THE QUEEN OR THE POPE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 39, 15 February 1875, Page 2

THE QUEEN OR THE POPE.

To the Editor of tub < Evening Mail.' Sir—l am one of those wh» think that the thanks of the community are due to " Englishman" for calling attention to the very reprehensible conduct of gentlemen holding high positions under the Government in daring to offer an insult to their Queen while holding theme positionp, for in«ult it was, notwithstanding the asseriion of Father Binsfeld, that on the Continent it is the usual practice with Catholics to drink the health of the Hope before that of the Reigning Power, and that it is often propped by high officers of the Government, without their loyalty being in any way questioned. Sir, J^ibißlia^can speak as confliently ns Father* Binsfeld on the " nunners and customs of the British," nni whi'e I ..m prepared to admit that it is a common thing for Catholics to act as Father Binsfeld ssys, I deny that it is usual for Protestant clergj man to do so, nor j ia it customary for persons holding the Queen's commission in the volunteers to pasß a slight upon her Majesty while hjlding that commimon The chairman at this now celebrated dinner writes that the visitors were not responsible for the order of the toasts; probably not, but they were responsible for remaining in the room, and two at least of ihero, who hod Government appoi' trnents, would probably be acquainted with the order in which the toasts wire to be propose '. I mean Mr UndeSecretary Haughton and tur Jie.d.ient Magistrate, although possibly they might not have been aware th*t the proceedings would be made public. If it is part of tho religious belief of Catholics tint it is the ri«ht thing to do on these public occasions, then, I say, Catholics who uctept office under the Crown should take care not to be present Father Binsfeld also writes that the visitors knew ihe manners and customs ot the British, and needed no one to teach thorn, 'lhe reply to thia is supplied in the s-une paper, where Mr Simmo s very properly admits thnt he made a mistake which, on the spur of the moment, he did not know how to repair, an l the others o lght to make a similar Hdmiesion, when, probably, r.othing more would be uuid about it. I am, &c, f°'"~~'-- Briton. P S.—Sine? wribfng the above. I have seen the letters ot Meeurs Broad and Maclean. The former defends the loyalty of Catholics, and the latter merely asstrts it would be ungracious to throw the nUrae on his enterta;ners, while both ignore that what" KngJishrnan " complained of was, that Protestant clergymen and Government officers did an improper and disloyal act.