are false and calculated to .prevent progress and to|ipflict injury. lsat fe.aU that Liberalism claims. It is qniteabsnrd to! say that Liberalism has promised to do this, that and the other thing. Thoaj whohold liberal principles are just in this gSMtian. They have become alive to the" intolerable abuses and injustice which have’ sprung from a blind submission to a still blind t authority, and they have determine d to cast off this submission in so far as it is blind; they have bad sad experience of the fate that is likely to overtake the blind, when .they are-under the-guidance of blinddeaders; their sight has been partially restored, and they are gluing their best to struggle out ot the ditch as best they may. if these are the- true principles of Liberalism, it follows - that Dr Moran’i? argument is of no value. If Liberalism has made no promises, but has, merely endeavored to extricate human (affairs out of theintolerable muddle in whicha stupid ( Conservatism has placed them* then -it can ■ hardly be Maintained that a failure to answer : the requirements sketched oat in the Bishop’s ; fancy picture of the programme of Liberal sm should ho considered a prdof of bankruptcy. ■ It may be as well to shy* a" word or two : with regard to what seems to be a misconception on Rishop : Moran's part as to the unwillingness of Liberals th submit to'author ri'y. The truth is that iu this respect there :s, except in one point, very little difference between Libera’s and Conservatives -The idberal has quite as much respect for authority as a i ousorvafciv.; has. Neither-will submit to an authority which he does not recognise; that is .which his reason, such as it is, docs not tell him has a right to bs lo considered The reason is with both the ultimate standard of appeal... ; Au Ultramontane, for instance, is convince i that the Pope is infallible. His reason tells him that though there may be much t>> be said against the doctrine, yet the weight of evidence' is in favor of it. To racsb Liberals, on.the conarguments’in favor cf infallibility in any human being whatever are not convincing : they do not satisfy his reason. Show him, however, that there is an authority on which his judgment may rely, and he will respect it and obey it Each will act in accordance with the dictates of the reason that is in him. The main difference between the two is that very little indeed, will convince ■ the one, while exact proof is required by the other. So at all events it appears ta us...