MUD VOLCANOES.

Mataura Ensign, Volume V, Issue 234, 2 March 1883, Page 2

MUD VOLCANOES.

The ' Southland Times' says that it would not matter much were it not to notice our leader on the Bible- in-Schools at all, This is more modesty than we expected, but there is truth in it. It really would not have mattered. We know of no journal ' v that could be more popular in letting moderately difficult subjects alone. We would like, to cite the whole article as a conclusive proof of the weakness of the cause we oppose, but our space is too limited and the subject too dead. We will therefore only extract a dozen or so of our contemporary's chief arguments, and then trust to our readers, A handful ofjtalics, scattered broadcast to indicate the sex of the writer, would have made the thin g complete. The arguments are as follows : 1. "Pert" 2. "Flimsy" 3. "Inconsequent" 4. "Affectation" 5. " Inability of writer to giasp " 6. " Weak" 7. "ifot a trace of reasoning " 8. "False" : 0. " Jaunty " 10. " A most foolish declaration " 11. "Wilful blindness" 12. "Silly" 13. "Ignorance," &c, A writable mud volcano! A troubled sea that cannot rest, but casts up mire and ditt ! Is this the purity of sentiment, the vigor of language, and the beauty of ohariby that will color the national character when once the Bible is read in schools ? Or is our con K temporary, after all, an unsugpec!;ed wit, silently holding himself up as a fearful example of the blackguardism that accompanies private negleot of the Bible ? Be this as it may, we blush for journalism. It is painfuj to have a member of one's family of whom one is ashamed. Had the 'Times,' by deviating to argument for a moment, given us a chance, we would gladly have spared ouiselves the humiliation, of exposing it beyond its own circle of readers. Henceforth we will oease to expect logic, or the appreciation of logic, from the ' Times' ; for as it takes an eye to see an eye, so ib takes reason to see reason. The effeebjof the explosions of mudvolcanoes upon us personally is nil. Contemptuous epithets cannot make anything contemptible that is not already so ; but a thing that is already contemptible ein easily make epithets contemptuous, Our contemporary has charitably supposed us ignorant of the educational system of Great Britain. We will not use adjectives to describe his mental condition with regard to that system but merely state ono or two facts. The national system of England is a compromise. Ib was set up by MrForster's bill in 1870. It found vast numbers of denominational schools in existence andaffili^ 'ate'dthetn. . " But Mr Forster had to make some concession to the religious principles on which these schools were founded. He could not by any stroke of authority undertake to change them all into secular svhools. He

therefore proposed to m et the difli-julby'^y adopting regulations compelling every school < of this kindfwhichidbtained^oveniment aid or recognition to aq&ept aconscience clause by ' means of which tiiel religious convictions tof parents and children should :be sornpulously regarded in the irisbructioii;given during.' ttie j regular school hour?." It .taxed 'the whole strength of the Gladstone Government to carry this measure against those who maintained tbat the State should aid strictly secular schools only, It stands to reason that the great maj ority of the.affiliated schools would continue, to be attended chiefly by those for whais&tliejr were originally founded.' In hugO cities this cross between national and denominational schools is nob difficult .to realise. No wonder, then, that few absent themselves under the conscience clause! It must be further observed that England is practically a Protestant country. If all the Catholic population of Ireland were sown broadcast over England the problem there would somewhat resemble the problem here, though the ; density of population would still make th° , matter comparatively easy in the older country, Thege two facts : (1) Tint the English system is a compromise, and a step- j ping stone : (2) that the proportions of tho ■ sects and the density of the population differ , entirely in England and New Zealand, cannot be overlooked in any rational comparison in connexion with thi3 controversy. But tho •Times' has overlooked them, which to quote its own choice phrase, "argues either ignor- , ance .... or unwillingness to accept the . plain significance of facts." In conclusion, we are challenged as to a matter of fact. We stated that the editor of the ' Times' secured a back seat in the nominations for the Board of Education, and supposed that this was owing to his persistent J advocacy of B.ible-in-Schools views. He explained that he got few votes because he "never was a candidate." A very sufficient reason ! " The Spanish fleet can nob be seen, Because it is not yefc in sight." Certainly the 'Times' did not give much pablicity to the nominations as they came in but the 'News' did, and the last time the return caught our eye " Mr T. Denniston" was mentioned twice or perhaps thrice, while two other gentlemen appeared some twelve times each. We freely admit that the editor of the • Times' polled well for one who was not a candidate !