Mr. W. H. Smith seems to have made a very
lucid and satisfac- tory speech on the Navy Estimates yesterday week ;—certainly his statement was well received in all parts of the House. Into the main points of that statement it would be quite impossible and useless. for us to go, but the concession made to the Roman Catholics at the conclusion of his speech has some general political interest, and showed a kindly feeling for Catholic sailors and Irish Members,. which some couple of generations ago would have raised a cry against Mr. Smith for being in league with the Jesuits. He pointed' out that it was impossible to put a second chaplain on board individual ships for the benefit of the Catholic officers and sailors, but as he could not do that, he would do his best "to attach. one Roman Catholic clergyman to every fleet of, say, five or _sir large ships, operating at a distance from its base and from shore, in order that in case of illness, or sudden emergency, or imminent danger, he might be at hand to afford the consolations of religion which might be required." This concession was, of course,. taken kindly by Irish Members, and only Mr. Newdegate was• horrified. He uttered his protest in the deepest bass of which his lugubrious voice is capable, remarking that Roman Catholic- chaplains had not hitherto been appointed because they were thought likely to endanger the discipline of the Naval Service, and he demanded opportunity for a separate discussion on this danger- ous addition to the Catholic staff, an opportunity which was- promised by the Government. On such occasions Mr. Newde- gate, as, all aghast, he dimly realises that average Conservatives• of the present day like Mr. W. H. Smith see nothing dreadful in Catholic chaplains, always reminds ns of the manner in which the Apteryx or Dodo might have protested against the horrid innovation of using wings for the purpose of flight. Mr, New- degate evidently thinks that the proper and legitimate use of Catholic priests is to make Protestants' blood run cold,—and none other whatever.
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