AGAIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 46, 11 March 1887, Page 15

AGAIN.

AST week we drew attention to Mr. Rolleston's speech on education, and commented on some points raised in it. This week we intend to further discuss this important question. Mr. Rolleston considers that the people of New Zealand will not permit the present system to be destroyed, or even seriously modified. We cannot say we entirely agree with him in this estimate of public opinion, but for the present we are prepared to say, transeat. But, supposing for the moment that such is really the case, and that the country is determined that the secular system shall continue, the question remains, How is this to be maintained ? Shall Government continue to pay for it out of the Consolidated Fund, or shall fees be demanded, or a rate imposed ? Mr. Rollebton, when he says the people of this country will not permit any serious interference with the secular system, does not mean that there shall be no change as to the mode of providing the funds necessary for its maintenance. At least we do not understand him to mean so; on the contrary, we think it is quite clear from his speech that he contemplates the necessity of a change in this respect. And we think that every man of information and common sense also contemplates the necessity of a change. The public revenue is falling, new taxation by the Government is hardly possible, and the demand for more money for public schools is increasing. Under these circumstances it will soon be impossible to find a statesman prepared to take the management of our finances on the condition that public schools shall be entirely supported out of the consolidated revenue. The reason is obvious, and ii simply because the thing cannot be done. If, indeed, the Treasury were full of money, if the Treasurer could not spend the entire revenue on the other departments of Government, we should despair of any change in the mode of providing funds for education. But when the Treasurer, notwithstanding heroic efforts to retrench on the part of the Ministry, is unable to make ends meet, policians and statesmen, in spite of public clamour, must do one of two things, either throw the maintenance of education to a great extent on fees from well-to-do people, and local rates, or throw up the work of Government as hopeless, indeed, impossible. It must come to this shortly, if, indeed, it has not already come to it. And why should it not ? Does it not appear monstrous that the State should provide free education for the children of well-to-do people, for the children of people who are well able to pay for the schooling of their children. More than one half of the people of this country are compelled by law to pay for the free education of other people's children, On the face of it this appears to be unjust, and we feel quite certain it is impolitic. The Government may, we think, insist on the education of all children, and wh Ist doing so provide out of general revenue for the education of such as are unable themselves to pay for it, and it may also determine that well-to-do people shall pay fees for their children ; but beyond this we do not think it is either just, wise, or politic to go. The present system of education, considering its principle of godless education and its mode of maintenance, is, in our judgment, indefensible. If children are educated Government should be satisfied, and if children be educated Government should not compel the parents of such children, after having discharged their duty to their own children, to pay in addition for the free education of the children of well-to-do people. We do not object to a tax for the free education of children whose parents are destitute of sufficient means to keep them at school, but we do vehemently object to the system that compels people who pay for the education of their own children to pay also for the education of the children of welF-to- '.o people, and we greatly mistake public opinion if such an objection is not also entertained by a majority of the people of this Colony. It will be said, we know, that we object totally to a system of puMic education. This is not so ; on the contrary, we are the ad vocates of public education — public education, however, correct in principle and just under all aspects. But so far as we can see, there is an idea prevalent in the minds of not a few that the present system is the only one possible here, and that if it be

destroyed, denomiaationalism becomes inevitable. Well, we say what exists in other countries cannot be impossible here. A differenu system exists, for example, in Canada, under precisely similar conditions. Why not, then, introduce the Canadian system here, and thus give contentment and justice to all, as is the case in Canada? We do not even desire the destruction of all public secular schools. If there are people who prefer these, we have no desire to deprive them of their preference ; but if there are people, as there are, who prefer denominational schools, we think it is most unjust to place obstacles in the way of their having their preference realised. In Canada, schools are supported by rates, fees, when people are agreed upon them, and aid from the general Government. Wherever people establish a school and send to it a certain number of pupils, they become ipso facto entitled to a fair share of the rates and to a certain amount of aid from Government. This does not interfere with public schools, properly so-called, supported in the same way, but it secures justice for minorities, and promotes peace and harmony in the State. A similar system here would produce similar effects, and whilst relieving the general revenue, render the life of the Treasurer tolerable. It seems to us, after reading Mr. Rolleston's speech, that whilst he will continue to advocate our public school system, he would not oppose a modification of it in the direction of the Canadian system, and we fancy that all our responsible public men would be only too glad to see such a system established in New Zealand. The present system is fast becoming an impossibility.

