CARDINAL MORAN AND EMPIRE DAY

New Zealand Tablet, 8 June 1911, Page 1069

CARDINAL MORAN AND EMPIRE DAY

■3..... In the course of'an interview published in the Sydney Daily Telegraph of May 24 his Eminence Cardinal Moran is reported to have spoken as follows; ‘ Empire Day,’ said the Cardinal, is a purely discredited movement in England. It was inaugurated by the extreme Tory Party, and was at first known as Primrose Day, and it : is a fact that the party which organised the political movement has been in opposition to every matter of progress introduced into the British Parliament. Hence I say. it is discredited by the leaders of the Liberal Party. Here in Australia we are supposed to have a Liberal Party to. guide us along, the paths of progress, and if we abandon the paths of progress Australia will very soon enter upon the stage of its decay. . . . . ‘ And the reason that I think Australia should devote attention to herself and not to the mere local questions of England, is that the British Empire is at present like a three-legged stool. The seat, of course, is in England and Canada, - South Africa and Australia are really the legs and the pillars which support the seat. The extreme political party would say, “Let us mind the seat; never mind the legs.”' : I say, on the contrary,. “Let us mind our leg and help to make the seat secure, and for the rest the seat will be able to look after itself.” They have the wealth of the world in England, and there has been no stronger Empire known in the history of the universe than Great Britain is at the present day, so that it is folly for us to _ say that the Empire is not able to look after Home questions. As real patriots we must attend to things in our midst, and help to develop Australia, for by developing Australia we are really preparing a new phase of splendor for the Empire, which will surpass even its former greatness. I mean to say that Australia must become the key of the Pacific Ocean, as the future of the world will depend very much on the success of Australia in maintaining its prestige as the holder of the key of the Pacific. ‘ Now, regarding the schools entertainment and " the allegations of disloyalty, it would be well if the- hymn which the children are to sing to-day were published, in order that it might bear out what I have said with regard to our interest in the progress of this fair land.

r ■ v An Address to the King. ‘That should be a fitting reference «to the children,’ continued the Cardinal. ‘I ' may mention that during the week the Archbishops and Bishops of the Commonwealth have forwarded for presentation to the King on'Coronation Day the following address, * which is. a gem of art: — ft'> ‘Your Majesty,Permit me on the part of the Archbishops and Bishops of the Australian Commonwealth, whose names are hereto attached, to offer your Majesty on your Coronation Day the loving homage and devoted loyalty of ourselves, the clergy, and -the spiritual "flocks . entrusted to our care. The 22nd of June, 1911, will be celebrated as a day of rejoicing throughout the wohle worldwide domain of your vast Empire, but nowhere will it witness greater enthusiasm or greater joy than among your faithful subjects of the Australian Commonwealth. We congratulate you in that with the sceptre : of dominion- you have inherited from your royal father,' King Edward the Seventh, the name and prestige of the Peacemaker.” ‘ The negotiations so successfully begun with the United States of America will, we are confident, initiate a pew era and secure further triumphs of peace. ‘We trust that it may be your privilege to bring to many; nations the blessings which characterise that crowning grace of Christian civilisation. ~ ‘lt will bo our foremost prayer that many years of prosperity, and peace, with every other blessing that Heaven can bestow', may mark ,a-;glorious.- leign of King George the Fifth, and of Queen- Mary, your gracious consort— Your faithful and devoted subjects, Patrick F. Cardinal Moran. May 24, 1911,’ Here follow the "names of all the Bishops. , ‘ Surely (said his Eminence) there is little need to add anything more to refute the statements of Roman Catholic disloyalty.’ ...