love: You know that sadly, know it to your cost, care, The wild emotion, and the sure despair. name, --- Was one who felt; whose life was love or hate; Born for extremes, he scorned the middle state; And well he knew that, since the world began, The heart was master in the world of man." But as we hinted in our opening sentence, we doubt if Dr. Parsons has been quite wise in straining out all his less classical pieces from that former volume in many respects more clearly marked by his individual talent which he published in Boston some eighteen years ago. Of that volume the characteristic note was a certain caustic humour which has nearly disappeared from this,- caustic humour that carried with it an air of greater freedom and power than Dr. Parsons' more mature taste seems quite to approve. " in that There is a "Saratoga Eclogue volume, a caustic dialogue between an American Tityrus and Meliboeus at Saratoga Springs, which, if it contains some banter not altogether of the immortal kind, still has much in it which Hood would have enjoyed and Praed have envied; and "Tis not lost genius we lament the most, Or Smith, or Matthews, from his nether jour "Now let no pigmy poet, in his pride, The humble memory of our friend deride: produces it, and that we value the lyrical | the other is to destroy, or at all events side of feeling far more when we know that cripple, the political influence of the new the judgment, taste, and general temper of German Empire. The two objects were the mind which produced it incline the very closely connected, and at first it writer to jest with others and himself at seemed exceedingly probable that the his own expense, than we do if we are apt former would be attained. Besides their to think that the higher sentiments come considerable power in Italy a powout of a nature which does not know the er greatly increased by the fact that the weak side of human sentiment as well as King on the religious side of his head the strong. We venture to regret, there- agrees with the Ultramontanes, and confore, while thanking Dr. Parsons heartily siders that he can compound with the for various beautiful poems in this volume, Church for the eccentricities of his private that he has not included among his selec-life-they hoped to compel the King of tions a few of the more humorous and satirical productions of his youth. For instance, we could willingly have exchanged the poem from which this volume derives its name,-"The Shadow of the Obelisk," a poem written at Rome, for which we do not greatly care,- for one of the more lively versified letters of his former volume. At the same time, we gladly admit that the best poems in the new volume are new, and apparently the products of his maturest mind. We have quoted some of them, and cannot do better than end our notice of the volume with the beautiful Christmas lines with which it closes, written only last year: Spain to come to an agreement with the Papacy in order to secure his throne; to induce M. Thiers to threaten interference in Italy in order to obtain the adhesion of the priests to the Republic; to persuade M. d'Anethan, Premier of Belgium, into allowing a filibustering expedition to start for Italy; to conciliate Russian support by quieting Poland; and above all, to make Germany passive by raising a strong “particularist" agitation, which could only be soothed by large concessions to the Catholic Church. The plan was not a bad one, and in the hands of statesmen might have succeeded; but the Papacy is no longer directed by statesmen, or indeed by men with any special knowledge of affairs. The Ultramontanes made, both in France themselves with the elder branch of the and Spain, the singular mistake of allying Bourbons, who brought them no strength but rather derived strength from them; and they were unaware of the strength which "I am the Vine:'—He said; Lord, then let in most continental countries State feeling 66 me Be just a tendril clinging to the tree From The Economist. has attained. The group of Belgians and Italians at Rome who really direct the aggressive policy of the Vatican, pushed matters a little too far; the Governments were compelled to resist; and the finelyspun webs disappeared in the rough breeze. The French Government was the first to give way. The Comte de Chambord became impossible, and M. Thiers, after coquetting for some time with the priests, after declining to send an ambassador to Rome, after threatening to dismember Italy, and after compelling the Italian Government to double its artillery force, suddenly gave way, sent an avowed THE Ultramontanes appear to be sus- Voltairian to Rome, and openly antaining defeats on all hands. The mem-nounced that France was not in a condibers of this great party, which, though tion to encounter the deadly hostility of little noticed in England, influences poli- Italy. The Russian Government merely tics in every country on the continent, increased its severity towards priests, and have of late been unusually active, and have the Italian held on its own way, sentenoevidently set to themselves two distinct ob- ing troublesome Bishops to imprisonment, jects. One is to compel the Governments and selling Church property without the of Europe to interfere in favour of the slightest manifestation of popular disaprestoration of the Temporal Power, and proval. The organization in Belgium THE POLITICAL ACTION OF THE ULTRA MONTANES. Navarre but the political danger is no and their grand aggressive movement may be considered at an end. They have not succeeded in inducing any Government to interfere for the restoration of the Temporal Power, or in punishing any Government for refusing to interfere. broke down, and the Ultramontane Cabinet was compelled to send a Minister to Rome. Still if Germany could be influenced, all was gained and Germany might have been influenced, for Prince Bismarck at all points in every country of Europe, needed allies; but the Papacy, misled by reports from the Bishops, misunderstood its own strength and declared against the new Empire. Prince Bismarck turned round in anger, and the Catholic Germans supported him in defying a pretension which they thought exceeded the power It would however be a mistake to imof their spiritual leaders. The Chancellor, agine that the Papacy has lost all power who knows Rome well, openly proposed to in these defeats. On the contrary, it has take the control of education, even in probably impressed its adversaries with a Catholic provinces, out of Catholic hands, deep sense of its power, its persistence, and and secretly threatened to expel the the value of its quiescence. Merely to