SIR GEORGE GREY AND MR. CURTIS’S BILL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1723, 28 August 1879, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY AND MR. CURTIS’S BILL.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sib, — I am surprised that our friend “ Independent,” or anybody else, should attempt to criticise my letter of the 20th inst. All the statements I made wore facts, and cannot be disproved. “ Independent ” has just wasted 186 lines of your valuable paper to tell the public that he believes I have a foe, and that foe not a political one. If his Church is not political I will leave it to others than myself to judge. I willgive you an instance. On Monday, the 17th inst., the priest from his altar told his flock not to pledge their vote to anyone till a certain time, as they were about to hold a meeting, after which they would be advised who were their enemies in the last session of Parliament. Yes, and “Independenf’says he protestsagainst the present system of teaching. If he had said that the Church protested against anyone being taught even to read or write their own name, he would have hit the mark. As Sheehan said, I am “proud of being an Irishman.” (I will refer to this presently.) I am in the habit of doing business with a large number of my countrymen, and, of those who are fifty years of age, there is not one out of fifty that can write his own name, but their sons and daughters can, thanks to to the State, because, if the State did not teach, the Church would not teach more than it does in Spain, Borne, Italy, or any other country that is wholly ruled by that Church. “Independent” says, “I am disatisfied with State education.” lam dissatisfied, but it is merely because we have been forced, as it were, to shut out the Bible from the schools, believing that the schools should be used by all, and open to all. “ Independent ” wishes the Bible read in schools. What a cry ! The Bible has been burned in thousands of houses in Ireland and elsewhere, but whoever heard of a “ Douay Bible ” being burned by a Protestant ? I don’t wish to use three or four columns of the Giobb to tell “ Independent ” what we have conceded ; but, from my intercourse with my Catholic friends, I am certain that the public schools are acceptable to them, only their children would not get confirmed, or any other indulgence from the Church, of which they have many, if their parents allowed them to attend our State schools. I will quote from “ Hansard,” vol. 28, August 28th. The Hon. Mr Sheehan says of the Denominational Bill, in answer to Mr Gisborne, “ I did not wish to take part in the debate myself, but I am compelled to answer a few arguments adduced by the hon. gentleman who has just spoken. In the first place he tells us that, that because the objection on the part of the Eoman Catholics is a conscientious objection, we cannot discuss it, cannot judge or weigh it, but must allow it. Why, Sir, supposing a sect were to start who had to pay taxes—the land tax for instance, or the beer tax —are we to be shut out on account of their religious scruples ?” Mr Gisborne says—“ He cannot send his children to those schools unless he violated his conscience.” Mr Sheehan —“ What is the answer to that ? The Bill itself, by the provision which it contains that there shall be no religious instruction in the schools to be established under it in school hours. That is the answer ; that exposes the whole sham of the thing—because it is a perfect sham. There is no man in this House more called upon than lam to speak on this question. I am an Irishman and a Catholic, and proud of being both. lam told in the organ that represents the Catholic views that I am a bad Catholic. Let me be so. But I say if a man cannot enter this House unless he has purchased the Catholic vote upon this question, it is better for him to stop out of it. I decline to be bound to vote at the bidding of any Bishop, or Priest, or other person. It is perfectly absurd to speak about conscientious scruples. Many of my personal friends in this House I know will follow me, and jump upon me for speaking as I do ; but ! contend that the interest of every Catholic lies in promoting the establishment of thoroughly and strictly secular education in the colony, and if they are rightly advised by the people who ought to lead them, they will _go_ in that direction. I say, furthermore, it is beyond their power to alter it absolutely. They cannot do it, they pimply make a fight in which they will be beaten, and they will leave behind quarrels and dissensions that will last for years.” If my friend wants to know more about the thousand and one things conceded to them, let him go to “ Hansard,” and read history if he is not prohibited, 1 think I have conveyed enough, and got nothing in return. Yours, &0., ABTIMAS.