A METHODIST JOURNAL ON CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 47, 21 March 1874, Page 10

A METHODIST JOURNAL ON CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

The ' Christian Advocate,' an American Methodist newspaper, advocates justice " not only to religionists as puch, but to the taxpayers." Commenting on an addiess on Education, it uls:> says: — Well, there it is now ; what of it ? It tells us that Catholics are opposed to (he Amei ican system of common schools ; a fact which might easily have been known and read of all men for years pasf. So far as we know, they never tried to conceal their opposition to our school system. It tells us that Catholics are forced to pay for the support of schools which their conscience will not allow them to use, aud this also has beeu proclaimed through the length and breadth of the land for years past. " But our system is the Right." Aye, that's the very question in dispute, and, allow us to say, that question will not ba settled by bandying epithets, by mere persecution. No great principle or question, vital to the interests of man, oan be settled in this way. Persecution and foice may overcome the weaker party, but they do not change the deep and earnest convictions of mind and heart. Truth, justice and fairness must be the weapons of those who would win a permanent victo y The struggle in regard to education in this country will be a fierce and fearful one. You may depend upon it. No child's play will characterise or terminate it, aud there will be need for ull the cool deliberation, the caution, the care, the foresight and wisdom that (an be commanded. We look towards the future, and not distant future either, with painful apprehensions. Men are prone to yield themselves to the impulses of blind passions, unjustifiable prejudices, and to be guided by these when a good conscience and sound reason alone ehould prevail. And for this reason, so far as this question is concerned, we look to the future with dread. What is righr, what is fair, what is true, what is good, should be, nud if we act wisely will be, the themes of di-rcussion on this as on any

other subject. We should look at it calmly and discuss it in all soberness and candor.