AGGRESSIVE AND ASSUMPTIVE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 86, 19 December 1874, Page 6

AGGRESSIVE AND ASSUMPTIVE.

A good cry, particularly if it can be condensed into one or two telling words, has been found to be a most efficacious weapon for assailing an opponent. It does not matter much ■whether or not there is even a particle of truth in the cry ; if it be striking and repeated sufficiently often, it never fails to produce an effect more or less injurious to the person whom it assails. For example: to call anyone aggressive and assumptive for a considerable period is sufficient to produce a - conviction in the minds of many that the person thus assailed is both aggressive and assumptive, though in reality he may be neither the one nor the other. This is very unjust, and the only remedy appears to be to pursue the slarder and expose it. These thoughts have been suggested by some observations made by the "Wellington correspondent of the ' New Zealand Herald,' which appeared in the issue of that paper under date November 30. This writer, speaking of Bishop Redwood, says : — " He is apparently free from that aggressive and assumptive spirit which so distinguishes Bishop Mohan." Those who know Bishop Moban", when they read these words, will be certainly amazed. Aggressive and assumptive spirit ! "What proof has Bishop Moea>~ given of such a spirit ? Few men confine themselves so exclusively to the discharge of the duties peculiar to their office as does this prelate. He is hardly, if ever, seen at public places or meetings ; and it is notorious that he is fond of retirement, and indifferent as to recognition. It is very probable that the ' Herald's' Wellington correspondent has no personal knowledge whatever of Bishop MoiU-N ; and that he has considered himself justified in calling him aggressive and assumptive because he found the Otago newspapers designating him by these terms. But we beg to assure this our brother of the Press that the Otago newspapers are not infallible, and that, on the contrary, they are very liable to mistakes, particularly on all questions affecting Catholics, and above all, ecclesiastics. Tlia Wellington correspondent of the ' Herald ' had better be very much on his guard as to giving implicit credit to newspaper reports from this quarter, if he be desirous to avoid making people laugh at his expense. Bishop Moban has never injured or attacked any man in person, property, or character ; he has never claimed anything for himself to which he had not a strict right ; and he has never unnecessarily assailed even an abuse. But there have been things which the duties of his office have compelled him to do, which, as was to be expected, did not please everybody. There have been times, too, when he was called upon to defend the interests committed to his charge, from the assaults of enemies. And all this he lias done openly, above-board, and without flinching. These are the acts, which certain writers in the Press, in a loose and incorrect phraseology not unusual with them, have called evidences of an aggressive and assumptive spirit. In any one else, Bishop Moban's mode of proceeding would have been regarded as only natural and becoming ; but the idea down here in these almost perfectly educated provinces, is that it is highly aggressive and assumptive in a Catholic Bishop to warn his people against societies fouuded for the express purpose of destroying their faith, and uprooting their Church ; to repel calumnious assaults on his own and their religion and its ministers ; to guard the faith and morals of the rising generation amongst Catholics from the inherent dangers of secular, mixed and godless schools ; and to protest against their being plundered for the maintenance of institutions established with the thinly veiled object of destroying Catholicity. This is the new definition of aggression and assumption! Bishop Moban, and the Church and religion which he is bound to defend, have been attacked in the Press ; the faith of the children committed to his charge has been assailed in schoolbooks, by a system of education at once sectarian and godless, and in many other ways. And because he dared to have the courage to defend himself and thorn, he is called aggressive and assumptive! The truth is, the aggression and assumption have been on the opposite side. Bishop MoßANhas assumed nothing, and lias studiously abstained from doing more than was absolutely necessary for legitimate defence. When, or where, has he assailed any man's" religion ? When, or ■wbere, has he attempted to depiive any man of a right ? When, or where, has he intruded himself on any man or body of men ? And might he have not assumed a great

deal, without incurring just censure for aggression and assumption ? But it is almost in vain to argue, to disprove, or to protest. Voltaire bequeathed to the enemies of the Church a principle, calling on them to lie against her, and all that belongs to her ; to lie intrepidly, to lie without ceasing ; and well have they followed his injunction.