THE BLOCK VOTE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 17, 12 February 1892, Page 16

THE BLOCK VOTE.

OME people are very angry with as for advocating ]SMHe the policy recently announced in Bishop Moran's mK£9K discourses, or rather, we should have said, are wHOjil yer 7 angry with the Bishop on account of his mtiMftt policy. In our issue last week we published Svnj^f, too leaders, in which we made it pretty clear that Catholics are not frightened by the bluster and threats of the godless, and that they are not to be bullied by loud-mouthed bigots. Amongst other things we have been told that two parties can use the block vote, and we have been given to understand that all non-Catholics will block vote against us. This we do not believe. We do not believe that this community of New Zealand is so narrow and unjust as to do anything of the sort. And is it not patent, even to the most casual observer, that the present system of education is not in accordance with the principles and feelings of the overwhelming majority of the people of this country. Catholics, to a man, are opposed to it; the Presbyterians, judged by the result of the vote taken some time ago in Otago, on the Bible-in-schools question, are almost unanimously opposed to it ; the same may be said of Church of England men, and the members of other denominations. The fact is, only a miserable minority advocates on principle the present godless system of education. But this miserable minority is strong in consequence of the division of Christians. Bat this division on this question will not last for ev«r, nor will it so far influence all non-Catholics as to draw them to a block vote against justice to Catholics. On the contrary, the steadfast adherence of Catholics to principle and their plucky and manly action on this question have won for them the admiration and sympathy of vast numbers of their fellowcolonists of other denominations, who will aid rather than oppose them on this subject. This is our estimate of the situation warranted by daily accessions of the best men in the country to their cause. Catholics, therefore, are not in the least frightened by the froth of some newspapers and a few anonymous writers, who, were their names published, would most probably be found to be men with axes to grind. We again to-day reiterate our advice to Catholics to rally round the Bishop, as did the young men of Dunedin a few evenings ago, and by the unanimity and determined support strengthen his hands and swell the ranks of his enthusiastic supporters. Such action as this, instead of alienating good and true men, will, on the contrary, have the effect of attracting many to a cause which is at once that of justice, fair play, civilisation, and Christianity. We say to Catholic voters : Be not afraid, do not permit yourselves to be hoodwinked, do not tolerate amongst you men who would mislead you and drag you aside to a policy of disunion and a policy which cannot not only obtain any concession for you, but must inevitably render you objects of scorn and contempt to wise and responsible men. The true pelicy of Catholics is to follow the lead of a man who, so far from having ever misled them, has, on the contrary, led them well, and success-

folly, for many, many years. This is the wise and politic course, and we have no doubt whatever that Catholic voters in mil New Zealand will join their fellows in Otago in pursuing zealously the policy recommended so strongly and perseveringly by Bishop Morak, and which has concentrated towards him the respect of even his opponents. A general election may be nearer at hand than many suppose, and Catholics ought in time to make up their minds how they shall act and for whom they shall vote when tbe time comes to exercise their franchise. But let this action be unanimous. Let Catholic voters move as one man, and we may rest assured that victory will attond on intrepidity and union.