THE EDUCATION QUESTION— ANOTHER REJOINDER.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1060, 10 April 1879, Page 3

THE EDUCATION QUESTION— ANOTHER REJOINDER.

Sic, — The disingenuous, manner m which Father Golden treats my arguments does, great credit to his ingenuity, but betrays a lamentable want of material wherewithal to meet them. His magazine is well stocked with powder, which ' flashes and thunders, but propels no deadly missile ; the shot and shell are exhausted. I will not weary your readers, sir, nor insult their good sense, by going over the different points raised, m order to show the obvious fallacy of the replies made by Father Golden, but leave the public to judge whether he has satisfactorily met the arguments I adduced. Let me, however, correct Father Golden m one thing, where bo insinuates that I hold Bishops as incapable of reasoning force, or, that they are intellectually deficient. No reasonable mind can draw such from my remarks. Everyone who knows, or has read of Dr Moorhonse, must entertain ths highest degree oi respect for him, and acknowledge his abilities and broad spirit of liberality, but it does not follow that everything that falls fr'jm his lips must outweigh all proofs to the contrary. An. argument is an argument all the world over, and whether it proceeds from a layman or a Bishop, a peasant or a King, should stand upon its own merits. Father Golden remarks that I have given no reason against denominationalism. I thought I had, but I will not keep him long m ignorance of my views ; m doing so, however, I will necessarily have to traverse ground already debated. My primary objection is, that, having regard to universal education, that system would be impracticable, and to no one should this appear more clear than to Father Golden himself, who, m charge of a large district, with a sparse population, should be impressed fully of the unfeasable nature of what he advocates. What would become of the children m such places as Haripipi, Raglan, Mercer, ' Huntley, Ohaupo, Hatapu, Kihikihi and numerous others ? One of two things. The children belonging to the minority, whether Catholic or Protestants, would either have to attend the school of the dominant party, or grow up m ignorance, and, let it, be here remarked, no other denomination would suffer so much ininatice, as the Roman Catholics who, -nSKrly everywhere, would be m the minority. Surely, Father Golden is not so unreasonable as' to expect the State to provide separate schools for each denomination m such places. I have just got hold of ' Hansard,' containing the debate upon the Education Bill, and it strikes me, and mnst strike everyone who reads it, the strange inconsistency between its provisions and the views advocated by clenominationalists. This party denounces, m hot terms, the secular system as ungodly and hostile to religion, and yet this same Curtis' Bill,' which the Catholics go m for m a block vote, provides that there shall be no religious instruct, on imparted to the children during school hours. After all Father Golden's abuse of the secular system, I should like to hear his explanation of this little inconsistency of his party. This Bill, notwithstanding its apparent liberality, is, however, looked upon with grave suspicions. It is, m short, an insidious attempt to get m the thin end of the wedge of denominationalism. Another equally serious objection I have is, that denominationalism fosters religious and national animosities, as I pointed out m my last, but hear one of the ablest men m the House of Representatives, I allude to Mr Sheehan, himself a Catholic, and one with the courage of his opinions. Speaking to Mr Curtis, he says, "'I will tell him, and the people behind him, that he is going dead against the interests of the people ho wishes to serve, because, the course which he proposes would result m building up a barrier between the various sections of the people m the colony— not only a religious barrier, but a national, barrier. Let us not ask who is Irish, English or Scotch, but aot as fore-warned, by what has passed In the Old Country, and try to build up something better. Let us endeavor to smooth all difference between Catholics and Prole tants, and forget the wrongs both have suffered, &c." ' Mr Saunders, too, m his speech, says, " I wae brought up m a denominational school, and, while I was thtre, I learned to look upon a Catholic as a kind of monster who was not unlikely to burn me, if he were not restricted," but it is hardly necessary to quote from speeches, to prove the bitter animosities that spring from the system ; it must be only too apparent to every one, at least,, to all Irishmen.' ' Jlow many men, too, must bitterly curte k in

f their hearts, that system with its attendan > bigotry, which has let him grow up m ; total ignorance, unfitted to cope with his . fellowman m anything higher than • animal strength— who knows how many grand minds have been lost to tho world —never having a chance of emerging from the darkness that envelops them. I say that no system will be satisfactory that risks the chance of a single mind remaining untaught m the State. Knowledge means wealth and powsr to any people, therefore, put it within the griißpof all, and make the acquiring of it be compulsory, free and unfettered. Then, another reason m favor of the State system, the State should be m a better position to gain efficiency than a number of people divided into small weak sections. It must be admitted that the schools m charge of tho French Priest, m Nelson, were highly efficient, but these were exceptions, and there can be no reason why the State csnnot procure the very best talent available. Touching the cost of the two systems, I am curious to know how Father Golden arrives at. the calculation that £he denominational system would only amount to. one third that of the State system. Father Golden makes merry over the very idea that the man who used tho threat upon the life of the Queen, was a lunatic. . I venture to say that not twelve men m the Province of Auckland, who have read the home papers, believe anything else, nor will they for a moment entertain the idea that any society of Englishmen exists, having designs upon the lives of Royalty. One case, within our knowledge, has certainly taken place some years ago, where a certain Fenian, O'Farrell by name, outraged all the laws of hospitality _ and decency, npt to speak of higher principles, by shooting, near Sydney, Prince Alfred, a son of our Queen, when he was a guest at a pic-nic, given by the people. I admit he was not a lunatic, and the consequence was, he had to suffer for his crime. If I did, not know Father Golden to be incapable of such a thing, I would certainly be impressed with the idea that, the list of books which he gives, as being taught m the State, schools, with his comments thereon,' were given to deceive. Father Golden must have looked at Some antiquated list. I took the trouble to interview the Inspector of Schools, who kindly handed me a printed list of class books, to be read m the Auckland District, under the head of history, not one of those mentioned by Father Golden appears. They are MaoMillan's History, Primers, Nelson's Brief History of England, Miss Thomson's History of England (MacMillan and Co.), and Longman's Epochs of History, not one of which, Mr O'Millivan assures me, contains, m his opinion, anything that the most delicate conscience could take offence at ; m fact, he states that there is a feverish desire, at the head of the'department, to exclude any book that could be construed m the slightest degree offensive. This is, no doubt, a little dissappointment to denominationalists,. who wish to keep a little pet grievance on hand, rather than take steps to have it remedied. And, so Father Golden thinks he has given ample proof that the State schools are Godless and proselytising. All I have to say is, may he long remain happy over the thoupht. I dont think he will have many of the same way of thinking. Mr Sheehan, m reply to Mr Gisborne, who stated that a Catholic cannot send his children to these schools, without violating his conscience, says, " What is the answer to that ? The Bill itself, by the provisions of which, it enacts that there shall be no religious instruction." " That is the answer that exposes the real sham of the the thiug — because it is a perfect sham." I think now, that unless fresh ground ' is taken, there is no necessity to prolong this discussion, of which the public have had more than enough. The subject must be getting stale. — I am, &c, R. W. Hammond.