Wanganui Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1878.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 3218, 30 August 1878, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1878.

Petitions were presented to Parliament last week from Roman Catholics resident in Otago- and Southland, praying that their schools may be placed on the same footing as other public schools of the colony. If we were likewise informed that petitions couched in a similar spirit had been presented on behalf of the Jews, the Plymouth Brethren, the Shakers, or any sect other than the Roman Catholics, a belief might be engendered that some of our fellow citivens are oppressed by unjust laws unworthy of an age of boasted toleration. We know that many sincere Catholics are prone to suspect that they are sontemptuously and unkindly regarded by Parliament and the press, atiu that their views are never fully and. fairly considered. This antagonism of feeling is much to be deplored, kut to dispute the articles of Catholic belief about godless education and intellectual machines would be to repeat ad nauseam an oft- controverted position, and to slay once more a thriceslain foe. The tocsin of the denominational war cry was vigorously sounded during the recess. Mr Reeves, in his contest for a seat, intimated that he had lost a great many votes by his declared opposition to the existing system of secular education. And he was candid enough to avow that he would rather lose twenty elections than cease to advocate the justice of extending Government support to denominational schools, and thaCTie would persist in this course till it is triumphant in the legislature.

Mr Reeves evidently admires the heroic • determination of that class of persons typified in a certain Queen of Spain whose topographical chair on the top of the Sierra Neva'la, Mr Mark Twain ha* immortalised. That royal lady, it will be remembered, fully resolved that she would never descend from her elevated seat till she saw Albion's truculent banner torn from the frowning eminence of Gibraltar, and ignominiously dragged through Peninsular mud. And Mr Reeves belongs to the ranks of uncompromising denominationalists, who will never capitulate till the standard of secularism is hauled down. Education without religion, they say, is a curse, with religion a blessing. This blessing, we have every reason to believe, will be like most other blessings, the greater for being deferred. And unless opinions greatly change, deferred it certainly will be, perhaps till the Greek kalends, or till the sun and moon stand still again, to enable soldiers of the denominational cause to gain a victory equal to that of their renowned ancestors in the days of Joshua. If any one principle of national education more than another is taking firm hold of the public mind, it is that the official visits or interference by Ministers of religious sects at our state schools shall be politely but firmly declined. The rude conceptions of colonial legislators fail to trace any necessary connection between the four rules of simple arithmetic and the four gospels, or to see why the history of the seven Kings of Rome cannot bo taught without any allusion to the seven sacraments of the Church of Rome. And the religious instruction of the young must be conducted at different times, in different places, and by different persons, to those employed by the state for the secular instruction of its subjects. This arrangement is generally accepted in silent acquiescence by most Protestant communities. Colonists as a rule do not take kindly to restraint even when their fetters are made of gold, and with the exceptions above alluded to prefer to administer their own schemes of public instruction without the influence of their clergy. They like to please themselves about their schools, and about their churches too. We see numbers of people occasionally passing from the place of worship of one sect to that of another, without understanding very much or caring anything at all about the dogmatic differences between the religion they have abandoned and the religion they have adopted. But the Catholics occupy no such shifting ground, and have at all events the merit of consistency. They profess no contentment with a state of things of which they disapprove, and never moderate their demands for a restoration of advantages of which they allege the iniquity of man has despoiled them. A map of the universe drawn by the pencil of a true and devoted servant of the Holy Roman Church would comprehend the whole of the geographical limits of this little planet within the hierarchy of the Papal States. And if any one objected to such a wholesale system of aggrandisement, it would very soon he demonstrated to him that according to the laws and precedents which determine questions of title in his own Courts, the deed of gift of Constantine and the decree oflsidore have conferred explicit claims of so much land both East and West of the Imperial City upon the successors of St. Peter, and that there is not the least vestige of territorial right for all the world beside. So that even according to mundane ideas of the rights of ownership, the claims of the Holy See arc paramount, while an appeal to higher sources would be stifled, by those who claim the heathen for their inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for their possession. But the practical mind of the colonial legislation makes short work df all sentimental notions, when they stand in the way of popular measures. It is not a feeling of hostility to so important a fraction of the whole population as our Roman Catholic fellow subjects, that urges us to support, as they condemn, the principle of a purely secular system of education. It is because we believe it to be the only system that will be ultimately found to have any solid and stable success in the Colony. There is at present a strong and increasing opinion in favour of a scheme of public instruction free from denominational influence. There is an equally powerful impression obtaining that sec'arian schools tend to such dissensions and intolerance as might eventually prove highly dangerous to civil liberty as well as to freedom of conscience and to true Christian piety. Catholics will, we know, term it a logical suicide to profess to inculcate a spirit of freedom by denying the very freedom which they say they seek. And it is with a*view to disarm them of such suspicions of injustice that proposals have often been made to subsidise denominational schools under restrictions with regard to the religious teaching. These attempts at accommodation seldom satisfy the aggrieved parties, and impede the progress of national education. There is a story told of a certain learned institution where the students Avero much addicted to breaking ,the lamps, and no remedy for this state of things could be found except mending them when broken. At length a very wise member of the Committee observed that 'there could be no danger of the lamps being broken in the daylight for then the offenders would be sure to bo detected. So he recommended that the lamps should always bo removed at night-fall, and restored to their places every morning. And so if we are to contribute towards the maintenance of sectarian schools, and at the same time excercise vigilant circumspection that no dogmatic teaching goes on there, we do not act differently to the secular principle of shutting the door at once against the entrance of the ministers of religion for the propagation of their peculiar tenets. It is certainly a desirable state of things to be able to live in charity with one's neighbours. We have no desire to quarrel with any irate priest who hurls his invective from the