On last Sunday the Bishop of the diocese assisted at the con elusion of the mission of the Redemptorist Fatheis at Gore, and gay Confirmation to 98 persons. On Sunday next his Lordship will be in Balclutha to open the new church that has been erected there. On Wednesday last a mission began at Wrey's Bush, and on Sunday las the mission commenced in Invercargill. The retreat for the priests will begin in Dunedin on Monday next. The mission of the Redemptorists concluded in Winton on Sunday last, and the mission in Oamaru will begin on Sunday, the 20th. On Thursday next the Feast of St. Patrick, there will be Hi?h Mass in St. Patrick's, South Dunedin, at 9 a.m. On Saturday next, the Feast of St. Joseph, there will be High Mass in the Cathedral at 11 a.m. OUR beloved brothers in the faith and edifying superiors in everything, the English Catholics of the Norfolk following continue ardent in making hay while the sun is shining :—": — " Mr. Edwin De Lisle, member for Middle Leicestershire, and one of the few Catholics returned by an English constituency, " says a cablegram to the Melbourne Telegraph" denounced the conduct of the Most Rev. Dr. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel, in issuing a manifesto against th payment of taxation in Ireland. He said that he would like to se e the Archbishop tried for treason in London by a jury of English Catholics. His repudiation of Dr. Croke's conduct ou the part of English Catholics was received with enthusiasm." — But when they had condemned, hanged, drawn, and quartered, the Archbishop to their hearts' content, and great spiritual comfort, would not these English Catholics have to reckon with the Pope concerning the censure incurred by them in the matter ?— That however would also be settled perhaps by the renewed diplomatic relations with the Vatican.— When that event takes place Mr. Edwin de Lisle, and all Buch cattle, are to do what they like with the Irish hierarchy . The New Anti-Clerical League have unfolded their banner at Milan. " Our banner," said the member who presented it, "is black as tradition would have the banner of the rebel angel to be." And yet this band who boast themselves enlisted under the devil's flag are possessed of the warm sympathies of many Christian people ! Should a war occur, the Principalities themselves, as well as the Powers engaged in an attempt to settle their affairs, are likely to make some stir in the world. Bulgaria, Rouniania, and Servia, taken together, possess a force of 316,000 men of all arms in the first line, and 280,000 in the second. This, it will be seen, forms a very respectable army, and should have some influence in deciding the course of events. Sic Michael Hicks-Beach has resigned his position as Chief Secretary for Ireland, still retaining a seat in the Cabinet, but without a portfolio. Tbe pretext is cataract by which he is threatened with blindness. An attempt, however, to manage Irish affairs should be sufficient to open the eyes of any respectable English statesman to his purblind condition, and the fact of his practically avowing tbe discovery must be admitted as among the hopeful signs of the times. The odium and ridicule incurred by Sir Miohael, owing to his examination on the recent trial in the Dublin Police Court of Mr. Dillon and his companions have no doubt contributed to bring abaut his resignation . The revolt in Bulgaria, which, in itself •eems of little consequence, and has been easily subdued, was still probably of consider-

able importance as being excited for the purpose of affording a further excuse for interference in the affairs of the country. That some Russian subjects and some friends of Russia have been killed or executed is quite In accordance with this view of the situation, for the Government of the Czar would take little account of human lives, whether of friends or foes, were anything to be gained by their sacrifice. The treatening attitude apparently assumed by the Russian Press because of these executions may probably be taken as a proof that the desired end has been secured and the needful pretence furnished. Meantime, the report that the Austrian Minister has given grounds to suspect the real mind of his Government towards the Russian aggression is probably well founded. Austria's great objection to Russian rule at Constantinople is known to be the fact that under such circumstances the Danube would become exclusively a Russian river, and that her interests would thus be gravely affected or possibly completely destroyed. Were Salonica given to her as an equivalent, however, things would assume a different aspect, and