CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10213, 6 December 1893, Page 6

CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— ln your issue of this data you stats in a leaderette, " the education system, which was vigorously assailed daring the election contest by the denominationalists, is now safe for all time, and our Roman Catholic friends will probably accept the inevitable/’ This is very different from'what you wrote in a leaderette in last Saturday’s Times, wherein you stated that "the Catholic Times, of Wellington, which, as everyone is aware, was founded by Archbishop Redwood, and ia the recognised organ of Roman Catholicism for the Colony," told us, in effect, to go to heaven our own rosd, and, of course, added, "to vote for the Liberal Labour Party.’’ Youc Roman friends, re?t assured, will not accept the inevit able. The Catholic Times you quote from beats the date of Friday, Nov. 24, your comments Saturday, Nov. 25. The two articles—untrue as they are-—have had the desired effect, and have taken the unwary off their guard. You are now boasting of your glorious victory. Brave mon never crow. It ia a notorious fact that Roman Catholics cannot participate in the politics of the day until our grievance ia redressed. Our policy is to vote against the candidates who have had the opportunity of granting to us our rights when in Parliament, and endeavour to assist into Parliament those who have not had that opportunity. This policy we will hot deviate one hair’s breadth from . notwithstanding your contemporary’s indifference. I am pleased to inform you that I have assisted and succeeded in dancing a nine-eight time, or, to put it plainer, " The Rocky Road to Dublin,” ou the political grave of one of the foremost men in Canterbury, and the drum of my heels can vibrate in his ears for the next three years. I know I did wrong, “ politically,” in assisting a man immeasurably inferior in every respect to get iuto Parliament. This is our true course, and the course all i Catholics will follow. It was laid.down foe ua years agoby our worthy

leader, Dr Moran, of Dunedin. Your contemporary, the Catholic Times, is not the recognised lender, I trust, of the Roman j Catholics of New Zealand. If it were you I would net have many years to wait before you could truly characterise us “ soopsts.” The question of our grievance never has bean put clearly before the people of New Zealand by any politician, and if it were I am certain as I am of tha life that animates me that we would ere now have our rights. What are the facts ? I will give my own experience. When raising a loan and giving a statement of my requirements, I have made provision for tho education of my. children aa I would for my rent and interest. This can be verified by sterling men—Mr G. G. Stead, Mr John Holmes and others. Do the people of New Zealand know the sacrifices that we are making to bring up our children according to the dictates of our conscience ? I say they do not, and if they did so they would not tolerate it any longer- Politicians we have ’had before us during this contest trembling with fear when they come to the question of our rights, afraid of offending any party, afraid of losing a vote. Their pocketi are not touched, and therefore they can’t give the force or earnestness to tho subject in putting it in its true lights before the people of New Zealand. They speak to ua with their lips, but their hearts aro far away. Surely if there was any danger of our just claims injuring tha present educational system, such men aa Sir Harry Atkinson, tho late lamented John Ballance, Sir John Hall, and other eminent men would not countenance them. Divided we have been during the late contest, yet we have gained ground. You have taught us a lesson that cannot possibly be unlearned by any penetrating Catholic. Tho remedy is now ia our hands. It is this: The organ you are pleased to call “ the recognised leader of Roman Catholicism for the Colony,” the Catholic Times, Catholics read it no more. Those of you who have paid in advance, the familiar “Captain Boycott” will apply. You were at this last contest like the single ctick. Tho Nciv Zealand Tablet, true to its principles, kept you together like the bundle of sticks, unbreakable. A good many Catholics saw tho inevitable result that mhst follow when the Catholic Times was first started. When the Catholic Times and the Lyttelton Times run ia “double harness,” the former surely ceases to be a Catholic paper.—l am, &c., D. BRICK. Ashburton, Dec. 1.