RECOMMEND A POLICY AND MODE OF PROCEEDING.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 3, 16 May 1890, Page 16

RECOMMEND A POLICY AND MODE OF PROCEEDING.

SUBSCRIBER has written to us approving of our late leaders on the education question, and urging us to recommend a policy and mode of proceeding. We thought it was hardly necessary for anyone to ask us to do this", inasmuch as this is precisely what we have been doing in reference to the education question for the last eighteen years. But we suppose our correspondent means that we should now, on the eve of a general election, suggest to Catholic voters the line of conduct they should pursue in reference to future candidates. Anyone who has attentively read cur leading columns for years past must, we think, be at no loss to understand what line of conduct we are likely to recommend. Of course no Catholic can or will vote for a candidate who pledges himself to oppose aid to Catholic schools, or who has in the last session of Parliament opposed their claims to justice at the hands of Parliament, unless indeed such a one has changed his views and now undertakes to support our claims. This is, of course, a settled point. ISo one deserving the name of Catholic would dream of pursuing any other course. But this is not the only thing Catholics should do ; it is their duty to become propagandists of their views, to remove prejudice and misunderstanding, to explain what are really the views of Catholics. In reference to these there is great misapprehension amongst colonists, and opinions and designs are attributed to Catholics which they do not entertain. It is said Catholics wish to destroy the present system of public schools. This is a mistake. Catholics do not desire to destroy public schools, but they should like to see the present system improved ; they are anxious that Christianity should be infused into these schools, that conscience should be respected in them, that the mode of electing committees should be changed and made rational, and consistent with the principles of free and representative GoYernaient ; and \h&\ various o|,her improvement phould be

made. That ia all ; and can any reasonable man find fault with these views and desires. Catholic electors can also explain to their acquaintances and neighbours that to grant aid to Catholic schools is not in the least calculated to interfere with the public school system, inasmuch as to grant such aid is only to recognise that Catholic taxpayers have a right to a fair share of the public expenditure in education for the schools they establish and maintain for their own children, seeing that they are acting conscientiously in making the sacrifice they do for the Catholic education of their children. The children who frequent their schools will not, of course, be withdrawn from the public schools, because they have never been there; and as to the argument arising from the fear that if justice be granted to Catholics, all other denominations will claim similar concessions for their own schools, and thus the breakdown of the public system will become inevitable, the fear is an idle one, not sustained by facts nor the experience of the past or of other countries. What the denominations have not done in the past they are not likely to do in the future, and what the denominations have not done in Ontario under the most favourable circumstances they are not likely to do here. Then Catholics can point out to their fellow-citizens that the Catholics should be supported in their claims, inasmuch as their conduct leads to economy of the public expenditure, and saves the Government a large sum annually. If Catholics be compelled to close their schools, more than ten thousand additional children will be driven into the public schools, which means that Parliament will be compelled, in addition to the expense of increased school accommodation, to provide an additional £40,000 a year for the maintenance in schools of these ten thousand children ; whereas it is now proposed to give the Catholic body only one-half that sum for imparting to their children as good an education, in a secular point of view, as can be obtained in the public schools. If Catholics throughout the country would be at the trouble to inculcate these considerations on their fellow-citizens, great good could not but be the result. Such a propagandism as this, in union with a consistent and resolute poHcy during election time, could not fail to tell. We think it likely that if the course now recommended by us be adopted generally by Catholics, the result will be satisfactory to them, and calculated to promote peace and harmony and put an end to the heartburnings and injustice.

A souvenir of the visit to the Colony of the Irish National Delegates baa been issued by the New Zealand Tablet Company. It takes the shape of a handsome and well-designed chromo-lithograph,contain-ing tho likenesses of the gentlemen in question. The prominent feature of the picture is a shamrock leaf, containing on each separate part a portrait. That of Mr. Dillon occupies the centre, with those of Sir Thomas Esmonde and Mr. Deasy respectively on the right and leftThe likenesses are admirable, and the execution leaves nothing to be desired. The back-ground of the picture is filled up with finely-tinted views of Irish scenery — at the top, to the left, being the Vale of Avoca, and to the right the Upper Lake of Killarney. Be neath are the Rock of Cashel and Glendalougb. Below, in the centre, at the stem of the shamrock leaf, Erin leaning on her harp is s^en, and still lower down is a vignette in greys of the House of Parliament in College green. Some details of shading, into which the shamrock is again very artistically introduced, make up the whole. The picture is one that will form an ornament in any sitting-room or library, and nothing can be more appropriate for the purpose intended, that, as we have said, of commemorating the visit of the Delegates. In the houses of our Irish settlerp, especially, where it is not to be seen, a want will be felt. The manner in which the work has been carried out is most creditable to the lithographers, Messrs. J. Wilkie and Co. Indeed, Dunedin may be congratulated on being able to produce a work ia every respect so perfectly artistic.

