The Oamaru Mail TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 17 August 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1880.

• T;:'- . rin;. ijii. -tion is settled lor at 5..,- :•>:«■! :f W."» t::ay judge \ li::: i v.;igi'h oi j»ariie.-» m the i louse, it would almost appear to be settled for another decade, or for all time, for that matter. Such a concensus of opinion in riir- Legislature is very significant. NT.jt so lung ago the trumpets in high puio's yave no certain sound, and the loud blast was directed at the present system. It was too expensive and too exclusively secular. "Wc feared for the educational ark, but the debate upon the question proves at least the courage and independence of honorable members, and it", as was suspected, the deliverance iu question was inspired, the result has proved it to be a very weak invention of the enemy. Gubernatorial blandishments go for little in such a free community. We judge them rightly at their true worth. A fair and respectful hearing is all that such deliverances deserve, and it may well be questioned whether, indeed, the high prerogatives of If or Majesty's representatives are worthily employed in discussing, any question in the least degree a party one. We are so accustomed, however, to great revulsions of popular feeling that nothing takes us by surprise. The hon. member for IlivertoiVs motion was so extreme and so ill-timed that in effect it shut out all moderate counsel, closing the ranks of the friends of the present system into an invulnorable phalanx. A motion virtually resciiuling an Act of Parliament in Committee of Supply if within the.scope of Parliamentary practice, is, on the face of it, both impolitic and disorderly, and certain, as in the case we are discussing, to defeat itself. A more moderate measure would have had much sympathy, and we consequently deplore the tactics of the hon. member. Some modification of the present system, if fairly put, would have some prospect of adoption. We are, of course, in favor of a national system which shall be free, secular, and compulsory. We abate not a tittle of our support of such a system. Nothing Jess than this is possible, unless some jjreat change comes over public opinion. The opponents of the system should realise that fact and cease to war against the inevitable. Our appeal, for some consideration for those astride the pale of such a system, we desire to base on this very fact. We can aiiord to be generous. Assured of the justice of our cause and the support of tiie people, we are in a position in which we may deal liberally with the remnant who, from conscientious scruples, are opposed to us. We should iike to ste them pacified and a chronic disorder in ih-J body politic for ever healed. There was much force in an observation made during the debate in the House, namely, can a system virtually excludes a seventh of the population be fairly called a national one I The growth of Catholic schools is a standing protest of a largeand important section of the community. It is a source of irritation, and engenders a feeling of injustice and wrong. Can anvthing be done to remedy this unsatisfactory state of things ? If so, it is surely worth an honest and earnest effort. * A national system should, if possible, be so expansive, as to include all sects and parties, or it is miscalled. Hence the National Church—falsely so called—of Ireland, was swept away. The education question is much more difficult of solution. The Catholics mav prolong their independent efforts, and, with time, the sense of injustice may die out; or they may weary of such self-sacrifice, and eventually fall iu with the present system. Neither contingency, we fear, is in the least probable, however, and hence we think during the recess some attention might wisely be devoted to this question. In tiie meantime we venture to suggest as a fair subject for consideration, that such Catholic schools as come up to the standard of excellence prescribed by the department of education, might 2>articipate in the education vote. Such a concession would remedy the injustice complained of, and that too without lowering the high standard of excellence to which we aspire. The objection to this course is that other sects might desire the same thing for themselves. Of course they might, but the Catholics differ conscientiously and universally from other religious denominations upon this great question, and for the sake of harmony and concord we think such a concession might be made with a good grace. The State would still be gainers, for a proportion of the large expenditure for increased school accommodation thus becomes superflous. This view of the question is at least worth discussing, for it is in this direction, if at all, the solution of the difficulty must be looked for. Then, again, any reasonable suggestion for reducing the enormous expenditure —one-fourth of the revenue of the country —is surely well worthy of carefid attention. In this particular we have gone too fast and too far. Have we not gone too far, for instance, in the list of subjects which please the | few ? Here the pruning-knife might very wisely be applied without detracting in the least from the national character of our schools. The State might stop short of the higher branches, Avhile providing tjiat every child shall be educated tip to such a standard, as is incumbent and desirable for reasons of State policy. By means of scholarships, as a reward for conspicuous merit, every child in the State might even have a chance of attaining : celebrity. But many subjects taught in our State schools, for no reason of State policy, and taught exclusively to the wealthier classes, might surely be the subject of school fees or relegated altogether to private schools. The State would nevertheless take care that a sound and sufficient education would still be within the reach of the very poorest, and that, moreover, ignorance would remain an impossibility, or a crime. In other particulars we are of opinion that the system might be cheapened without impairing its efficiency. The system of management is cumbrous, and, consequently, expensive. If a portion of the cost of education was raised by local rates the General Government would be largely relieved, and the best motive for efficient local control imparted to the system. Our space is exhausted, however, and we can conclude as we have begun by'avowing our cordial admira-

tion for such a national system of education as we possess. It is one of the chief glories of the age and of the land in which we live. In a brief space —a period as nothing in the history of a nation—such a beneiii-wt' system will bear its tiuj>i-;«;•ii;ire; .'Visits. An placated people muse ever be vastly superior to an ignorant people—superior not only in intelligence, but, we trust, likewise in all that gives stability to our institutions. Such a system is the compliment of a free and liberal government, and, in elevating the masses of the people, we have the best guarantee that the high functions devolving upon the people under such a system of government shall be worthily exercised. There can be no better investment, and the time will speedily come when, as in the case of the talents worthily employed, the State shall " reap its own with usury."