suspicions have existed all along that an understanding prevailed to that effect. Lord Salisbury in bis banqueting seems to share the fate of an ancient Egyptian at a feaet. A skeleton is always present among the good cheer placed before him, and it constantly stares him in the face. He carries his skeleton about with him, in fact, and acts something after the fashion of a showman towards it. Everywhere he is expected to parade it and to explain all its various points. We allude to the Irish question on which his Lordship has been again holding forth— this time at a banquet given by the National Conservative Olub. The Marquis is clearly in what we may vulgarly call a fix, and would, no doubt, be glad to be rid of his burden, but, like the traditional Tartar, ifc cannot be got rid of. The break-down of the jury system, it seems, is the particular phase of difficulty that prevails at preseDt, and the question is how to raise it up again, or to abolish it with any appearance of decency. From the history of the Sligo Jury, and the unblushing manner in which it was packed again and again, we may gain some notion of what Lord Salisbury's admission involves— and of how completely all the old enginry — whether devilish or otherwise — by which the Irish people have been so long bullied has failed its employers. If juries can no longer be packed, let them, indeed, be abolished — but to replace them, there is the rub. By-the-bye, could not a universal and permanent jury be appointed for al Ireland, consisting, let us say, of Mr. Edwin de Lisle and hia pals: If the mountain will not go to Mahomet, why, let Mahomet go to the mountain. If Dr. Croke cannot be brought over for condign punishment, let this religious baud manipulate him in his own archdiocese. Were their prentice hand so brought into use, what rebel could escape the halter 1 The correspondent of the Times writes from Paris on January 5 as follows:— "A decree of the Congregation of Rites has been issued to-day at the Vatican, which, by a decision of the 4th of December, approved by the Pope on the 9th, confirms the cnltu* rendered to Cardinal Fisher, Sir Thomas More, and 54 other English martyrs. This degree is equivalent to canonisation." — We have not yet received intelligence of the publication of the decree in England by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster — from which we shall in due time learn the full details.',, Mb. Thomas A. Dickson, J.P., formerly Member of Parliament for County Tyrone, and always one of the most advanced thinkers among Ulster Liberals (says the Dublin Freeman of January 15) delivered a whole-hearted Home Rule speech at Tuesday's meeting of the Protestant Home Rule Association. For twelve long years Mr. Dickson fought the battle of the Nurthern farmers in the House of Commons. He tried to have leaseholders brought within the scope of remedial legislation, and he endeavoured to have tenant-right in "town parks legalised, but he did not succeei. Mr. Dickson was not slow to see that the only policy which could produce the desired effect in the Biitish Parliament was the policy pursued by the Irish National members, who have brought legislation for leaseholders and owners of town parks not only within measurable distance, but to the point of realisation at the hands— mirabile dxctu! — of a Tory Government. Mr. Dickson expresses his belief that Northern Protestants are getting their eyes opened, and that Tery many of them are in favour of Home Rule who would not venture to say so publicly. We felicitate Mr. Dickson, who has now taken his proper place in the ranks of the active politicians of the time. United Ireland refers as follows to the death of Lord Iddesleigh :—": — " The troubles of the Tory Ministry are thickened by a mo9t tragic and ghastly event. Unfortunate Lord Iddesleigh dropped dead at the Prime Minister's residence just after he had been most foully and cruelly expelled from the Foreign Office in consequence of the changes necessitated by Mr. Goschen's sinister accession to the Ministry. It is no exaggeration to say that Lord Iddesleigh's blood is on the head of the ill-fated Ministry. His heart was literally broken by the scurvy treatment he received. Only two days ago his son complained of it indignantly in a public letter. Lord Salisbury will find Mr. Goschen's ill-omened co-operation but sorry compensation for the uncomfortable public feeling that will