Jesuits from the Empire. As Parliament agitate a power so solid, so active, and so supported him, it became necessary for the daring as the present Government of GerPapacy to seek a compromise, under pen- many is a great feat, and this it has unalty of seeing German Catholics form doubtedly accomplished. Prince Bismarck themselves into a new and schismatic has been compelled to exert himself seChurch and Cardinal Prince Hohenlohe riously, and we question if there is a power was accepted as its messenger. This Car- in Europe which will not agree, for the dinal who represents old rather than new sake of peace, to make very liberal conCatholicism, but who is nevertheless cessions to the Catholic Church. What strictly orthodox, arrived in Berlin, was these concessions will be we are unable to appointed Ambassador to the Vatican, state, but we incline to the belief that and agreed to terms of compromise, of their basis will in all countries be perfect which these appear to be the chief. The "religious liberty" for Catholics - that is, Catholic Church is to enjoy full religious au exemption from any law prohibiting the liberty in Germany, including we imagine, formation of monastic corporations, or the the right of suspending Catholic teachers accumulation of ecclesiastical property. who reject the dogma of infallibility, but This latter concession is of extraordinary is to abandon particularist intrigues, and value. The corporations, subject to the to maintain a strict neutrality between Church of Rome have in all ages managed Germany and France in the approaching property well, and as they do not die, do contest, which the Vatican looks upon as not squander, and never transfer, they are inevitable. These terms are acceptable to exempt from all the laws by which the Prince Bismarck, who does not care very continental legislatures have endeavoured much about religious differences unless to prevent the accumulation of property they affect the Empire, and they are endur- in few hands. They can, if unmolested, able at the Vatican, which is afraid of a become in two generations very great progreat schism. Thus checked however on prietors indeed, and would probably rise all hands, the Papacy became desperate, at least to the position they occupied beand a great effort to recover prestige was fore the Reformation. It is stated that in made in Spain, where the priests led bands Belgium they have advanced far beyond of partizans to insurrection in the name this point, that they own either directly or of the legitimate Bourbon Don Carlos. through mortgages, two-thirds of the soil; This movement however failed. It might and although we do not believe this statehave been very formidable thirty years ment, it is certain that the Church is in ago, when a band of insurgents was nearly Belgium by far the largest proprietor. equal to a regular regiment; but to-day There is no reason why this plan should no bands, however brave, if armed only not be extended over Europe, and if it is with muskets, can compete with troops it will produce one of two results. Either armed with breech-loading rifles, and the the accumulation of wealth in celibate movement has only tended to increase the hands will produce a habit of ecclesiastical power of the new and heretical Govern- luxury, fatal to the moral influence and ment, which has been joined by the Radi- therefore ultimately to the power of the cals, and has obtained a good pretext for Church; or the existence of such wealth severe measures of repression. A partisan in clerical hands will deepen the chasm war still lingers in the hilly districts of between rich and poor, and incline the Liberals more and more towards that re-reasonably be adopted with a fair chance distribution of property by violence which of success is not the least discouraging the extreme Reds have already recom- feature. Mr. Hughes limited the scope of mended. Either result would be exceed- his motion to diplomatic pressure on the ingly injurious to civilization; but it is difficult to see how both are to be prevented while the Governments, embarrassed by Ultramontane opposition, are compelled to submit to terms to secure quiescence, and naturally accept those terms which appear at first to demand least surrender of the authority of the State. From The Pall Mall Gazette. Spanish Government to ameliorate the state of things in Cuba. Mr. Gilpin, his seconder, contented himself with a distant hope of the revival of something of the old anti-slavery feeling. Neither of these can be called in any sense of the word practical, or suggestive of anything but failure. The speakers on the other side, including the Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, had accordingly a very easy part to play in showing the impracticability or inexpediency of doing anything. We have more than once indicated the only course which would promise immediate results; ANOTHER effort was made by Mr. and those of a decisive kind as regards the Hughes last week to induce Parliament to further continuance of the traffic in coolies sanction some effective action for the sup- from the Chinese coast, the main source pression of existing forms of slave trade, of supply. If this were stopped, the evil chiefly known to the public under the would be circumscribed, and narrowed in euphemism of "coolie emigration." The fact to the suffering condition of those debate which followed the motion of the already transported to the American conmember for Frome calling attention to the tinent and the neighbouring colonies. condition of the slave population of Cuba And if no intervention in their behalf was not, however, of an encouraging char- could be specially or beneficially brought acter. So far as direct intervention, or to bear, there would be at least the consoeffective action of any kind, is concerned, lation of knowing that each day would there is, indeed, nothing to be hoped for in diminish the area of the evil. The course the present state of public feeling. Mr. we have suggested is one the first step Gilpin's hope that "the discussion would in which was taken many years ago by the revive something of that old anti-slavery United States, when they prohibited any feeling which formed one of the finest rem-American vessel to carry coolies under iniscences of his younger days" is to all labour contracts. There can be little appearance very chimerical. There is a doubt that they would cordially join the half-hearted and languid assent to the ex- British Government to act in concert with istence of a great evil without any dispo- the Chinese, and so enable the Imperial sition to incur either the