New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1874. OURSELVES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 52, 25 April 1874, Page 6

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1874. OURSELVES.

This number completes the first year of our existence. The New Zealand Tablet was started under very great difficulties, for the purpose of supplying an admitted want. Contrary to the expectations of many, including some of its own supporters, this journal has survived all the discouragements of the piist, and gives promise of a prosperous future. The difficulties under which it was first published, have attended it throughout its career. But the energy of its Directors, aided by the loyal and generous support of its friends, have hitterto enabled it to surmount these. It is to be hoped that the Catholic public of this Colony will not only continue to aid it as in the past, but will accord to it a still larger amount of support.

The New Zealand Tablet has not been everything that its promoters and Directors wished it to be ; but we can say with truth, that taking all things into account, it is deserving of praibe for what it has done, rather than of censure for what it has left undone, or has done badly. To make the Tabli-.t such as its Proprietary desire to make it, now depends almost entirely on the Catholic body itself. A large number of subscribers and advertisers will enable the Directors to increase its size, and render it in every way more deserving of being the organ and representative of the Catholics of New Zealand.

Education has been and is by far the most important question for our consideration, whether as regards Catholics

•3) Oashojjcs/or as members of the body pjdi^ic,, AsxCajtMolics nO.urr.Eaith w^mineasurably.^ore. impprtafljt/fojb, ffiap aether' considerations, and, consequently whate,vjer tten4sj O to,> destroy or even weaken it, 1 mtisfc necessarily excite touriaibhorence; {and arouse ounmdst determined opposition; 7/ &$ citizens we ha*» a deep . interest in the temporal well-being and peace of society; and therefore, We afeWitodinself-tfe&nco to oppow %ve^thii)g calculated to disturb the peace »if" the community and weaieri', the securities of^iffie 1 various' relations of man to xam t and, of men to th,e, society in which .j'tKey live. Our Church., fa which we look up,, with resppct . dQcility^ and which, ha? been divinely appointed to guide! us in^all thinot appertaining to Faith apd Morals, has, declare!' godless and mixed systems of education. to, be intrinsically, dangerous to both ; and our own reading of /the history of the. past, as. well as'outf own experience, leave no doubt whatever on our mind that these systems of educatidtt condemned by the Chttrcfc must inevitably lead to the destruction of society and to uuiver-* sal anarchy. For these reasons, we have neyer ceased, in this journal, to advocate a Christian and Catholic, education for our own children, that we might discharge the duties which all Catholics owe to their Faith, and to. their country. For doing this, those who are opposed to our principles, have spoken hardly of us, and some have gone so far as to wish to make the public look upon us as disioyal and even traitorous. But so far from being either the,orie or the other we have been as we are, most devotedly l-.yal to the commt^ nity in which our lot is cast ; and the vigour and perseverance with which we have opposed what we most firmly believe to be fatal not only to our children's faith, but even to the well being of civil society, prove our loyalty and our zeal for the public good. In the not unfrequent passages of arms that' have taken place between ourselves and our Brethren df the Press whilst hitting h .rd as we conceived ourselves bound to do in self-defence — we have always wished, and endeavoured, too to avoid personalities and confine ourselves strictly within the limits <>f lawful literary warfare. Whether we have succeeded or not, others must judge," but our conscience does not reproach us on this head. Not so, however, in reference to extract matter. As to this, there have been two or three instan.es in which, we freely admit, we have done badly. But we can truthfully say, that the Editor of this journal^ whilst accepting his responsibility, and gladly submitting to the censure which attaches to mismanagement, was not to blame for these extracts to which allusion has been made. The Editor did not see these extracts before their publication * had he seen them they should never have been published in the New Zealand Tablet. At the same time we freely confers that he ought to have seen and rejected them. For the future the utmost care will be taken to prevent a recurrence of anytning of this kind.

As to parties, the New Zealand Tablet will continue to maintain its independence of all parties; but, at the same time, will discuss political questions, and give a verdict according to the merits of each, ii respective of individuals and parties.