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London, England, 1853-07-22 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1853.

Lord ABERDEEN'S exiTlanation• respecting the
Irish National Schools, so far from explaining any-
thing, has only increased the perplexity in which
the whole subject is involved. Whether the
Premier's ambiguity arise from habits of diploma-
tic reserve, or from simple inability to express
himself clearly in public, the result is the
same. We know less of the real state of
affairs than we knew before the debate ; and
we can only dimly conjecture that Lord
ABERDEEN has either misunderstood or mis-
represented the question at issue. In one
material point he is certainly wrong. He states
that by the present construction put on the regu-
lations of the Board, when a work intended to be
read in school hours is objected to by the parents
of any child, that work will not be disused, but
the child will be exempted from attendance on
the reading thereof. Now, the exact reverse is
the, case. Such was the rule—such is the
rule no longer. We speak from the highest
authority when we say, that a proposition to this
effect was submitted to the assembled Commis-
sioners, and by them rejected. Had it been other-
wise, no cause of complaint could remain. But
the Minister has misread his brief, and the de-
fence which he makes is, in fact, a complete sur-
render of the case as indefensible. His contradic-
tion may here put a momentary stop to discussion;
but it is impossible that the real truth should not
in time come out.
The position of the question may be very easily
explained. The National system, as most people
know, and as we have again and again repeated,
is essentially an unsectarian system. But it is
not literally, or to the full extent of the words,
a " secular " system. While all exclusively theo-
logical,teachingis given apart, and by the ministers
of various sects, care has been taken to supply
the schools with a variety of works, which, though
rather of a moral tlAn theological character,
yet serve to supply a deficiency which, by many
Persons, might otherwise have been felt to exist.
Every One of these works must have previously
received the sanction of the highest dignitaries in
both the Roman Catholic
and Protestant Church.
to
avnag received that sanction, they were allowed be
read in school-houses, with this proviso, how-
ever, that they need not be used by any child
whose parents or_guardians objected. The new law
goes to excllduealtdhrtn em afltogether, in 'every school
where the
a single child are un-
derstood ,to disapprove their
to exclude them every rusP• This is in 'fact
e, and to allow the
Priests to decide absolute)
seem, without appeal, „hat Ylooks '3
and,
as it wouldall or shall
shall not be employed in the
i;:a education of
the children, provided theregeller
religion. In other
ything in
such books which can, be construedan indirectly on morals or bearing
words,
it is an abdication by the Commissioner:rof their
functions and a transfer of them without reser, on condition to Dr. CULLEN and his colleag e
Many words are not necessary to point out -Ivuleiasi the inevitable effect of this step must be.
(1.) It is a breach of faith towards patrons,
Protestant or Catholic, who have founded and
endowed schools in connection with the National
Board, on the distinct understanding that these
schools were placed out of the power of either
clergyman or priest.
(2.) It is a breach of faith towards Parliament,
which has voted, by largo majorities, the annual
grant of 200,0001. for the support of the National
Board, on the same understanding implied in the
language constantly held on this subject by Mi-
nisters in both Houses.
(3.) It is a flagrant injustice towards the Pro-
testant ,
clergy, who see their applications for Go-
vernment aid in educational matters rejected, because
the system onlsw.ihiiilechthey propose to educate is a
ectarian one,
the nominally liberal teaching
of the Board is subject to be modified at will by
their opponents.
cipl(e4.o)f ILtoisrdinatze:ts
ooe contravention ohftheps to
Lord notwithstanding the priests Wich Seas
Lord Sr. GERI/AN-a and mr.-Zrojests ; whereas
educate through •the priests ecm Propose to
education which be worthless:' or -st°rors gievetl,,,
M an
Aone at all.
id; OW r!.,fl '1U4.1 _
within th4i,
(5.) It tends to give the victory, lisrug.)4z.