be aroused by the fate of the blameless old statesman who dragged himself to his door to die. Lord Salisbury has managed to kill the most beloved of his old Tory colleagues, and to make an enemy of hiß ablest young one. The " Egyptian skeleton " at the Cabinet meetings for the future will be companioned by the mildly reproachful ghost of poor Lord Iddesleigh. It is a doomed and .haunted Ministry. Mr. Michael Davitt, who, to some extent, favours Mr. Henry George' 9 theory of land-nationalisation, ha 9 pronounced strongly against Mr. George's reply to Archbishop Corrigan, and expressed an opinion that his attack on the Catholic Church is anything rather than calculated to advance the cause he has at heart. Prominent Irishmen in New York, moreover, are giving marked evidence of the dissatisfaction felt by them. In the Most Rev. Dr. Carr, His Holiness the Pope has once more given to these colonies a prelate thoroughly in sympathy with the views and aspirations of the great body of his people. The right of Teto must be quickly acquired, in fact, or all the mischief it is wanted to prevent will be done.— As things are, these pestilent bishops, who are ardent in their desires for the welfare and freedom of Ireland, evidently stand high in the favour of the Holy Father:— " On the eve of his departure from Ireland (says the Dublin JVeeman of 15th January), his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne on Sunday delivered a spirited, generous, and patriotic reply to the valedictory address presented by the Galway Young Ireland Society. ' Your special aim,' said his Grace, ' is to restore to Ireland her Legislative Independence. In that aim I entirely sympathise with you.' ... It is Dr. Carr's fervent wish that he may return from the distant scene of his apostolic labours to find, a few years hence, a regenerated and prosperous Ireland. Irishmen in general will echo the prayer, and respond to the aspiration that his Grace may be spared to witness the growth and peaceful development of an autonomous Irish nation." The Plan of Campaign can hardly now be impeached even from a legal point of view. The unqualified approval given to it the other day by Sir Charles Russell, late Attorney-General of England, and the most eminent lawyer of his day, speaking at Sheffield, should be quite enough to settle that. Pbince Bismabck seems to have hit on an extremely neat device for freeing England from her obligations to support the independence of Belgium. He assures the kingdom in question of inviolability in the event of war, but at the same time just hints that her position as a federal state of the German Empire, enjoying consideration only second to that shown towards Bavaria, would be exceptionally advantageous. Had the worthy Chancellor something of this in his head when he made Antwerp a port of call for hi ß Australian vessels f—ltf — It was at least giving a practical proof of his friendship, and all that might come of it, to the Belgians — And of course England is not bound to stand in the way of any disposal of themselves made by the people referred to. The world of the Great Protestant Tradition is now calling out in horror over the appointment of a Jesuit Priest to the newly created Archbishopric of Bombay. — The Jesuit is Father George Porter, of Farm street, London, and even some of those who complain admit that his life both as priest and citizen are excellent. — But Tradition teaches that wherever a Jesuit gets in his nose the whole body of his Order immediately follow, never to be expelled.— And, then, what a dreadfulthing it would be were Vishnu, Buddha, and Mahomet to be overcome by the God of the Jesuits. Christianity could not possibly survive that even by the aid of the " open Bible." Among the march of enlightenment nothing seems to have come more quickly to the front than the real condition of the monarchy in Japan. — Even those of us who are not very old remember -when mysterious tales were told of the Mikado and the Tycoon, and when nothing seemed to be clearly known to the outer world. — But now we find, instead of these beings of story, an Empress who is evidently advanced in the ordinary pomps and vanities of the civilised world and who, for example, orders from Boston a set of diamond ornaments —at a cost of £15,000. — It may be however, that womanly vanity moves a little faster than anything else. At any rate, it moves as fast everywhere as seems at all desirable. \ Mr. Weld Blundell'of Ince-Blundell, who died on Monday (say B Vanity Fair of January 8,) was one of the leading members of th c Roman Catholic community, and held a great stake in the county of Lancashire. He died at Lulworth Castle, the historic seat of his relative, Mr. Weld. Lulworth was the scene of a gross outrage eai 1 v m the cent. ury, a search being made there for a member of the > v.m family whom Mr. Weld, as loyal a subject of George 111 as e\ athed, was suspected of harbouring. Happily a day has come \\in.n the merits and loyalty of Roman Catholic gentlemen are admitted on all sides in this country. The Protestante)iverein,&n association of rationalistic Protestants who lately held their 16th Congress at Wiesbaden, declared that all Protestants who desired to maintain friendly relations with Catholics were traitors to the Protestant cause. No one could remain a Protestant who did not also remain the irreconcilable enemy of the