responsibility or Government to prevent the embarkation the cost of taking the initiative in a vigor- of any coolies under contract for foreign ous and adequate effort to redress the countries, unless or until securities could wrong. It is true that in the South be devised by which good faith with the Sea Islands, where British colonies were emigrant could be secured on the other the recipients and the British name was side, as well as perfect freedom of election directly implicated, the Government was on the part of the native in China. This induced to intervene for the suppression can hardly be effected until China is preof a disgraceful traffic in kidnapped na-pared to place thoroughly competent contives. But there is little chance of any suls in the countries where their subjects decided action in other directions where are to be transported, and to watch over we are less concerned in either perpetrating or benefiting by the wrongs inflicted upon inferior races not under our rule. The Chinese coolies transported against their will to Cuba or Peru will appeal in vain to European Powers to come to their rescue in the name of their common humanity or their Christian faith so long as the way does not seem clearer. Looking to the short debate provoked by Mr. Hughes, the total absence of any practical suggestion as to the means which could their interests under the further security of treaty engagements. But if all further supply were stopped until these objects could be secured, means would undoubt edly be found of establishing before long a system of emigration under adequate protection against flagrant abuses on either side of the Pacific, and to the mutual benefit of the nation supplying and the countries demanding the labour. Great Britain and the United States alone could perfectly well secure this end, in concert with China. But whether alone or with with a real surplus. But this great comother European Powers, there could be no munity-worthy to rank with European insuperable obstacle -none which good Powers of the second order has, upon faith and honest determination could not the whole, and as a rule, no share in its satisfactorily dispose of, without any re- foreign policy, except in cases conceded by course to measures contrary to interna- special favour, or what is rarer, reserved tional usage or policy. Lord Enfield may by former Act of Parliament. The Canathink that "it was a great misfortune not dian Government is not consulted in its reonly to the British West Indies, but to the lation with other States. All these are Chinese themselves, that the emigration determined for it by England. Canada of Chinese to those islands had been accepts in blank," as merchants say, and stopped; because, as every one knew, they England does what she pleases. And this were well treated in those colonies, al- is all the worse, because our interests and though there were some cases of abuse." Canada's are by no means the same. CanBut if sc, we doubt whether he has read ada has a great neighbour, whose relations with the care it deserves the instructive with England are very peculiar, and not report of the Commissioners appointed to easy to describe. The United States are inquire into the treatment of immigrants most sensitive as to English opinion; they in British Guiana, presented to Parlia- read our language, and they read no other ment last session, or the not less instruc- language; they read our books as much or tive running commentary on it supplied by more than their own; they care more what Mr. Jenkins in his notes taken on the spot. England says of them than what all the rest In any case, we must differ equally from of the world says of them. But exactly on Lord Enfield and the planters, who also la- that account they are easily piqued with ment the stoppages, when we reflect that England. If the English Press says what this was entirely due to the Governments they think it ought not, or the English of France and Great Britain, in deference Government, even on a minor matter, does to the representations of the colonial inter- what they think it ought not, the Ameriest, refusing the proposal of the Chinese cans are very angry. In an instant of anGovernment to limit the term of contract noyance they may do anything or say anylabour to five years, and insist upon a free thing. To vent their pique they may use passage back-the two conditions which any chance that comes to hand, and the France and England had expressly pro- nearest chance is Canada. She lies close vided in two successive Conventions with at hand; she is far weaker; she is three each other in 1861 and 1862 as necessary thousand miles from England. Canada is for the protection of the Indian ryot from always subject to the risk of being at war virtual slavery. The Chinese Government with the United States - not because she did well and wisely to resist the effort of herself has done anything their great the two European Powers to deprive the neighbour dislikes, but because the mother Chinese coolies of the safeguards against country has done something. Canada is being converted into slaves; and it is dif- to be killed because England has offended. ficult to understand upon what principle either France or England could justify the application of one rule for their guidance in dealing with the Indian ryot and another when the Chinese coolie was in question. From The Economist. Even in cases which do not go thus far, the opposition of interests is frequently great. We wish to be at peace with America upon certain large considerations, and we wish to settle with her certain large issues of policy. But these first-class issues and these great considerations do not equally affect Canada. What she cares for is not the cosmopolitan policy of the United States, but its frontier policy. She adjoins on it, and like every weaker State adjoining on a greater neighbour she has THE unexampled singularity of the re- her grievances -some good, some bad, lation between England and her colonies some strong, some weak-of all values, is always unmistakeably plain in any im- as a philosopher would judge them. But portant transaction with Canada. Since Canada is not a philosopher; she is an the fusion with the other North Canadian English colony; she feels acutely her borcolonies, that "Dominion" is a country of der wrongs, as she considers them; she immense area (it is as large or larger than thinks of them and broods over them. the United States); it has a large though And what is more irritating than the rest scattered population, and a great revenue, 'is that the English Government, which has THE CANADIAN GUARANTEE. |