The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2927, 6 July 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1872.

The elections which have lately taken place in Melbourne developed the true secret of the defeat of the Duffy ministry. The spirit that is now causing dissension throughout the civilised world was at the root. It was not a mere political difference: the real question was whether Victoria should retain its religious liberty or allow children to be taught in schools, where education was trimmed and fitted to suit the narrow prejudices and isolating tenets [of different religious sects. The clergy who openly endeavoured to influence their church members were certainly outspoken, though not wise. But we ought to be equally obliged to them as if they hud displayed the utmost consideration. It was a throw iug off of the mask—an expos 6 of their strength. It was acting precisely upon their traditions: but times are changed. There was a period in the history of Europe when war or peace depended upon the dictum of a church ; when nations poured out their tens of thousands of victims and millions of treasure to wrest from those of another creed a country, or a shrine. Hut from the bosom of that church itself a more enlightened faith sprang which taught that men had rights in which there could be no partnership: intellectual rights which no hierarchy could control : the right to think individually and freely, and to hold to and act upon opinions for which they were responsible only to their Maker. Holding those opinions they naturally seek to maintain their liberty, and to retain it for others. It is too valuable a right to be lightly parted with. To a greater or less extent the question of religious liberty has been mixed up with all

modern European wars Going no further back than the French revolution of 1789, it formed an important element in the wars arising out of it. Amid all the strange and unnatural combinations that marked the progress of that struggle, that under current is traceable. The religious element is still more clearly prominent in the wars of later years. * It was the ostensible cause of the Crimean war: it had to do with the expulsion of the Austrians from Italy; with the Austro-Prussian war, with the Schleswig-Holstein troubles, and with the downfal of Napoleon the Third. Since force has failed, a new system of tactics has been adopted. Adults have proved incorrigible ; so the endeavor now is to bring children under ecclesiastical teaching, in the hope that, by cramping the intellect and limiting knowledge, the Church may still retain mankind in bondage. The claim has been boldly made throughout Christendom. At home, in Germany, in Victoria, in New Zealand, the attempt is openly made ; and we trust will be as firmly resisted as it has been in Victoria. We are not now advocating that children shall not be religiously educated, but we make a wide distinction between ecclesiastical dogmas and religion. We hold it to be mere ecclesiasticism to urge men to resist a change of Ministry “ even unto blood,” as was recommended by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Victoria. Religion would have said, “ Men, vote according to your consciences : you are bound to examine fairly, to decide impartially, and to remember that others have a perfect right to do the same. Even in your politics you are bound to carry out the rule of allowing to others the liberty you claim for yourselves.” It must not be forgotten that this unwise exhibition of ecclesiastical intolerance was intimately connected with the education question in Victoria. The policy now is to divide the funds, and consequently weaken the educational efficiency of the Colonies, For this purpose the Roman Catholic Church claims on very ingenious grounds to establish a denominational system of education ; which really means so frittering away the money devoted to educational purposes that no school worthy of the name can be supported. The scheme has been well and skilfully planned. There is a unity of purpose manifested in Ireland, in Great Britain, and in the Colonies, which in a better cause might achieve great results. But we think the plan has been arranged some fifty years too late. Had it been adopted fifty years ago, almost all classes would have accepted it as a boon. It had not then been discovered by the Church that monarclis had lost the power they once possessed over the minds of men ; so the traditional mode of acting upon kingdoms through their rulers was o O still continued. It is too late now : men have tasted of religious freedom and enjoyed its blessings. There are in all denominations enthusiasts, who think they have a mission to mould men’s minds into their narrow groovesj hut the great bulk of our Colonial population will not tolerate anything tending to re-impose the cast-off bonds.