Catholic Church. — They also may be reckoned ac marching unde the black flag of the rebel angel. — But the host is motley, ranging from the [extreme Evangelical and Ritualist to the wildest atheist and anarchist. Is it not a curious thing, and suggestive of the supernatural, that sincere men cannot see all that this union involves f One of the most interesting movements of the day is that now initiated in Russia for the reunion of the Greek Church with Rome. During the course of the last year considerable attention was aroused by a series of questions addressed, with the object of helping towards such an end, by an eminent member of the learned world of St. Petersburg to the Bishops throughout the Empire.— The writer maintained that the schism of the Greek Church conld not be justified ; that the addition of the wordß Filioqm to the Creed did not constitute a heresy, never having been condemned by an (ecumenical council ; that the Western Church was irreproachable in the m a tte r of faith ; that the difference of rites and other customs could not. bring any condemnation upon this Church ; that politic s and tempora interests only had separated the Greeks from the Roman Church and that an effort must be made to put an end to the separation as soon as possible. — The prospect opened by any possibility of reconciliation of Kussia to the Catholic Church is almost boundless, and the con" sequences that must ensue to religion are even beyond the powers of the — The conversion of the Fansclavic nation itself would be of surpassing importance, not to speak of the mission fields that would immediately present themselves, under the most favourable circumstances, to the Church. Sib George Otto Tbbveltan has been condemning the Government for the want of vigour shown by them with regard to Irish affairs. If we recall how delightfully Sir George Otto himself figured during his vigorous career in Ireland, the force of his con* demnation must be fully appreciated by us. The death is announced of the Very Rev. Father Beckx, late General of the Society of Jesus, at the age of 92. It will be remembered that two or three years ago Father Beckx resigned his office owing to his advanced years, and was succeeded by Father Anderledy Recent accounts, nevertheless, represented him as still hale and comparatively strong, and his end seems to have come with some degree of suddenness. — R I. P. It was a curious sight to see Mr. Labouchere and Mr. Conybeare » M.P.'s, standing fearlessly up in Dublin in defence and advocacy of th c Plan of Campaign, for whose initiation and practice Mr, Dillon and hi 8 companions were even then on their trial. Mr. Labouchere scoffed at the attempt to stamp out the movement by confounding it with conspiracy, and quoted the example of the English working men, whose trades-unionism it had been attempted to beat down in the same manner, but who would not permit of its being so treated. In fact, he said, Sir Redvers Buller and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach had tried to make the landlords adopt the Plan of Campaign before MrO'Brien, its author, had thought of it, but without success. There was a good deal of humour in his allusion to the manner in which, on the contrary, it had succeeded in the hands of the Nationalists. Mr. Conybeare dwelt on the incongruity of the prosecutions being conducted in Ireland — which, he added, had covered the Government with ridicule and obloquy in England — whereas he and his friend had gone through England explaining anJ advocating the measure without any danger of being interfered with. But, nevertheless, in connection with the Plan of Campaign also, — as with almost the whole Irish question — the real fear that underlies everything is that of the effect to be produced in England, for that, we have no doubt, addß bitterness to the struggle on the side of the Government. Both speakers assured their bearers of the (.sympathy of the English democracy — now united to that of Ireland for the first time — and Mr. Conybeare professed his belief that, if those gentlemen who were so