A RELIGIOUS DIFFICULTY.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 162, 4 September 1880, Page 3

A RELIGIOUS DIFFICULTY.

Tin? expediency of appointing Roman Catholics to ofli iiile as Governors of dependencies of tin- British Crown has occupied ii good deal of attention since oor last, and with regard to the recent appointment of Lord Ripon as Viceroy of India much angry dismission lias taken place. Of course Mr. Gladstone's selection has given the greatest satisfaction to the Roman Catholics of England, but the Protestant, element cannot find words strong enough to express their disapproval of the course punned In- d, e Premier in this matter. It is affirmed that in Scotland the popularity of Mr. Gindstone lias in consequence of tin's npooinfiiient dwindled down to zero, and that if he were again to contest Midlothian he would he rejected bv a large majority. But he this as it may ih-j General As seml.ly of the Established Church of Scotland have just agreed by II J to ~i2 to protest against the appointment, and an influential meeting is to ho held in Exeter Hall on Juno 18 for a simihr purpose. Without saving one word as to the merits of Loid Ltipon for his now ollice, it is preposterous to nss"tt that. Roman Catholics ought not to occupy the high position of Governors of the dependencies of the British crown, and it is ns uufair as it is unjust lo say that everyone so appointed will promote the interests not of Great Britain, hut of Rome. In fact, for a refutation of this absurd statement, it needs only to turn to that rising and prosperous young colony, Tasmania, where Mr. Weld, who is a zealous member of the Roman Cntholic Church, has discharged his duties with faithfulness to the Crown, and with everv satisfaction to the colonists and the Imperial Government. His appointment, it will be remembered, excited the same misgivings wdiich have alarmed so many of the Protestants of England with regard to Mr. Gladstone's choice of a successor to Lord Lytton, but Mr. Weld soon proved that thoro was no foundation for their alarm, and similarly the view obtains that Lord Ripon will shortly demonstrate that it is possible to combine fidelity to conscientious convictions with the utmost lovaltv to his Queen and country. As the Bishop of Tasmania, who, in a letter to tho Times, in which lie hears testimony to the zealous aid faithful performance of the du tios of Mr. Weld, nay* there seems to bo a choico between two alternates only, either the Crown must retnrn to its practice of limiting its selection to thoM who bebng to the Established Church or extend it t> those wh">, whntover their creed poMoss the fittest qualificntions for the highest offlcei of State-Kurepenn Mail