DR. MORAN ON EDUCATION.

Evening Star, Issue 2875, 7 May 1872, Page 2

DR. MORAN ON EDUCATION.

(Continued.) Now there are some secularists, who, as you are aware, object to the removal of these books, and say “Are yon aftaid of these things?” I answer very simply, “Give us our own schools ; and you can teach your own children these lies.” Some again say, “Are you afraid to be judged by history?” I rep y, “ Very well, 1 want not any lies ; and 1 am afraid of the lies of history.” The things I dtsaprove of in these books are lies of history ; they are injurious to us, and calculated to injure the faith of our children. Another paity says, “We will get books which shall contain nothing objectionable.” My answer to them is, “ bet us see them.” But these books are objectionable on another ground —they ignore our nationality. Our forefathers have handed down to us a glori-

ons inheritance—on one of which we, M a nation, may be well proud of. How can the English people think to do us justice by ignoring that history ? The thing is an im* possibility, because, to tell the truth about the Catholic religion, •would be offensive to their own religions. Therefore, I conceive it to be impossible to get books which will be acceptable to us, or which did justice to our faith and our honor as Irishmen Now I am going to indulge in a little bathos. Here, though utterly insignificant iu point of numbers, I see in the people the same spirit and love of the Church. The Catholic body in this diocese numbers about 6,500 —it may be a little more; but oer-ainly not over 7.000. We are very poor; the Government gives us no help ; yet we have spent more money during tV.c last twelve months for education than any other body in the commun'ty. * * * H ere is a great difficulty which will arise in the future. The time will come when these schools will have to be supported by rates ; when that occurs then will come the tug of war. Do the people fancy we are going to pay rates to support schools we conscientiously object to ? If they did they would find themselves deceived. * * * I have a word to say about the Industrial school—which is not so well conducted as it ought to be. I wish you to understand Ido not mean to attach any blame to the superintendent of the establishment, who does his best, and acts as fairly as he can. First of all, the system is bad. The little boys and girls are brought up together, which is simply atrocious. It exists nowhere else, should not exist here; and lam surprised that a civilised community should expect to make moral men and women of these poor neglected hoys and girls under such a system. But apart from this their faith has been attempted to be violated, by their being sent out to Protestant masters. That has been done in spite of our remonstrances, and they have rc» fused to give us any satisfaction. This is unjust, unrighteous ; and the whole thing is rotten. 1 feel called upon—if I can do nothing more—to raise my voice and denounce the systen : which ought to be discontinued. 'lt is a libel upon Christian society ; an injustice to the children and an injustice to the Province that supports the school.