altar against the bigotry of a soulonslaving legislature, any more than we have with a self satisfied curate who rebukes the licentiousness of the press from the safe and convenient position of a, Protestant pulpit, or with a zealous but noisy gentleman who finds diversion in bawling in the street on a Sunday night. The world is wide enough for all. We should like to see the first gratified by the establishment of the finest schools in the land — unaided by public funds, and irresponsible to Government control. We could find no fault with the second going into ecstasies over Palcy's Eviclences,rclicved by John Bunyan's matchless dream. And it would be a chari r ablo act towards the third to pray for the regeneration of some of the throngs of idlers who blockade the thoroughfares listening to such pious exortations. But these services, valuable as they may be in their way, are not entitled to recognition by doles from the public exchequer.

At yesterday's meeting of the County Council iv the course of an nnimtited d scussion on the question of Ihe delay in the carrying out of the Waitotara road repair contract, a Councillor noted for the freedom of liia comments upon courses which he does not approve, made use of the term " gas," in alluding to some remarks of the chairman. Apparently the Council had been watching for something of the sort, 'for they were down upon the offender with a, rush. His expressions were characterised as " unbecoming,'' " ungcntlcmanly," " irregular," and " silly." In iact every member spoke on the subject, and each selected different epithets, to apply to tl'e expression of the delinquent, who, seeMiinsrly astounded ab the unexpected rerali. ation of his colleagues answered never a word, A 6U inscription list for the defrayal of the expense of forming, claying and metalling Wickstccd street at the back of the 'English Church Parsonage has been headed by seveu gentlemcu, who amongst tueniselvos have raised a sum of £275. This speaks well for the liberality of landed proprietors in the Borough as we may presume that only those ■whose properties would be benefited by the proposed road would be asked to subscribe. The N.Z. Herald thus refers to the stato of parties iv the Houso :—": — " Thero is really no leader, nor have the Opposition any defined policy. Instead of assailing the Budget proposals, which are sufficiently well defined, aud assailing them as a whole, which is the custom of a sound Opposition to do, Major Atkinson, who still hankers after the leadership, purposes, I believe, to wait until the Bills are brought down, aud then to pick faults iv them ; but this peculiar policy does not please tho3e who belong to his party. ludted, several members who have been ■ counted as Oppositionists, and who worked hard last session to turn out Ministers, are particularly averse to this mode of procedure. They do not want to turn ont Ministers. They, in effect, -say, " office is closed for years, if not for ever, against Atkinson and his party. There is practically uo leader, and Major Atkinson does not 'ook as if he had tho courage to assume the lead, and there is no united party. In that case, why should we seek to oppose the Government, but rather help them to amend and improve their measures ?" This is no imaginary conversation, it embodies opinions exprcsred by several members of the Opposition party, who are wearied of the small and 'aud unstatesmanlikc sjsLem of "nagging" in minor matters, which has lately characterised some of the Opposition members.

In the Resident Mapistrate's Court this morning, before E. Hardcastle, Esq., R.M., the following civil case was heard : — Johnston v. J. B. Qlisson, c'aim — £4 Ih. Mr Hodge for the defendant. This was an action for the recovery of wages for work done as per agreement. The plaintiff gave evidence in connection with Iris claim. The defence was that ftu agreement had been made by ths plaintiff, for Is an hour, but payable monthly, and that the plaintiff in leaving tbe work before ( the expiration of that time, had forfeited bis right to wages. George Atkinson, Accountant at the Chroniclu Office, deposed to having acted as agent for the defendant in the engagement of the plaintiff for Is an hour, payable monthly. The defendant gave evidence to the effect that the plaintiff had been engaged by him at the works. Judgment was giveu for the plaintiff for amount claimed with 9s costs of Court, the E.M. consenting to stay execution until a cross summons for goods supplied at the contractor's store could be taken out and heard. The only other business before the Court was the hearing on commission of the plaintiff's evidence iv the case T. H. Nicholson v. H. Stagg, pending in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Wellington. The Court was then adjourned.

In consequence of an exceptionally heavy press of matter, publication of this journal was delayed past train time on Tuesday night last. We trust our country subscribers will accept this explanation. It is our desire that the welcome cry of " evening paper " should be heard with unfailing regularity at all the townships between Wanganui and Foxton.

Halcomhe station presents a bustling appearance on the arrival and departure of the up and down trains. The evening trains are generally well filled with passengers, and the excellent refreshment room is well patronised. Mr France, the new proprietor, is particularly attentive to travellers, and a toothsome repast can always be depended upon. The station is ati extensive one, the accommodation for lady passengers being excellent. Lamps have been affixed at short intervals along the front of the main building, so that at night when the two trains are in, the passengers hurryiug about, the railway officials busy with luggage, and the Herald newsboy selling the evening paper, the lights shine on a busy crowd. Mr Marcus, the station-master is an able official and manages the traffic admirably.

The Postmaster announoea that the Frisco letter mail will arrive by the Taranaki coach to-morrow evening, and will be delivered at the Post Office window immediately. We are also requested to notify that the Wellington mail by the Manawatu to-morrow will not close until six o'clock p.m.

A football match between the local club, and a team chosen from the Fielding players, will be contested on the ground to-morrow afternoon. Play to commence at 2 o'clock sharp, in order to enable the Fielding men to return home by the evening train.