THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 284, 11 October 1878, Page 13

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

It was at one time thought in Victoria that this question had been finally settled, and politicians flattered themselves that a law suggested by political hatred and carried amidst the plaudits of bigots and infidels had extinguished for ever the love of Catholics for their religion and the manly virtues ot self-respect and courage. Parties felt convinced that they could do without Catholic support ; and an idea prevailed that it was only necessary to wait a little in order to see the total collapse of Catholic schools. But years have elapsed and the realization of these hopes seems more distant than ever. Instead of collapsing the Catholic school system has been found to be extending the sphere of its influence and usefulness. New Catholic schools are being built, old ones enlarged, Catholic pupils are increasing by thousands, and Catholic generosity and enthusiasm in the cause of Christian education grow stronger day by day. And not only this, Catholics have again brought their grievances before the legislature, demanding justice to their schools, and a partial repeal of the iniquitous education laws of that colony. "Will this demand be refused by Parliament? The present Victorian Government opposes justice to Catholics, and this may probably induce Parliament not to listen to Catholic demands at present. For this Catholics are, it appears, prepared. But they are also prepared to punish the soi-disant liberal party, which, though loudly proclaiming its advocacy and love of fair play, is the veriest tyrant in existence. Nor, it appears, will Catholics forget the reiterated calumnies and insults of the liberal organ, the Age, which, except at the bidding of liberal leaders, would 'not dare habitually to slander Catholicity. At length it would seem that the spirit of the Catholics of Victoria has risen to the exigencies of the situation, and determined to do what we have so often recommended the New Zealand Catholics to do, viz., to keep a list of all who in Parliament vote against justice to Catholic schools, with a view of voting against them on the first opportunity, no matter who may be their opponents. This is the policy Catholics in the sister colony should have pursued long ago. And it always appeared to us disgraceful to Victorian Catholics that they should have been found in the ranks of the present liberal party. The fact is, so long as this question of education remains as it is, Catholics should carefully oppose all parties and all politicians who insist on giving the rising generation a godless education. To help secularists to maintain themselves in power is to bo disloyal to God and to Christ, to manifest a wicked in. difference to the true interests of individuals and society, and to patronise that which must inevitably lead not only to the loss of the Christian faith but to the destruction of society. We were delighted then to learn from the columns of the Melbourne Advocate that Catholics were about to sever their connection with Messrs. Berry & Co.; and the constituents of the ignorant or slandering Age. We hope this project will not be permitted to remain a mere project, but that it will be soon realized in very decided action. Catholics may rest assured there is nothing to be gained by an unholy alliance, and that it will be better fox all their legitimate interests to put themselves into an attitude of opposition to Mr. Berry and the Age, than to support both or either. The faith, zeal, and generosity of Victorian Catholic^ as such, cannot be praised too highly, bufc they OTigHftlsO to.

remember that if Catholics first, they are at the same time citizens, and that they fail in their duty as such if they support a godless political party. Catholics should not only have a love of their religion above all other things, but they should religiously use their influence as citizens to promote the wellbeing of the State to which they are so much indebted for the protection of their lives and properties. Political action, then, is not a merely indifferent action. On the contrary Catholics should weigh Avell the principles and aims of politicians and strenuously oppose all whose principles and policy they are convinced lead to the moral or material injury of the community. On this principle it is Catholics are bound to give the most strenuous opposition to secularists in education for mere secular education can only lead to the ruin of citizens and the State.