The New Zealand Tablet Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1877. THE POLICY OF CATHOLICS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 237, 16 November 1877, Page 11

The New Zealand Tablet Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1877.

THE POLICY OF CATHOLICS.

N view of the approaching dissolution of Parliament it is most important that all Catholics should have clear ideas of then.' wants in reference to education, and the line of action they should pursue in order to the realization of these ideas. Our demand is that we shall receive, from the public funds to which we contribute, a fair share to enable us to

educate our children in secular subjects in our own schools. I* appears that the majority of the people are satisfied with merely secular schools, and consequently we shall make no effort to prevent them having what they approve of and desire in this matter. But Catholics will not accept a purely secular system, and claim their fair share of the education grant to aid them in teaching secular subjects in their own schools.

Catholics strenuously protest against being compelled by a majority to contribute money for the exclusive benefit of that majority ; they protest against being compelled to pay money for a system of education from which their own children are excluded as efficaciously as they are from Protestant churches, and which, they are convinced, cannot but lead to the demoralization of the rising generation and the ruin of society. But as a majority of their fellow-citizens are apparently bent on having such a system for themselves, Catholics, for the sake of present peace, will abstain from any attempt to prevent them from having for themselves what they appear to approve so highly, and will rest content with an effort to obtain aid to enable them to educate their own children in then" own way. What they propose is this, — let there be an examination of children in all schools made by duly qualified Government Inspectors in all merely secular subjects, such as reading, writing, arithmetic, &c, and let there be an equal allowance in money gi\en to the managers of all schools for the children who have passed the required examination and attained the

necessary standard. Under such a plan as this, such as are in love with pure secularism, can secure the object of their affections ; and Catholics can bring up their children under their own eyes and in their own way. In this way the Government will succeed in acting impartially, doing justice to all. and giving general satisfaction. With this we shall rest satisfied, but with less we shall never be content, nor shall we ever cease to agitate. AH who refuse this much to us are our enemies, our plunderers, and with them we must ever be at war. They are our enemies, and no matter to what political party they belong, we shall oppose them at all times and under all circumstances.

Now that we have clearly defined the least that can satisfy us, it is our duty to point out the line of action which we think most likely to conduce to the attainment of our demand. In the first place Catholics must be united, and in reference to this question vote as one man, against all who refuse aid to their schools. Party considerations must go down in the presence of the school question, and much as we admire and trust Sir George Grey, we shall vote against members not only of his party, but even of his Ministry who have voted against aiding our schools. And much as we detest the policy and acts of Major Atkinson and his party, we will vote for even a member of that party who has hitherto voted for doing us justice, or who pledges himself to vote in our favour in the future.

In our mind, party interests or considerations are worthless, when placed in competition with the education question. To us the Christian education of our children is of paramount importance, and in our estimation the education of even a small portion of the community in Christian schools is of vastly more importance to the community at large than any, or indeed all merely political questions. Until, then, this school question is settled to our satisfaction, we abjure politics and mere politicians, they shall be indifferent to us, and we shall continue to give men of all parties, who oppose our just claims to aid for our schools, an impartial and undying opposition. For example, there is in Sir Geoiige Grey's Cabinet a gentleman who calls himself a Catholic, but who has not only voted but spoken in favour of the present most unjust Education Bill which is on the point of becoming law. "Well, what should Catholic voters do in reference to this gentleman when he becomes a candidate for their suffrages ? Catholic voters should vote against him to a man, and we earnestly exhort all who may have an opportunity of doing so, to record their votes against him. He is in reality no Catholic ; as such has no claim on any Catholic's vote, and must be regarded solely in the light of a secularist. If we hope ever to obtain justice, we must be impartial, consistent, determined, in all circumstances true to our principles and professions. We have no doubt that what we have said in the last paragraph will give offence in some quarters. But this cannot be helped. We care not so much for numbers as for true men ; and we remember that the victory is not always to the strong. We know that in the end truth and justice must prevail, and that nothing but disgrace and defeat ultimately awaits paltry, shifty, and temporizing conduct.