The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

THE RIGHTS OF PROTESTANTS.

Ix counting up the numbers of " Liberals"
and " Conservatives " returned at the late elec•
tion, some calculators forgot to ask, " How was
"it likely that the new members would deal
" with subjects involving the rights of Pro-
" testantism?" Some " religious " newspapers
wrote up Lord PALMEUSTON, and by one of
them the gay Viscount was profanely desig-
nated as " the man of God." No means were
spared to raise a Low Church cry in favour of
the present Ministry.
But even already a note of alarm is sounded
lest " the cry'' might bring the Cabinet into
trouble, and perplex it with a knotty subject,
which more urgently demands solution than
" Maynooth." A religious question of the hi ;h•
est importance, relating to the claims of the
" Church Education Society of Ireland," will
again claim the particular notice of the Legis-
lature, and the case is one which cannot pos-
sibly be set aside. Year after year, with con•

APRIL 25, 1857.

tinually increasing numbers, the " Church
Education Society " has brought its claims
forward, and our readers cannot have for-
gotten the admirable speech of Mr. WALPOLE
on the whole question last session, when the
Right Honourable Gentleman obtained a
majority in favour of his motion (113 to 103)
for an humble address to her Majesty, " that
" such modifications may be made in the
" rules of the National Education system, as
" will extend the advantages now enjoyed
"by non-vested schools to any other than
" vested schools now existing." The whole
question in its present aspect will require
explanation.
When in 1832 the Irish National Education
system was founded, there was !great political
excitement between various classes of the
community, but the Roman Catholic Church
was not then making the great exertions
which have distinguished her course in recent
years. The National system was introduced
by Lord DERBY (then Mr. STANLEY), not as the
best that could be suggested in theory, but as
one most suitable to the condition of Ireland
at that time. Since then the Roman Catholic
Church has been active and incessant to ob-
tain increased power. The Whigs and Liberals
have, for the most part, ruled Ireland in
recent years, and, departing from the original
construction of the Board, some new provi-
sions have been introduced, which led to the
secession from the Board of its earliest sup-
porters and most vigorous champions, the
Archbishop of DUBLIN, and, Lord Justice
BLACEBURNE.

By an enormous preponderance in their
body, the Established clergy in Ireland de-
cline, on conscientious grounds, to take part
in the National system as it is at present con-
ducte,l. They do not wish to overthrow the
system, or to prevent the Roman Catholics
from having the aid of the educational grant.
They only desire that some consideration
should be shown of their conscientious feelings
and of their recognised status as the clergy of
the Established Church of Great Britain and
Ireland. The Times has thought proper to
scout their claims, and to ridicule the pre-
tensions of the Church Education Society as
those of " a little man." But "the little man"
has not yet done growing, and he is likely to
prove a far more formidable opponent to
laisser faire indifferentism than is supposed
in official quarters. When first the claims of
the Society were brought forward, there was a
minority of fifteen in its favour, but year after
year the number has increased under the able
advocacy of Mr HAMILTON and Mr. NAPIER,
until an ex-member of Lord DERBY'S Cabinet,
who had held the post of Home Secretary,
stated the whole case, and convinced a Par-
liamentary audience of the thorough justice of
the Society's claims.
On Friday, the 17th, the Church Education
Society held its annual meeting at Dublin,
and it is admitted that the attendance was
" larger and more influential than on former
" occasions." The Venerable Lord Chief
Justice of Ireland was present, and an immense
number of the Established clergy were at the
meeting. " The little man " was stronger
than ever, and his Parliamentary friends spoke
with more than usual vigour. The Earl of
CLANCARTY presided, and observed that—

The new representation of the country in the Parliament
about to assemble is one in which a new spirit will be
manifest—a spirit favourable to liberty, to progress, and to
truth.

And Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said :
I agree with those who think that this Parliament will
be, upon the whole, more Protestant in its constitution
than the last.

There are many cool and impartial observers
in England who concur with that opinion.
The problem for Parliamentary solution is
by no means difficult. At present it is ad-
mitted on all hands that the " National
System " is, to a very great extent, in the hands
of the Roman Catholics. Tho Imperial Ex-
chequer is drawn on for a theoretically
" National," but practically pro-Catholic, sys-
tem of education. We fully admit the claims
of the Roman Catholics to receiving an
education which shall not hurt their conscien-
tious convictions, and we should be sorry that
the National system was overthrown. But we
should like to see it more genial, expansive,

THE PRESS.

and comprehensive ; and we believe that
capacious wings may be added to the main
edifice so as that its advantages could be
enjoyed by aIL At present the Protestants
are virtually shut out of the " National
System ;" and it seems strange enough that
there are some parties who are indignant at
the grant to " Maynooth," while they tolerate
with most inconsistent equanimity the dis-
bursement of vast sums of money for a system
which, as it is at present conducted, works
chiefly for the advantage of the Roman
Catholics.

We shall have again to return to this most
important subject, which has recently acquired
new and interesting aspects.

MILITARY EDUCATION.

NEARLY everything in this country is effected
by compromise. Almost all our institutions
exist, more or less, by virtue of this omnipotent
arbitress. Some good things are apparently,
though not really, sacrificed, in order to produce
the one great result—" the English system " ;
and half the schemes of grumblers and revolu-
tionisers are based upon decrying this pro•
cess, and asserting how much better the
particular ingredients would be if taken by
themselves. Still, however, the process con-
tinues, and as we infinitely prefer the compo-
site result to the separate constituents, we
trust that it may long remain unchanged.
We have previously in the columns of THE
PRESS expressed our opinion upon the subject
of the present article. We would have no
young man educated for a soldier without
keeping in mind the part he has to play as an
element of English society. We believe,
indeed, that by so doing a double end is
gained—that a more efficient style of officer is
produced, and one at the same time far less
offensive to civilians than the exclusive
system could turn out. By giving precedence
to those qualities which fit a man to command
others, we have insured a body of officers
whom the men will follow with enthusiasm.
By taking them from the upper classes we
entirely destroy all danger of parvenu pride,
all risk of the army attempting to set itself up
as an isolated and superior class. And these
are decidedly two advantages which we would
not barter for any other which have yet been
set before us.

