Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1879. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S ADDRESS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 313, 18 April 1879, Page 13

Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1879. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S ADDRESS.

tN address from the Hon. Robert Stout was read at a meeting of the Otago Educational Institute on Tuesday last. Were it not for the position this hon. gentleman holds as one of the members for Dunedin and Attorney-General of the colony this address would not demand particular notice. There is nothing new in it, it is the old story secularism, godlessness, the Otago University before the world. The New Zealand University, in which it is possible for Catholics to obtain some justice ought not to be, so thinks the Hon. Robert Stout ; but he has no fault to find with the so-called Otago University which, whatever it may be theoretically, is practically an anti-Catholic institution, in whose senate or council there is not one Catholic, amongst whose professors there is not one Catholic, and whose atmosphere is Protestant Presbyterianism of the darkest type It is so near utter godlessness that it pleases our Attorney-General very much, so near is it to his ideal of an university that efficaciously excludes all Catholics from its emoluments and other advantages. This is a great point gained. Catholics are not wanted there, and would not be admitted there unless on the condition of leaving their Catholicity outside its precints. If Catholic students will ever frequent its halls, they must submit to be taught history by Protestant historians, philosophy by Protestant philosophers, morality by Protestant moralists, and we have had lately a specimen of wliat that means • and they must study everything else taught there from a Protestant point of view. This, it appears, pleases the Hon Robert Stout very well, it is the next thing to godlessness, so far as Catholics are concerned, and not far removed from it m the circumstances. In the New Zealand University, on the other hand, an eflort has been made to do justice to Catholics. In its council or senate there are some Catholics, and under its constitution there may be affiliated colleges in which Catholics can pursue their studies, and at the same time share in all the advantages of the University, This is just and politic. But this it is precisely which renders the New Zealand University most distasteful to the monopolists and bigots of Otago and New Zealand. These « know full well that Catholics never will frequent the Otago University or similar institutions else- j

where m New Zealand, and therefore it is they are labouring to destroy the New Zealand University. Their object is to deprive Catholics of the advantages arising from the educational institutions of the country. No doubt they are willing to receive Catholics into these institutions on conditions. But what are these? Why the conditions ate that Catholics abandon Catholic principles and subject themselves to the influence of Protestant and godless principles. The monopolists and bigots tell us our universities, colleges, and schools are open to you as well as toothers; if you stay away the fault is yours. But, softly, friends, your churches and conventicles are also open to us ; would this be a reason for compelling us to pay for the maintenance of these churches and conventicles ? On this principle the Hon. Robert Stout would be jusfcided in asking for a vote next session of Parliament for the defraying of the expenses incurred by Mr. Bbight's free-thought lectures in the Princess Theatre. So long as we are compelled to pay money for the support of universities, colleges, and schools, we are as entitled as our fellow citizens to receive from the state that species of education which we can accept, without ceasing to be Catholics. But we cannot now share in the education given in the Otago University, high schools, and common schools, throughout the country, without exposing our children to the greatest dangers to their faith and morals. The Government, therefore, practically calls upon us either to ahandon our religious principles, or, so far as it is concerned remain in ignorance. This is the alternative presented to us by a Parliament and Government, for the maintenance of which we pay our fair share of the taxation of the country. Be the intentions of the advocates of this system good or bad* one thing is certain, the intent of the system itself is to impose on Catholics the alternative of apostacy or ignorance. And this is the system which the Hon. Robert Stout, who with his colleagues misrepresents the Catholics of Dunedin. advocates in season and out of season. This system says to Catholics : Expose your children to the imminent danger of losing their faith and corrupting their morals, or they shall be compelled to grow up in ignorance, except indeed so far as a trifle of reading and writing is concerned. But even this trifle will not be given you except by anti-Catholic teachers who despise you and your religion, who will lose no opportunity of vilifying your religious teachers, and your Church, and to whose teaching you must nevertheless subject your children, unless, after having helped your fellow citizens to maintain anti-Catholic schools, you, at your own sole expense, maintain Catholic schools for your own children, who, nevertheless, must not ever hope to enter our Universities, if they remain staunch, consistent, real Catholics. This, in reality, is the system which the Hon. Robert Stout advocates.