The confiscation of monastic property stands upon a wholly different footing. Mr Balfour went to the root of the matter when he spoke of the property of the Church being used for the corruption of the people. Sacrilege is bad enough. But sacrilege of which the object is bribery is a special crime reserved for our modern Puritans. The fact is, that religious equality means in the mouths of many persons simple plunder-a community of ecclesiastical goods. In the mouths of others it no doubt means something less ignoble than that: but in as far as it is different, the term is utterly misleading. Religious equality only means that all religions shall be equal in the eye of the State, just as all individuals are equal in the eye of the law. There are to be no immunities, no privileges, no disabilities; and there are none either in the English Church or among English Dissenters. The Bishops sit in the House of Lords in virtue of their temporal baronies; and as for property, there is no more reason why one religious body should not be richer than another, than why one individual should not be richer than another. Equality as a political term does not extend to such differences as these. Passing for a moment to foreign affairs, we find Lord Rosebery once more at his old game on the subject of China and Japan and the emergency Council. What the Cabinet was summoned for on that memorable occasion, and why all Europe was thrown into confusion by so sudden and unexpected a portent, we are left to guess. But the object of it -so we are to understand-w wholly unconnected with the war between China and Japan. Very well. Three days afterwards, however, the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and America were all discussing a proposal submitted to them by the English Government for joint intervention between the two belligerents. Two refused the offer; two didn't even answer it; and only one agreed to it. This is described by Lord Rosebery as an "extraordinarily favourable reception" of the British proposals. posals. It had been publicly stated that Government had despatched a circular to the Powers, and had met with a rebuff. Oh dear, no! There had been no circular, but only an all-round communication no rebuff, but only a distinct refusal by two Powers, and contemptuous silence on the part of two others. The agitator, says Mr Balfour, who does not know how to wrap up a bad policy in fine language, is not fit for his work, and should be dismissed without a character. Perhaps this is what some of Lord Rosebery's colleagues are thinking about their chief. The Irish party will, of course, lend their assistance in overthrowing the House of Lords. Mr Dillon, speaking at Glasgow on the 15th of last month, made no secret of that. Of course the Irish will do all they can to make themselves masters of Great Britain, which in the absence of the House of Lords they will be. Whatever their internal dissensions, they are "well drilled " enough for that. We earnestly beg the British public to note well the real character of the present crisis, and the danger which lies ahead of them, not in the fitful energy of irresponsible cliques or individuals, but in the unprecedented attitude now assumed by the Ministers of the Crown. Surely both Scotchmen and Englishmen can under If stand what the absolute suprem- last eight years, heartily and acy of Irish politicians in a powerfully supported by the voice House of Commons uncontrolled of the people. They have their by any second chamber must fortunes in their own hands. necessarily mean that it would they do not choose to save themlead to methods of government selves from the hateful tyranny wholly irreconcilable with the which awaits them on the delaws of political economy, with struction of the House of Lords, the most elementary rights of pro- nobody else can save them. If perty, and with all those prescrip- they will not strike a blow in tions and traditions which are defence of the great social fabric necessary to the maintenance of which is now threatened; in deour Indian and Colonial empire. fence of the commerce, the credit, Ireland has proved over and over and the capital on which their again her incapacity for self- prosperity is dependent; in degovernment. How, then, can she fence of the political constitution be trusted to govern others, and by which alone these are now those others ourselves? We must protected; and for the sake of not forget, either, the power that that ancient religion of whose lurks in the background of Irish implacable enemy the Separatists supremacy, or the uses to which are the secret agents, they deit would certainly be converted by serve the worst that can befall the Roman Church. All these dan- them when England has lost her gers, no longer fanciful, remote, or place among the nations, and her despicable, but real, imminent, and wealth, her power, and her emformidable, can only be successfully pire, which now support her teemencountered by the combination of ing population, have departed for parties which has prevailed for the ever. 3 N VOL. CLVI.-NO. DCCCCL. INDEX TO VOL. CLVI. Bacon, Roger, birth and early training of, 611 enters the Order of St 621. BAR-LE-DUC, THE PRETENDer at, 226. BEN VRACKIE, FAREWELL To, 571. Birds, the protection of, 56 et seq.-diffi. culty in identifying eggs of, 57-keep- BLACK FLY, THE RED BODICE AND THE, Blackwater, the country of the, 320. opinion amongst Hindoos regarding Bonapartism, decay of, in France, 307. 'Brave Fille,' by M. Calmettes, review British cavalry, present condition of, BRITISH FORESTRY, 647. BRITISH SERVICE, THE CAVALRY ARM BROOKE, FELICITY, 818. Buddhist temples of Java, the, 90 et Budget Bill, the, in the House of Lords, Cannes, golfing in winter at, 552. Carnot, M., assassination of, 305. Cavalry, role of, in modern war, 170— Champs Elysées, modern changes in the, Charles Edward, Prince, entry into Edin- Chiffoniers of Paris, the past and present, China, stationary condition of civilisa- 1 dition of troops in, 718-state of forti- - CLUB-HOMES FOR UNMARRIED WORKING Codling, fishing for, with throw-out lines, 426. Colnbrook, situation and history of, 843 an ancient inn at, 845-story of COMING STRUGGLE, THE, 889. CONFESSION OF TIBBIE LAW, THE, 213. Conservative programme, proposals re- County rates, increase of, during last 66 DAMNABLE COUNTRY, THAT," 309. DEER-FOREST, A LUCKY DAY IN A, 272. DESTRUCTIVES AND CONSERVATIVES, 159. East India College of Haileybury, the Eggs of wild birds, difficulty in identify. Elephant, trials of the Indian sportsman in connection with the, 391 et seq.- et seq. EPISTLE FROM HORACE, AN, 793. Falkirk, the battle of, 104-letter from FEUILLET, LA FEMME DE M., 370. Fez, news of the death of the Sultan Finance Bill, provisions of the, regard- Forest fires of India, the, 405. FRANCE AND GERMANY, THE NEW FROUDE, JAMES ANTHONY, ISCENCES OF: I., 756. REMIN- Gaelic language, the relationships of, Galla race, characteristics of the, 358— GEOGRAPHERS, POETS AND, 515. GERMANY, THE NEW AFRICAN CRISIS Gladstone, Mr, review of the translation Golf, the playing of, at Cannes, 552-at GOLFER IN SEARCH OF A CLIMATE, THE, Grand, Mrs Sarah, on the "Man of the Great skua or bonxie, the, in Foula, 58. Hale, Edward, Master of Eton, charac- HAND, THE SKELETON, 527. HANNA, MY ABYSSINIAN SERVANT, 663. 369. of, at the battle of Falkirk, 104 et seq. Homes for unmarried working men, de- HORACE, AN EPISTLE FROM, 793. JAPAN, THE POSITION OF, 878. Java, the climate of, 78-travelling in, JERBOUB, SENOUSSI, THE SHEIKH OF, 27. - Kinglake, A. W., influence of the liter- Korea, policy of China regarding, SSO Local Government (Scotland) Bill, powers of, as regards taxes on land, Lodging houses, establishment of, in LOOKER-ON, THE, 285. Loss OF H.M.S. VICTORIA, THE: AN LOST AND IS FOUND, WHO WAS, Chap- 'Lourdes,' M. Zola's, review of, 584. Lythe, fishing for, with rod and tackle, 424. : July Life of General Sir Hope December: Songs, Poems, and Vers- |