THE "HERALD" ON THE LETTER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 280, 11 July 1888, Page 2

THE "HERALD" ON THE LETTER.

The following sub-leader appeared in Saturday's Herald, with reference to the above letter :: — '• The complaint to the Board of Education from a parent at Te Aroha, respecting a Chinese child sent there to the public school, exhibits a taint of snobbery that is singularly uncolonial. The embellishments of the boy's being filthy, ill-smelling, and residing in a small shanty full of opium smoke, are of course the unbridled statements oF an ill- tempered man, who in this respect exhibits dispositions which certainly do not elevate him above the cliaiactcr of Chinamen, or of any other so-called " inferior race." This is supposed to be a democratic country, but your ignorant and uncultivated Democrat is a tyrant of the worst kind, and whon the opportunity offers not infrequently evinces the characteristics of a vulgar snob. Wo verture to believe that this little Chinese boy 13 as neit and cleanly as any lad at the school ; and if he has not been sufficiently long in contact with European civilisation to have become familiar with all its requirements, there is not the least doubt that a kindly hint from the teacher will be cheerfully and speedily responded to by the little fellow and his relatives, for the Chinese nature as wo lyiow it, is singularly docile, polite, and obligiug, and exhibits nothing whatever of thatobstinate sullenness which would persist in continuing in uncleanlincss. Down South somewhere, we think it is at "Wangnnui, a little Chinese boy is the lion of the school, respected and liked by nil. That child's schoolmates are real Democrats and genuine colonials ; for true Democracy claims and give 3 level rights for all. But the man at To Aroha, who affects to turn up his nose at the little stranger in a strange land, and slanders the child, in the viciousness of his own narrow prejudices, is not worthy of breathing the pure free air of colonial life. He seems to have a foreign name, and we hope it will be found that he is not an Englishman, but some mongrel creature that enjoys our British liberty without know] ft\g what it means.