CARDINAL MORAN AND THE WAR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2, 11 January 1900, Page 4

CARDINAL MORAN AND THE WAR.

The following is taken from the report of an interview accorded by Cardinal Moran to a representative of the Sydney Daily Telegraph :—: —

' What is your attitude concerning the despatch of troops from the colonies V

' Some months ago, when the matter was first mooted, I stated that if the volunteers asked me for my advice I would tell them to remain where they are. Australia needs all her sons at home. My view of the matter was that the despatch of such a contingent would destroy the character of our volunteers. I look upon our volunteers as essentially for the defence of Australia, and I have encouraged in every way the organisation of volunteer forces. But while you may ask men engaged in different professions and occupations to embrace the career of volunteers, it becomes quite a different thing if such men are expected to go to every place where a British war may happen to be carried on. We need our volunteers here. The present war has shown that England has no land army to dispose of. If a Russian force landed in Australia to-morrow, we would have to depend upon our own volunteers. I look upon the English navy in its own sphere as holding probably the highest place it has ever attained, but the present war has sufficiently shown that so far as the land army is concerned, Australia, if ever attacked, must rely on her own sons. We have no standing army in Australia ; we depend on our volunteers, and every well-wisher of the oountry would like to see the volunteers well disciplined and trained, and prepared in every way to defend their homes, and assert our liberties.

' I suppose, your Eminence, I may say that your sympathies are with the British in the present war V

His Eminence smiled as he replied : ' Well, my cousin Captain Eenna, of the Lancers, who won the Victoria Cross at Omdurman, is now at the front, and several other relatives of mine are also there.'

' But apart from your personal feelings with regard to the war itself ?'

' I would not care to say a single word regarding the origin of the war, which is entirely hidden from me. From a religious point of view, I think it better not to express any wish as to the result of the war. The Boers have been, perhaps, of all powers in modern times most hostile to the Catholic Church, and if I wished success to the army attacking them it might be said I had some religious interests in the matter. Nothing would please me better than the conversion of the Boers, but in regard to the war against them I must give expression to no wish whatever. I hope that all the men who are going from here may come back safely, but I am afraid that is hoping too much. I expect to be able to send a chaplain with the second contingent.'