Page:Free Opinions, Freely Expressed on Certain Phases of Modern Social Life and Conduct.djvu/73

 England boasts of her generous hospitality to every kind of refugee, I shall certainly offer whatever hospitality I can to the men and women who have suffered for Christ's sake. I am too broad an Englishman to know any other policy."

"Broad Englishman" as the Cardinal professed to be, he had no pity on the aged Dr. St. George Mivart, the circumstances of whose treatment are not yet forgotten.

Speaking of the Coronation oath, the Cardinal said: "I entirely and frankly accept the decision of the country that the King must be a Protestant. They believe that this is in some way bound up with the welfare of the Empire., I am convinced that in the present condition of the English people, , it is expedient that the King should be of the religion of the overwhelming majority. Besides, the King being, in virtue of Royal supremacy, head of the State Church, it is impossible that he should be other than a Protestant. Catholics have no difficulty in paying most loyal allegiance to a Protestant Sovereign. In this they seem to be of more liberal and confiding temper than those who would refuse allegiance to a King unless he professed their creed. The Catholic has no difficulty, because he gives his allegiance and his life, when needed, primarily to the civil power ordained of God."

(The Cardinal did not pause here to try and explain why God has thus "ordained" a Protestant sovereign instead of a Roman Catholic one! Yet no doubt he will admit that God knows best.)

"The Sovereign, what