THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 4, 16 May 1884, Page 9

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

(Melbourne Advocate, April 26th.) It takes no one by surprise that a majority of the Eoyal Commission which has been so tediously inquiring into this question hare re. solved to report unfavourably to the Catholic claim. No otbar result was expected by Catholic, Protestant, or Secularist. Everyone concerned could have confidently predicted what the report would be, so far, at least, as Catholics are concerned. In the first place, it was never intended at the appointment of the Commission that it should prove of the slightest advantage to Catholics. The nomination of its members was in the hands of Ministers who were resolutely opposed to Catholic claims, and they took good care that a majority of the gentlemen selected for the task should be of the same mind as themselves. In the eonrse of the inquiry one or two of the members, whose prejudices, or convictions, in favour of the secular view of the case were unalterable, exhibited their partiality "}** unßeem ly mtaxlaet t and, according to one of the morning papers, the bias so displayed was one of the strongest recommendations a gentleman since provided with a comfortable berth had to that preferment. However others may have regarded the investigation, we ourselves looked upon it as little better than a farce, for we felt assured that the result would be what it has been. Not even at the time when the Catholic witnesses were being examined and their evidence established a case unanswerably strong did we entertain the slightest hope that the decision would be favourable to our denomination. , The (bitter unfriendly feeling manifested in some of the quest ion )^nt to Catholic witnesses, the tone of the Press which prejudged the question at issue, and the aversion of public opinion to any radical change in the Act, all forbade us to hope tbat the report would be different from what we are told it is to be. It was obvicus that the hostile influences would outweigh the strongest evidence, and the result would be unfavourable to our denomination. It ie, however, satisfactory that the chairman, Mr. Rogers, is in favour of granting relief to our body. His decision asfo the existence of a grievance will have more weight with impartial minds than the united opinions of the two or three members whd constitute the majority. From his training as a lawyer, from his experience and habits as a judge, ancrV above all, from his high character, ho was eminently qualified to form an unbiassed and sound opinion on the evidencfe adduced, and lijg decision in our favour will make a deep, though it may be fen acknowledged impression on the public conscience. In*^- moral sense the victory is with us, though the declaration is against us. ,lhe evidence stands, and it is entirely in our favour. In the opinion of a gentleman of high judicial capacity, whose qualifications for pronouncing upon the evidence is far above the united intelligence of those opposed to him, we have proved our case, and are entitled to relief. This, under the circumstances, is the most that could have been expected. The evils resulting from a godless system of education were in some measure exposed by the inquiry, but the inevitable corruption of morals has not yet, it would seem, extended so widely or deeply as to alarm the public conscience and before that salutary impression has been produced it would be Tain to look for any modification of the Act favourable to the, Catholic view of the case.

In an article rejoicing at the decision at which a majority of the of the Commission have arrived, the Argus contrives to draw in the Redmond Brothers. These gentlemen are now 12,000 miles away, and are, we may be sure, as forgetful of the Argus and its impotent attempts to injure* them as if that journal had never villified thorn. In their case there was no bitterness of feeling to keep alive the remembrance of their revilere. Having overcome all opposition, and gained their purpose, they are too happy in the contemplation of their success, and of the generosity of their oountrjmen in Australia, to give a thought to their unscrupulous traducers in the Australian Press. But the mind of the Argus is not equally at ease on the subject. Completely baffled as it was by these " two yeung men." it cannot soon forget or forgive them. Far away though they arp, they are still a plaene to that journal. Its remembrance of them is constant, bitter, and humiliating, and accordingly an afflicted public are again and again reminded that these gentlemen snapped their fingers at the threat* of the Argu.*, and most effectually accomplished their purpose in spite of an opposition on its part that was unparalleled in vindictiveness and impotency combined. In season and out of season *heV*tfw» betrays its soreness on this point, and, if not for its sake, in theip own interest its readers must very much de.'ire that the wound lef^by the brothers will soon heal. The evidence of its existence in a very raw state is thus betrayed :— " And, moreover, any influence the Commissioners could exert on behalf of a special vote had been nullified beforehand by the virit of the Redmond Brothers. The free use these gentlemen obtained of the Roman Catholic "School-rooms, and the ill-judged vapouring in these buildings of the younger of the Roman Catholic priests, were features of the agitation ; and it will be found, we believe, that quietly but rapidly the idea spread that the State money must not go to strengthen a disloyal political organisation." As we have a clear comprehension of the painful condition of mind under which this nonsense was written, our duty is to deal with it indulgently ; and so we shall forbear from pointing out wbat we shall describe as inconsistencies with truth or reason. The impulse to bring forward King Charles' head upon every possible opportunity is not a symptom that any humane person should be guilty of treating with levity least of all when this is done with a gravity in which there is no consciousness of the absurdity of the proceeding. In a case of this kind patience become* a duty ; and on the present occasion we can exercise it without pretending to magnanimity, as the Argus has never dons Catholic or Irish interests the slightest injury. If we could ignore its intentions our obligations to it on that score would be so heavy that we could never hope to repay them.