But then the question very naturally arises,
cannot these qualities exist in our officers
alongside of others ? Does every approach to
scientific knowledge of his profession remove
a young man so much the further from man-
liness and good birth? Decidedly we trust
not. Sir CHARLES NAPIER tells us what clever
fellows his cavalry officers were in the northern
districts, though woefully ignorant of their pro-
fession ? Are we to suppose that an able man
who makes the army his profession would not
he rather glad than sorry to be enabled to
study systematically ?
We cannot give a direct answer to this ques-
tion. Officers in the army may be said to be
composed of two classes—rich men who never
mean to work, and poor men who either see
no good in working or have been placed in
the army because of their inability to work.
Very few first-rate young men, with their for-
tunes to make, at present enter the army.
Now, it is obvious that the first-mentioned
class, having come into the army merely as an
amusement, though too highspirited to shun
fighting, can never be expected to make it a
business; and the latter are not calculated to
make much progress even if they did. Before,
therefore, so much is said on the subject of
military education, we ought to consider how
far the military profession can be made wor-
thy of an educated man. It is perfectly idle
to expect that a man of ability and industry
combined, who has the Church, the bar, medi-
cine, and literature open to his aspirations,
should read hard for a profession in which
1,000/. a year is a splendid prize, and in which
without great interest he can never hope to
attain even half that sum. _ _

Two necessary concomitants, therefore, of
military education are, in our opinion, a much
higher rate of pay, and some system of pro-

399

motion by merit. Rich men will not work at
any profession, nor poor men at a poor one.
We do not see our way to the entire abolition
of the system of purchase. But we believe it
might be much modified, and rendered not
incompatible with the system of examinations.
But, granting the necessity of education,
what is to be the nature of it ? Here doctors
disagree. But, true to the idea with which we
started, we are, on the whole, quite inclined to
agree with the Head Master of Harrow. Give
your young soldier as good a professional
education as possible, but do not de-
prive him of that previous general culture
which clergy-men, barristers, and doctors
alike enjoy. Make the officer, but do
not unmake the citizen. The moment
such a result began to show itself, such a
storm of unpopularity would rise against
the army as would compel an alteration of the
system. The efficacy of our regimental offi-
cers depends in great measure on the posses-
sion of those manners and habits which the
private has all his life been accustomed to
reverence in the parson and the squire. In
the higher grades of the army we need not
say how indispensably necessary is the
absence of a pedantic tone, and the manners
of the man of the world. To rave about the
irrelevancy of classics to the military profes-
sion, is absolute nonsense. They are relevant
to the character of a gentleman, and nothing
which bears upon that should be alien to the
character of an officer.

TESTIMONIAL TO JOHN MASTERMAN, ESQ.
IT having been determined, on the retirement of
Mr. Masterman from the representation of the city
of London, to present him with a testimonial ex-
pressive of the appreciation by his constituents of
the services he had rendered to the commercial
community during his parliamentary ca reer of
nearly sixteen years, and his ready and courteous
attention to individual grievances, irrespective of
political considerations, a committee has been
formed to carry this object into effect, comprising
bankers and merchants of various political opinions.
Mr. Thomas Baring has consented to act as
chairman, and Mr. Russell Ellice as deputy-
chair man.

The first meeting of the committee has been held
this week at the London Tavern, when it was
resolved that the subscriptions should not exceed
the sum of five guineas each, with a view to secure a
general expression of feeling ; and that the form of
testimonial should be determined hereafter at a
general meeting of the subscribers.

The Liberal members of Hereford were enter-
tained on Thursday at a public dinner in the town.
The Right Hon. Sir George Cornewall Lewis pre-
sided. In the course of the evening Colonel Mid-
dleton Biddulph proposed the health of Lord
Palmerston as " the representative of a progressive
system of political reform in Church and State."
The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer
replied. The right hon. gentleman first attempted
to show by his usual logical process that the
" sceptre of power" had fallen from the hands of the
Conservative into those of the Liberal party. The
right hon. gentleman then pointed out that as Lord
Palmerston's Administration was composed of only
one portion of the Liberal party, as soon as they
failed to command the confidence of the country the
other portion would be prepared to offer their ser.
vices. Sir George Lewis then vindicated the Govern.
ment from the charge of a turbulent foreign policy,
or of reckless expenditure at home, and, coming to
the question of reform, Sir George Lewis said that
her Majesty's Government,
Founding their actions upon the principle of progressive
reform, they would seek to introduce all practical
ameliorations in our domestic institutions, without
disturbing the foundations of our national prosperity. He
pewit to say, that, eschewing organic changes, the Govern-
merit of Lord Palmerston would endeavour to meet the
necessities of existing circumstances without disturbing the
fundamental principles of order and society.

THE LIFEBOATS OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT
INSTITUTION have, during the last three months,
rescued the crews of eleven vessels, numbering iu all
seventy-seven persons—a most satisfactory result, and
affording a striking proof of what may be accom-
plished in this work of humanity by co-operation, by
exertion, and by the skilful and courageous conduct
of our boatmen in the use of lifeboats on our coasts.
The total number of persons saved from shipwreck
by the lifeboats of this society and other means,
since its first establishment in 1824, and for rescuing
whom the committee have granted honorary and
pecuniary rewards, is 10,101.

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