fond of talking of Ireland would only come over and judge for themselves, every one of them would speedily be converted to Home Rule. The cheery spirit displayed by the speakers, and their i evident confidence in ultimate victory, must have produced a most reassuring effect on their audience. Their sincere admiration of the devotion shown by the Nationalists was, besides, particularly valuable — affording, as it did, unquestionable testimony against the accusation of self-interest so often preferred by the enemies of the people and their cause. Dublin Castle has been convulsed by the discovery of a crime far more disastrous in its eyes than the most horrifying exploits of the Moonlighters. — A quantity of choice port wine kept in an inner cellar closely locked has been stolen and all the bons-vivants are in a Btate of distraction. — This puts U9 in mind of a story that was told in old times to the prejudice of an incoming Lord Lieutenant. His outgoing Excellency, who led a pretty fast life, had an enormous quantity of wine which although veiy good was not such as he chosa to carry with him to England and he offered it to his successor at a moderate price. — The offer waß politely declined and exclaimed the outgoer, •' Confound the fellow, a bo i tie of wine would last him as long as a bottle of water would me. I" — Jolly times had prevailed at the Castle during his Excellency's reign, and evidently jolly times prevail somewhere in the neighbourhood under Lord Londonderry,^ although pcrhapanot with his good wIH.

The assurance of pacific hopes given the other day by the Emperor of Austria by no means points to a continuance of the map of Europe in its present condition, and rather goea to favour the suspicion of a secret understanding between his Majesty's Government and that of the Czar. If Russia and Austria agreed to mutual annexations in the Balkan JPeninsula, Germany and France giving their consent, there would necessarily be no war. And that is probably what the affair may result in. The report of the almost certainty of an immediate reconciliation between the divided sections of the Liberal party points to the impending triumph of the Irish cause. Mr Gladstone and hia party will make no serions compromise, and the measure of Home Rule proposed by them is that to which they will substantially adhere. Mr. Labouchere, in his speech at Dublin, was most decided in such a declaration. It is now announced that the row made about the Archbishop of Cashel's recommendation as to the nonpayment of taxes was a storm in a teapot. His Grace denies that he recommended anything of the kind — just as we thought all along. We see among the names of the gentlemen appointed to the commission of the peace that of our respected fellow-citizen, Mr. Francis Meenan, of Dunedin. The appointment will be hailed in many quarters with much satisfaction. It should be comforting to those people whose business or pleasure calls on them to frequent the seas to learn that Captain AUman of the s.s. Penguin has invented an apparatus by which the approach of danger may be immediately indicated. The invention is highly spokan of and pronounced extremely valuable. Those requiring the services of a dentist should call on Messrs Myers and Co., Dentists, Octagon, corner of George street. They guarantee highest class work at moderate fees. Their artificial work gives general satisfaction, and the fact of them supplying a tern. porary denture while the gums are healing does away with the inconvenience of being months without teeth. They manufacture a single artificial tooth for Ten Shillings, and sets equally moderat . The administration of nitrous oxide gas is also a great boon to thoc e needing the extraction of a tooth. Read. WORK FOR ALL. Permanent employment given to energetic men and women everywhere. £10 a week given and expenses paid Send at once for full particulars of the greatest money-making business in. the world. Address J. F. HILL & CO., Augusta, Maine, United States. Don t miss this chance. Write to-day Messrs Campbell and Livingstone have taken over the grocery business long conducted in George street, Dunedin, by Messrs Esther and Low.— The reputation of the establishment has been known for many years and it will lose nothing in the hands of the new management. Messrs Hill and Walker, Princes street, Dunedin, warns the public agamse the purchase of any others than the genuine Indian Teas. The superiority of the Indian article is now admitted, but it must be obtained in its purity to prove its value. The firm in question are prepared to supply it in perfection and on the moßt liberal terms.