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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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It is difficult for an Englishman to understand how the trade in suppressing imaginary revolts can be a profitable line of business ; but in England we have contracted notions , and we have not the experiences which illustrate this species of commerce . The Cuban tale , however , has a sequel not less interesting . General O'Donneil -returned to Spain He was received as a man who had preserved to his Sovereigu the brightest jewel in the Spanish diadem—the Queen of the Antilles . If the truth were known , it is possible that this Jeffries-like campaign is among the most powerful of the causes which have shaken to the very
foundations the allegiance of Cuba to Spain , — which have loosened it from the original monarchy , and have rendered its future Sovereignty doubtful . However , for the time at least there was queenly gratitude for the manner in which the insurrectionary attempt of the Blacks had been prevented before it burst forth , and high favour was shown to the Spanish Colonel Blood . Decorum itself was transgressed , for he was made a nobleman of the highest rank . The story shows how many uses an insurrection seen infutiiro may serve .
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THE COUP D'EGLISE . The faithful Commons have not refused to assist Ministers in essentially changing the constitution of the Church of England . Much depends , as the saying is , upon the manner of doing the thing . The specific necessity which is pleaded on behalf of the measure might have been met without altering the state of the Church of England . Indeed , there is not a word to be said against providing for the proper performance of the
episcopal duties in the sees of London and Durham , and for making all handsome provision on behalf of the two aged prelates . Dr . Blomfiei / d was born in 1786 , and is therefore seventy years of age ; but his condition of health is worse than might have been expected from the mere duration of his life . Dr . Maitbt was born in 1770 , and is therefore eighty-six years of age . lie has been twenty years in his present bishopric ;
he is fatigued ; other men could perform the duties better ; and he ^ pught to have the right to retire . The two * bishops are rich men , they have enjoyed handsome incomes for many years , and the relatives foz * whom thej r have provided might reasonably be expected to provide for them in return . Wo do not , however , hold with them who think that a State should bo near in . providing for its old servants . A handsome generosity is the very life-blood of social intercourse , for States as
well aa for every rank of life ; and it is not well for the official body to set a bad example . The duties of the two sees must be performed . IJord Palmekston ' s Government is answerable for the proper conduct of all public affairs , and in some way or other we might expect to seo acting bishops appointed to London and Durham . —of course with proper payment for the work done . Arrangements of this kind have been formerly made in
various ways , b y the appointment of Suflragan or Coadjutor Bishops . In the caso of Bath and Weils , Sir Hobeut Peel proposed , as it were , to place the see in commission ; perhaps it ia a atill better plan to permit the aged Bishops to retire from duty , and to place the oflice in perfectly now hamld . Any measure for this purpose , we conceive , ought to have nothing but support from Parliament , and from the public .
Ministers know exactly what was required at the end of last year . They have actually been considering the subject for the whole session , and wo aro prepared to sny that the arran gements such as wo have pointed out
might have been accomplished . It would no doubt have been necessary to consult the heads of the Church in order to ascertain how to provide for the retirement of the Bishops without disturbing the Apostolical succession . Lord PaI / MERSTon appears to think that if Coadjutor Bishops had been appointed , after the old plan , there might have been a conflict of authority between the Coadjutor and his chief , and that the Coadjutor would not have that distinction and influence
which he ought to possess . Surely , however , if the State could interfere at all , it could interfere effectually . It could , for example , retain for the Bishop of London the title and the actual possession of the see , but it could totally exclude him from interfering in its administration ; could divert from him the larger part of the income , retaining only the retiring allowance . It could , in fact , leave him ia possession of the palace , the title , and the " succession , " while transferring the active ministration to the new Bishop with the
certainty of succeeding to the post . This would , in fact , be to appoint a regent and heir to the Bishop . As a matter of business such a plan would have been quite as effectual ; it would have been but slightly to modify the older practice of Coadjutor Bishops ; it would not bave disturbed the Apostolical succession . But , we repeat , there is a manner of doing the thing . We are not inclined to join in the common cry against Bishops as " rolling in purple and fine linen ;" we do not cavil at giving 6000 ? . to the one , and 4500 Z . to the other . Their names have
been in the list of peers ; then * pensions do not greatlv exceed high judicial pensions ; their age is greatly advanced , and the enjoyment of the pay is not likely to be protracted . It is not we , therefore , who speak in terms of slight . But when Lord Paimkb 8 ton , with his easy manner , tells us tliat the Bishop of London , " instead of laying up treasures on earth , has sought rather for those treasures , " &c , it is impossible to avoid laughing at the
manner of presenting clerical mortification . In truth , " the Bishop has not made any other provision for his family than that which arises from insurances on his life "—that is , just aboutthe moat economical mode of saving . Now , we do not object to Dr . Blomfieljd for effecting an insurance upon his life , but surely that act of providence does not constitute a special claim upon Parliament . If that is presented as one of the peculiar claims of Dr . Blomfield , it does compel us to note
that the real plea advanced on behalf of the Bishop ' s petition is , that he has been rich and has tried to make his family rich after him . The civil servant , for example , who lias enjojred a salary of 601 . a } rear , and who is superannuated upon a pension of 20 / . a year , will be " quite unable to keep up the insurances" that he has not effected ; and the absence of a policy would , in strict humanity , be a stronger claim upon our sympathy and aid , than the possession of a property which lias a saleable- value .