News reaches us from several quarters of the great success of the Art Union in aid of the Dominican Convent, Invercargill. The tickets, we understand, are going off freely. This is only as it6hould be, as the cause is a most deserving one, and the prizes offered are both valuable and attractive. Among the latter wo nolice one presented by his Lordship, the Most Rev. Dr. Moran, which cannot fail to command general favour.

A very agreeable supper and entertainment was given at Carrol's Hotel, Dunedin, on Monday night, by the Irish Rifles. Besides the members of the corps there were present the Rev, Father Lynch, Major Callan, and Mr J. F. Perrin. The company sat down, about 8 p.m., to a table which did ample credit to the establishment in which it waß served, and deserved for the host and hostess the

acknowledgment made in the toast by which they were honoured; Other toasts were—" Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family," and " Our Guests." On the conclusion of the supper a claver minstrels entertainment.took place, and on the whole a very pleasant evening was Bpent.

We have received from the Very Rev. Dr. Watters, S.M., Rector of St. Patrick's College, Wellington, a copy of a " French Grammar and Composition," published by a member of the Mariet Order. The author is the Rev. Father Moran, 8.M., whose work has an additional interest as being that of a native of the colony, Father Moran having been born, if we understand aright, at Hokitika, where, however, as well as at Christchurch, he was resident for some years. He is to be reckoned among those natives of the colonies who have done honour at Home to their birthplaces, having particularly distinguished himself as a student, and graduated with honours at the Royal University. The grammar referred to, which has been compiled especially for the use of students preparing for the junior grade Intermediate or Royal University examinations, is admirably suited for the purpose, and must prove most valuable generally to teachers or students of the French language. The explanations given are remarkably clear and easy to understand, and great judgment is shown in familiarising tbe learner almost imperceptibly with peculiar con. structions aud difficulties. A thorough acquaintance with the book, in short, must place the student in command of a very creditable and useful knowledge of idiomatic and colloquial French — the true requisite for those desirous of a practical possession of the language. The book has been most favourably reviewed in the Dublin papers and has added considerably to the high reputation already enjoyed by Father Moran 68 a teacher in the Catholic University school) Leeson street— a most successful institution conducted by the Fathers of the Marist Order.

The event of the week in Dunedin has been the burning down of Messrs. Findlay and Co's, wood ware factory and wood yard. As the premises covered nearly half an acre of ground, the magnitude of the fire may be imagined, and it is not surprising to learn that the destruction of property is estimated at something over £20,000. Somewhere about eighty men and boys, likewise, have been thrown out of employment. The catastrophe, on the whole, is no inconsiderable one.

A HOBMBLE report comes from Canada of the burning down of a lunatic asylum near Montreal, and the slow roasting to death of several female patients. Seven nuns, attending on the patients it is to be supposed, are also said to have perished. The event seems one of the most terrible that has of late been heard of even from America.

The Emperor of Germany evidently believes in the old adage •' Put your trust in God and keep your powder dry." He continues to give assurances of peace, and yet to increase his armaments. A step, nevertheless, towards the fulfilment of his Majesty's professions would certainly seem to be the reduction of the army that exhausts the reeouices of his country, and ia strongly opposed especially to the true interests of the working classes. It is to be feared that Europe may, ere very long, find itself face to face with a reformer who has failed to carry out his undertaking, and finds himself obliged to adopt tactics of a completely opposite kind.

A GOOD deal of indignation has been very legitimately f =l l w ithin the last few days at an excessive sentence passed by one of tbe Dunedin magistrates on an offender brought before him. The offence was that of being found sleeping in a stable and the sentence was four months' hard labour. "Whether under the force of public opinion, cr having of his own accord come to his sense?, the magistrate in question has himself recommenled that the sentence be reduced to one week. But even that, it may be thought, is more than enough t j punish an unfortunate fellow for having no place to lay his head. There might be some excuse for the matter were there an abundance of night refuges for the unemployed, but failing this such harsh measures are most worthy of condemnation. Even the protection of a stable must be a poor one, especially now that la grippe is in the air. But have not the police a certain power of discretion as well as the occupants of the magisterial Bench ?

Nemesis, then, already appears before the eyes of the French Government. They are appealing, it seems, for an international movement against anarchy. But this is hardly consistent conduct ir, a Government that has itself laid the foundation for anarchy and forced on an increase in the ranks of tbe anarchists. They have swept away not only religious but eveo, and as a necessary consequence, moral training from their schools, and, having debauched their couutry, they call on foreigners to aid them in restraining its excesses. Fiance wanted no more than tbis to proclaim to the woild tbe depths to which she has fallen.

Another bye-election, that for Bast Bristol, has been won by the Home Rulers. It is true that the new member replaces a member belonging to the same party. The majority, however, by which he has defeated the Conservative candidate exceeds that of 1886 by 1139 votes, so that a fresh victory may be counted.