THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1879.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5397, 5 March 1879, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1879.

It is quite impossible for anyone to miss, to detract from, or to explain away tho significance of yesterday's election. Tho large number of votes shews the importance attached to tho one solitary issuo raised, and the turn-out of electors yesterday is a feature of great importance. We do not believe that on any other question would so many have polled, and a contest between the two most popular men in New Zealand, supposing that no great principle had been involved, would not have drawn an equal number of olectora to the polling-booth. At last election for City West 707 votes were polled, while yesterday 1,037 persons voted. The contest was one solely and purely of principle, the education sys- , torn of the country being at stake. Every circumstance that could be con- ] ceived was united to enhance tho im- < portance of yesterday's victory, and to she w that it was due to one cause alone. 1 Neither one candidate nor the other is a 1 popular politician. Mr. Dignan is quito 1 unknown in political life, but if he had been a political leader for years lie I could not have attained more support ' than he did yesterday. Mr. Goldie has a been connected with municipal affairs for 1 some considerable time, but it is question- 8 able whether this was not rather a ° source of weakness to him. He has s indeed been a useful councillor, but a he has created many active enemies, e and sometimes when he has dono a right Q thing he has done it in a wrong way, and h caused irritation. Being a Good Temp- 0 lar, it might bo expected that he would 0 have the active opposition of that in- a ' terest of whose strength we have heard P bo much of late, and he had not even the whole of the Good Templars with him. ' On the other hand, it could not be said jg that Mr. Dignan had made enemies by 8 p my public or private action of his, while 4

a.3 one born and bred in Auckland, bolonging to a well-known family, he might be expected to attract some personal sympathy. Again, he had the advantage of having been in the field for some considerable time before his opponent,—ever since, indeed it has been known that his father was to be called to "the Upper House ; and before any political question at all was raised, a requisition was got up to him and largely signed. A word may also be said respecting the constituency. It is regarded as the most strongly Catholic in the colony, and in consequence the place where, of all others, a decision in favour of denominational education might have been expected. For many years it has sent a Catholic representative, and in the division on Mr. Curtia's bill la3t session both its members voted for the bill. And yet with all this, look at the result of yesterday's election ! Mr. Goldie polled nearly three to one of his opponent. There is no doubt that the utmost strength of the anti-education party was polled yesterday, and looking at the very small show made, one can only conclude that many who are expected to obey the drum ecclesiastic did not do so. It seems impossible for anyone to imagine, after this, that the present system of education can be overturned. There is no mistake or dubiety about the matter in Auckland. The one party knows why they have gained the election, and the other why they have lost it. The defeated party must know, too, that as it has been in City West, so it will be in other constituencies, if the issue is fairly placed before the electors. Other political and party questions will go to the wall, and no doubt many matters of importance will be indefinitely postponed, or lose 3ight of till this one is settled. We do not, wonder at the hold that the Act has taken in the affections of the peopte. Every country settler knows that if it were destroyed he would bo deprived of the opportunity of giving his children that education without which, with their other disadvantaged, they cannot hope to succeed in life. This free and good education, with a school convenient to their doors, is the most precious ppssession of country settlerr, and they will allow no hand, profane or priestly, to touch it. Many a poor family in town has reason to bless the Act, for no matter what may befall, the mother has just to wash the children's faces in the morning, and send them off to school, where tliev will receive an education which will fit them for the highest position in life. No matter how misfortune or vice may depress a household, the curse does not descend in its most torrible life-long shape —in the form of ignoranco upon the children. Tlio Education Act, and the blessings it conveys are made patent to every observant man as is the case with no other political measure, and therefore it is no wonder that when an attempt, however insidious, is made to sap and undermine it, the defenders, when polled, win a decisive victory. On this subject the country has been thoroughly roused, although we believe not hastily, or without a cause, and probably it will now be sottled for a generation at least. In what constituency can Denomiuationalists expect a victory, now that Auckland City \Ve3t has given forth no uncertain sound, preceded by the loss of another stronghold of the anti-educationists, Nelson city. The gage of battle has been thrown down long ago to the defenders of the present system. Thay did not hastily or willingly snatch it up. They did not seek the battle, but tlioy will not shun it now that it has come. Yesterday's decision is therefore, to all those who voted in favour of Mr. Curtis's bill, a very emphatic notice to quit. Every constituency for which a Denominationalist now sits will be contested, and those in favour of the present system will say, " Under this banner we shall conquer." 'We are informed, indeed, that it is not improbable that means will be taken authoritatively to call upon all those who have attempted to alter the Act to i-oaijjn their seats. Thus far have we been brought by tho denominational " block vote."