If Lord Palmehstow had told us that the Bisho p had established an office , " not for insurances in this world , " but for effecting insurances in the future , by great sacrifices ; if ho had shown us practically how to obtain a policy in that oflice , the plea would have boon irresistible . But , perhaps , it eoukl not have been urged in support of a pension , of ( 5000 Z .
The one difficulty that ought really to have made tlio Minister pause , was the treatment of Apostolical succession . How enn'Lcml Palmkuston take away the episcopal character from Cjiaki . es James Bjlomfuci , d ? The Premier , indeed , did not consider this point at oil . He was not obstructed by the difficulty ;
he did not try to untxe the knot ; he cut ithe cut the succession ! We are in future to have Parliament-made Bishops . As to the Apostolical succession , it is not even wortl debate ; it cannot for a moment be set ii comparison with the succession of premiun on a life-policy . If any of us have supposed that there was a mysterious virtue in the Church of England from that Apostolical succession , the delusion will be entirely dissipated by the union of the Executive , Lords , and Commons in disposing of the episcopal office .
The Established faith has had some few hard knocks lately . When this week Mr . Hetwood pointed out a number of fatal mistranslations in the acknowledged version of the Scriptures , proposing a revision , he was answered by Sir G-eobge GrREY , that to alter the translation would " unsettle the faith of the people . " The faith of the people , therefore , depends upon the maintenance of an erroneous translation ! It is not very long since that Mr . M'Na . tight was expelled from the Clerical Society of Liverpool because he had expressed doubts in his own mind as to the " verbal inspirational infallibility '' of the
Scriptures ; a member of the society who expelled him said that " he would not stoop to pick up a copy of the Scriptures , if he doubted the absolute verbal infallibility of every part . " How is the Reverend Hugh M'Neile ' s friend reconciled with Sir Geoege Gtbey ? Sir GtEokgu ; affirms that he dares not investigate the text of the authorized volume , which is issued by the authorized printer , and Lord Palme eston does not think the Apostolical succession worth debate . It is not sceptics or Dissenters who have put forward these strange avowals with respect to the Church of England .
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FIRST FRUITS OF BONAPARTISM IN SPAIN . The events which have just occurred in Spain would be a lesson to the world , if the world ever learned by experience . We much question , however , whether the coup d ' etat of General O'Dokneli will have any other effect than the coup d ' etat of Louis Napoleon . It will demoralize , if that be possible , the country in which it has taken place , and contribute to corrupt and confuse the public conscience throughout Europe . Success always finds its devotees , and we shall presently begin to hear that O'Donnell is a good and a great man .
It is now full six } ears since every one who took the slightest trouble to become acquainted with the progress of ideas from the changes of situation in France , foresaw that a burglarious attack was about to bo made on the Republican Constitution . Oji all hands the press raised its warning voice ; but was , of course , not listened to . The people supposed to possess " special information" smiled knowingly , and shrugged their shoulders , and talked contemptuously of alarmists . Innocent Republicans and terrible Socialists were allowed to
have the greater parb of the talk to themselves . Sham emeutcs were got up here and there . XVightful doctrines were imagined by timid or venal journalists , and attributed to opponents whose existence even has remained problematical . Meanwhile , tho Imperial conspiracy was carried on openly . It was secret only as to the time of execution . Tho whole political world looked forward to a coup d'etat as wo look forward to thunderstorms in summer . They must come , but no one knows on what day . .
Yet , when tho fearful crime was committed , every one pretended to be not only shocked but surprised . With tho exception of the fow inveterate newsmongers , who will have
Untitled Article
Jtoy 26 , 1856 . ] THB" ¦ I iB-A-P . HB . 709
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 26, 1856, page 709, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2151/page/13/
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