THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 136, 10 December 1875, Page 8

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

The following well-considered letter appeared in a recent number of the ' Bendigo Independent/ addressed to the editor of that journal : — Sir, — The position taken by the Roman Catholics in reference to the present system of public instruction appears to be daily gaining strength amongst all sections of the community. It avis at first reluctantly admitted that there " was something in what they say," and now it is freely acknowledged that there is a great deal in the views they have so earnestly urged in the defence of religious liberty. The Legislature, in its wisdom or unwisdom, in the year 1872, passed an Act for the purpose, as is alleged, of promoting public instruction. To that measure the Catholic people of this country were almost unanimoxisly opposed. It was carried, however, by a large majority in the Legislative Assembly, and met -with but a feeble opposition in the " Upper House" of Parliament. Nevertheless, the Catholics thought, and still think, that the Education Act was a palpable infringement upon the liberty of conscience guaranteed by the Constitution to the people of this country. In Ireland, one of the leading grievances of the Catholics was that they were obliged to contribute to the support of a, church to which they did not belong, and the principles of which they strongly disapproved. The removal of that grievance was advocated by the Catholics — not in any feeling of bitterness or hostility to the other denominations, but simply upon the ground that such a state of things was unjust, oppressive, and opposed to the first rinciples of religious liberty. With tlie result of their agitation we are all familiar; there is no longer a dominant church in Ireland. It is difficult to perceive any very marked distinction between the position occupied by the Irish people in reference to the Church establishment and that occupied by Victorian Catholics with regard to the law affecting what has been termed " public instruction." That the Cotholics are in a majority in Ireland, and in a minority here, cannot legitimately curtail their right to worship God or educate their children according- to the dictates of their conscience. In Ireland they were called upon to contribute to the t support of a Church, 'and in Victoria they are required to aid in sustaining & system of education to which they are, and desire to be, strangers. Why should they pay for that which they could not receive without dishonor ? The absurdity of calling the system " secular, compulsory, and free" is being made more and more manifest day by day. Secular it may be, in one sense ; but in no sense can this secularism be distinguished from sectarianism. The secularists are a "sect" quite as much as Protestants, or Catholics, or Spiritualists. Then it is compulsory ! Why, the highest court of judicature in this community lias declared the compulsory clause to be almost, if not entirely unworkable. Upon examination, no doubt, it will be found to be still further liable to the • of the " carriage and six." Then is it free? If " free education" means the present system, it is not only iiot free, but is a very expensive commodity indeed. How much

does this free education cost the people ? The deficiency in the public revenue is mainly owing to this system, and to supply that deficiency additional taxation must necessarily be imposed. And this leads irresistibly to the ludicrous position occupied by the " Upper House" in reference to this question. These hon. gentlemen who object to the Catholics invoking the blessing of the Creator during school hours, but who cannot commence their own deliberations without an amendment upon the Lord's Prayer as it is found in the Holy Scripture, passed the Education Bill with, for them, unwonted rapidity. They are ordinarily described as " slow coaches," but in this particular instance it was a case of "high-pressure express." They are the representatives of the propertied classes. If they do not possess much intellectual power, they undeniably represent broad acres and sheep. What is now their position ? The deficiency in the public revenue must be made up. How ? Ask the thousands who have assembled throughout Victoria in favor of a land tax, and without difficulty will be found an appropriate reply. Ask the late Minister of Justice — James Macpherson G-rant — what that tax means. The hon. gentleman will tell you it means " bursting-up" the large estates, and burst-up they shall be, as surely as the sunlight comes at mid-day. This is a consummation for which the " wealthy lower orders" had scarcely bargained, when they were engaged in tho task of promoting "free education." Ax*e they still enamored of the system, and how many of their class will cry " content" to these proposals ? It is in vain they now turn imploring eyes upon Sir James McCulloch. Notwithstanding the intrigues of the member for Warrnambool and his highly " respectable" adherents, they — the propertied classes — will have to pay, and when the Education Act is either fairly modified or totally repealed, they will be regarded with pitiless disdain by every true friend of civil and religious liberty. — I am yours, &_'., Yea.